Do you love vanilla in your deserts? Of course, you do, who doesn’t? However, what really makes it very special and why does everyone love it? The answer, you’ll find here, plus you’ll also get to know the skin benefits of vanilla and some other parts of the body.
But before that, let us get to know first what vanilla really is and let’s get to know more ‘bout it.
What is Vanilla?
When somebody mention vanilla cake, vanilla ice cream, or vanilla cake, it makes us drool and crave for it. This flavor, vanilla takes pleasure all over the world. Only a few are aware of where the flavor’s origin is even though it has been part of luxurious desserts for years now.
Vanilla cake, ice cream, and some other desserts that we love eating get their delicious flavor to the extract of the vanilla beans. The vanilla beans are sun-dried pods that are acquired from the orchids of the class, Vanilla. The astounding sweet and soft flavor and its aroma make it a very popular ingredient in sweet drinks and desserts.
The plant where vanilla comes from is actually an herbaceous vine that requires a supporting pole or tree for it to optimally grow. Its flower is in shape of trumpet and bees or hummingbirds pollinates it naturally. The vanilla pods have some tiny black seeds which you can use to add additional sweet flavor to dishes. The unripe vanilla pods become yellow when it grows 5-8 inches long. The pods will then be blanched in a boiling water, sugarcoated, and dried under the sun for some weeks till it turns dark brown and gets wrinkled. After which, the vanillin will be extracted, then this will now be the vanilla flavor.
Health Benefits of Vanilla
Vanilla isn’t just rich with delicious flavor, it also has a lot of health benefits. In fact, here are some:
Aids in Heart Health. The purest form of vanilla is very rich in minerals like potassium which is important for the hear health. Furthermore, it also helps in dilating the blood vessels for an optimum blood flow.
Helps Treat Wounds. The diluted extract of vanilla helps in providing a relief from pain and it speeds up the healing process of the wound. Furthermore, its positive aromatherapy effect can also help in relaxing the mind and reduce the pain.
Aids in Some Digestive Problems. Vanilla beans can be a treatment for some digestive issues like vomiting, nausea, and upset stomach.
Good for the Dental Health. Vanillin essence in vanilla beans contains anesthetic properties which relieve tooth and gum pains. Moreover, it’s also an anti-inflammatory so it is good in reducing the soreness of the gums or the tooth.
Aids in Blood Pressure. As research suggests, vanilla beans are beneficial in controlling the level of blood pressure. Furthermore, it also regulates the contraction of the heart, relaxes the blood vessel, and controls the fluid movement of the cells which is important for the regulation of blood pressure.
A remedy for a Cough. Vanilla’s anti-inflammatory property helps in soothing the throat. Moreover, its anesthetic effect helps in relieving the pain of the throat and reduces the symptoms of a cough.
Skin Benefits of Vanilla
You read it right, the benefits of vanilla in the body don’t stop just in the body, also in the skin. The skin benefits of vanilla might surprise you since not everybody knows it. So, let’s get to it…
Here are some of the best skin benefits of vanilla:
It helps promote healthy skin. The B-vitamins like thiamin, B6, and niacin in vanilla helps in maintaining a healthy skin. Moreover, its antioxidant properties of vanilla also help in protecting the skin from possible damages.
It helps treat acne. The antibacterial properties of vanilla make it beneficial in treating acne. Furthermore, it also helps in cleansing the skin and helps reduce the occurrence of acne and pimples.
It soothes burns. Vanilla is actually a traditional remedy for burns, cuts, and wounds. However, you should consult your doctor first before using it on your skin.
It helps reduce the effects of aging. The rich antioxidant property of vanilla helps in preventing and reversing the skin damage triggered by free radicals. Furthermore, it also helps in slowing down the signs of aging like wrinkles, age spots, and fine lines.
Conclusion
Vanilla is not just a delicious and aromatic spice you can use to add flavoring to your desserts and drinks. It also has amazing health benefits and the skin benefits of vanilla are also astounding. All of these reasons are strong enough to make you continue with your consumption of your favorite vanilla flavor dessert or drinks.
However, you must be aware of some synthetic vanilla available in the market, it might cause some harm. The original vanilla extract is very rare and most expensive. However, the nutrition benefits of it can overweigh this price.
