Vanilla extract offers many nutritional benefits apart from its deliciousness. Vanilla is the most common and favourite flavour when it comes to desserts, ice creams and puddings. It was first seriously cultivated on the east coast of Mexico. Vanilla extract is obtained by curing vanilla beans and then treating them with alcohol to create a dark brownish liquid. Good quality vanilla extract is expensive but just a few drops of it add to the flavour of any dessert and even provide a vast variety of health benefits.
Nutritional Benefits
Nutritional facts for 1 teaspoon or 4.2 grams of vanilla extract
| NUTRITIONAL FACT | MEASURE |
| Calories | 12 |
| Protein | 3 mg |
| Fat | 3 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 531 mg |
| Sugar | 531 mg |
| Calcium | 0.46 mg |
| Magnesium | 0.50 mg |
| Phosphorous | 0.25 mg |
| Potassium | 6.22 mg |
Some health and nutritional benefits of vanilla extract are:
1. Provides a soothing effect: According to studies, smelling vanilla lessens crying in newborns. For adults, smelling vanilla can provide relief from sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing continuously stops and starts again during sleeping. In general, vanilla extract has a very calming effect.
2. Reduced sugar intake: Vanilla extract can be used as a substitute for sugar as it has lesser calories and carbohydrates than regular sugar. This is helpful in reducing blood sugar levels and making a switch towards a healthier lifestyle.
3. Rich in minerals: Vanilla extract is rich in minerals like magnesium and potassium. While magnesium is needed by the body for blood pressure regulation and muscle and nerve function, potassium helps in maintaining kidney and heart health.
4. Antibacterial effects: The compounds present in vanilla extracts like vanillin, ethyl vanillin and vanillic acid have antibacterial properties that fight Cronobacter species of bacteria. These bacteria can cause fatal infections in infants and weaken the immune system.
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