Vanilla beans in a vine Botanical name;- Vanilla planifolia.
Health benefits of vanilla
- Vanilla beans are one of the expensive non-pungent spices especially used as flavoring agent in a wide array of sweet-drinks and confectionaries.
- Vanilla extract composed of simple and complex sugars, essential oils, vitamins and minerals.
- The chief chemical component in the beans is vanillin. They also include numerous traces of other constituents such as eugenol, caproic acid, phenoles, phenol ether, alcohols, carbonyl compounds, acids, ester, lactones, aliphatic and aromatic carbohydrates and vitispiranes.
- Ancient Mayans believed that vanilla drink was supposed to have aphrodisiac qualities. No modern research study, however, establishes its role in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions.
- Its extract contains small amounts of B-complex groups of vitamins such as niacin, pantothenic acid, thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B-6. These vitamins help in enzyme synthesis, nervous system function and regulating body metabolism.
- This spice also
contains small traces of minerals such as calcium, magnesium,
potassium, manganese, iron and zinc. Potassium is an important component
of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood
pressure. Manganese and copper are used by the body as co-factors for
the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is essential for red
blood cell production and as a co-factor for cytochrome-oxidases
enzymes.
See the table below for in depth analysis of nutrients:
Vanilla extract (Vanilla planifolia),
Nutritional value per 100 g.
(Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)Principle Nutrient Value Percentage of RDA Energy 288 Kcal 14% Carbohydrates 12.65 g 10% Protein 0.06 g <1% Total Fat 0.06 g <1% Cholesterol 0 mg 0% Dietary Fiber 0.0 g 0% Vitamins Folates 0 mcg 0% Niacin 0.425 mg 3% Pantothenic caid 0.035 mg 0.5% Pyridoxine 0.026 mg 2% Riboflavin 0.095 mg 7% Vitamin A 0 IU 0% Vitamin C 0 mg 0% Electrolytes Sodium 9 mg 0.5% Potassium 148 mg 3% Minerals Calcium 11 mg 1% Copper 0.072 mg 8% Iron 0.12 mg 1.5% Magnesium 12 mg 3% Manganese 0.230 mg 10% Phosphorus 6 mg 1% Selenium 0.0 mcg 0% Zinc 0.11 mg 1%
