G'day, eh! All ready for Christmas? We just got our first snow dump of the season...well maybe 5-6 cm anyway...far below what our Maritime Provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island) are already getting. However, we expect our snow to all be gone in a couple days with the temperature rising....up to 14 or so on Christmas Eve. We'll take it! The Maritimes? Well, their snow should be mostly gone by May with a little luck! Hey, grab yourself a mug of mulled coffee (yes there is such a thing. I just invented it right now...add a cinnamon stick, a sprinkle of nutmeg and a healthy squirt of either rum or brandy). Try it and let me know what it tastes like, okay? Meanwhile, the virtual maple shortbreads, Christmas cinnamon buns and assorted other treats await you. And what about eggnog, you ask?
There might be more reason than ever to enjoy a holiday favourite, eggnog,
this time of year. A critical ingredient in the egg or egg-less varieties of
this seasonal beverage may help protect you against colon cancer. That’s great
news considering that colon cancer is the most common type of cancer and the third leading
cause of mortality.
According to a study published in the Journal of Proteome
Research scientists found that eggnog’s
signature spice, nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), significantly reduces harmful precursors of colon cancer. The study also
found a little-known connection between the toxins secreted by harmful gut
microbes and colon cancer, suggesting a possible link between gastrointestinal
(GI) tract infections and colon cancer.
The researchers identified four toxic substances found in the gut, likely
secreted by infectious bacteria. The toxic substances, which formed inflammatory
compounds known as cytokines, were found in the blood of animals with a genetic
mutation for colon cancer. Cytokines are immune-regulating substances that can
have inflammatory effects in the body.
Nutmeg, which exhibited a strong antimicrobial effect, is believed to work
by eliminating or reducing the infectious bacteria in the GI tract, resulting
in the reduction of toxic substances secreted by the harmful bacteria, and
ultimately resulting in fewer inflammatory compounds in the gut.
Microbial imbalances in the gut have been linked with dozens of other
serious health conditions ranging from arthritis and depression to brain
diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. While it’s too early to determine whether
nutmeg will also benefit these conditions, the researchers who conducted the
above study indicated that managing gut bacteria may be effective as a
preventive approach for colon cancer.
In a study published in the medical journal Archives of
Pharmacal Research researchers
identified a substance called meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (DHGA) which showed
significant anti-tumor properties, suggesting that nutmeg may offer additional
anti-cancer benefits. This study is also preliminary, but the findings of both
studies suggest nutmeg warrants additional research into its potential against
cancer.
Nutmeg has other health benefits as well. In a study published in the Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, researchers found the
spice also boosted mood and showed comparable antidepressant activity to the
drug imipramine—a drug used to treat depression. Check out the blog, “The Holiday Spice that Boosts Mood, Fights Depression” to
learn more about nutmeg’s antidepressant properties.
As with most subjects, the internet is packed with misinformation about
nutmeg’s safety, mostly due to a couple of self-reported
cases of high doses of nutmeg leading to nutmeg toxicity, but it appears that neither of these cases
have not been properly investigated to rule out other causes. While we await
investigation, avoid doses of two to three teaspoons of nutmeg daily—an amount
that even nutmeg’s greatest fans would probably find excessive due to the
spice’s pungent flavor.
There are plenty of ways to obtain the health benefits of nutmeg in
moderation in your diet. Add a sprinkle of the spice to your favorite latte or
in some almond or coconut milk as a vegan eggnog alternative. You can mull
apple cider with nutmeg and cinnamon or add some freshly-ground nutmeg to your
favorite holiday cookie recipe. Nutmeg is also great in savory dishes like
soups and stews. Use up to one-half teaspoon daily.
Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM, is an
international best-selling and 18-time published book author, whose works
include: The Probiotic
Promise: Simple Steps to Heal Your Body from the Inside Out (DaCapo,
2015).
See ya, eh! Gotta go bake something with nutmeg in it!
Bob
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