Allspice is commonly known as myrtle pepper, pimento, Jamaica pepper, clove pepper, and water pimento. Its name is derived because of the dried brown berries that look like large peppercorns, smell, and taste like a mixture of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. It is considered as the most widely used seasoning in cuisines around the world. This powerful spice is native to Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and Mexico. Due to its unique flavor and healthy quality, it is used in sweet and savory dishes, desserts, salads, curries, soup, sauces, and meat dishes.

Allspice is a rich source of beneficial nutrients and organic compounds like tannins, quercetin, and eugenol. They are the main reason behind the impressive health benefits of allspice.

Here Are The Well-Known Benefits Of Consuming Allspice

Protects Heart Health

Its potassium content is needed for heart health. It helps release much of the tension on the cardiovascular system thus lowering the chances of having heart diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, and atherosclerosis.

Anti-inflammatory

Allspice has anti-inflammatory properties that can help lower inflammation and alleviate pain in different parts of the body. The spice is recommended for those with gout, arthritis, hemorrhoids, and muscle pain. It can also reduce pain especially during surgery and injury and this is mainly due to its analgesic properties.

Improve Brain Functioning

Because of its iron content, consumption of allspice can lead to an increased hemoglobin production and increased blood flow. Healthy amounts of iron and oxygen in the brain can lead to a decrease in cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Aids in Digestion

Due to its eugenol content, allspice can help eliminate digestive issues like diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, and nausea.

Promote Better Sleep

Allspice has rich amounts of magnesium which is linked to an improve duration, quality, and tranquility of sleep. It helps regulate metabolism and reduce the occurrence of sleep disorders.

Improves Circulation

Along with high amounts of iron and copper, allspice can boost circulation which results in additional energy and proper oxygenation of extremities in the body.

In addition to all of these, allspice has the highest concentration of antioxidants thereby consuming the recommended amounts of it is simple enough to activate its anti-cancer abilities.

How It Protects Men From Prostate Cancer

Researchers found that with regular doses of allspice, men could protect themselves against prostate cancer. Researchers from the University of Miami have discovered that allspice has a natural cancer-fighting compound that can help prevent or delay the growth of prostate cancer tumors in men.

Ericifolin, a compound found in the seasoning, can help prevent prostate cancer patients from losing their lives. The compound was found to have the ability to suppress receptors for the male hormone androgen. These androgen receptors are responsible for the development of cancer cells in the prostate.

Androgen – such as testosterone – regulates the development of male characteristic by binding itself to androgen receptors.

For prostate cancer tumors to be able to grow, they co-opt testosterone and other androgens. Once they are deprived of androgen supply, the tumors will not get bigger and spread elsewhere.

Researchers believed that ericifolin could block or disable androgen receptors, thereby cancer tumor will fail to use hormones to fuel their growth.

Additionally, when allspice extract was tested on breast cancer cells, it showed a positive effect on delaying the growth of breast cancer. That’s why researchers concluded that allspice can also be used to fight other types of cancer.

Though there are synthetic drugs that have the same effect of allspice, remember that these drugs have toxic side effects that get worse over time.

At the end of the study, researchers suggest that patients and healthy individuals should increase their levels of ericifolin and other anti-cancer compounds by consuming allspice and other foods that can naturally help prevent or slow down the progress and spread of prostate cancer.

Some other foods with potent anti-cancer compounds of their own that men should consider eating to help them slow down prostate cancer progress are turmeric, broccoli, pomegranate, and green tea. Consume these foods alongside with allspice for best results.