🌿 The Tiny Spicy Hero: Why I Swear by Chewing Two Cloves a Day

Ever chew on a clove?

Yeah, that tiny, punchy, oddly-shaped little spice that sits ignored in the back of your pantry—next to the ancient nutmeg and the broken cinnamon sticks you swore you’d use for “holiday baking.”

Turns out, cloves aren’t just for sprucing up your grandma’s rice pudding or floating around in a mug of mulled wine. They’re pretty much little health bombs disguised as spice.

I started adding two cloves to my morning routine about a year ago—not because I was trying to become the next wellness guru, but because I was desperate to fix my bloated belly and constant fatigue.

And spoiler alert? I stuck with it.
Let me tell you why.

1. 🦠 My Gut Says Thanks (Literally)

Let’s start with the awkward one: digestion. I used to feel like I swallowed a balloon after lunch. My stomach would puff up like I had a baby burrito in there.

Then someone on Reddit (bless them) suggested chewing cloves after meals. I gave it a try. The result? Way less gas, and no more mid-afternoon “Am I pregnant or just bloated?” confusion.

Cloves stimulate digestive enzymes—aka the chemical cheerleaders that help break down your food. They reduce bloating, burping, and all those glamorous after-meal side effects.

💡 Try this: Chew two cloves after your meal or steep them in hot water like tea.

2. 💪 Cold Season? I Don’t Know Her

You know when everyone around you is coughing like extras on The Walking Dead? That’s when I double down on my cloves.

They’re LOADED with antioxidants—especially eugenol. Sounds like a wizard’s name, right? Eugenol fights oxidative stress, boosts immunity, and keeps those nasty pathogens in check.

Not to be dramatic, but cloves kind of turned me into a cold-fighting ninja.

🧊 Winter hack: Drop a couple in your tea every morning. Your sinuses will thank you.

3. 🫦 Fresh Breath, No Mints Required

Ever forget to brush before a Zoom call? (Guilty.) Chewing on a clove not only covers up your coffee breath but kills the bacteria that causes it.

I call it my “nature’s breath mint.” Except it’s better—because it doesn’t just mask odor, it tackles the root cause.

👜 Pro tip: Carry a few in a little container in your bag. Chew one when you’re heading into a meeting, date, or post-garlic dinner.

4. 💥 Toothache? Clove Oil = Lifesaver

Let me tell you about the time I got a toothache on a Sunday night—because OF COURSE it couldn’t happen during regular dentist hours.

It was one of those deep, throbbing, “I’d rather walk on Legos than deal with this” kinds of pain. I remembered reading about clove oil for toothaches and figured, why not?

So, I dipped a Q-tip in diluted clove oil (a few drops of clove oil mixed with a teaspoon of coconut oil) and pressed it gently against the sore spot.

HOLY RELIEF.

Within minutes, the pain dulled. Not gone forever, obviously—I’m not claiming cloves do dental surgery—but it bought me time until I could see my dentist. Eugenol numbs nerves and kills bacteria. It’s basically a mini anesthetic in a bottle.

⚠️ Important: Always dilute clove oil. Apply with a cotton swab or dental floss—but never swallow it straight.

5. 🧽 Your Liver’s Silent Cheerleader

That same compound—eugenol—is basically like a spa day for your liver. It helps reduce inflammation, detoxify naturally, and protect it from all the junk we consume (hello, Friday night wine and processed snacks).

No, it won’t undo a weekend bender, but it’ll support your body while it heals.

🍵 My routine: Clove tea, first thing in the morning. Helps me feel clean on the inside—even when I eat like a trash panda.

6. 🩸 The Blood Sugar Balancer

Cloves improve insulin function. That’s huge for anyone watching sugar spikes or dealing with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes.

I’m not diabetic, but I try to keep my energy steady. Cloves help with that. No 3 PM crash. No sugar panic.

🥣 Quick tip: Add clove powder to oatmeal or smoothies for a warming kick and blood sugar balance.

7. 🔥 Bye Bye, Aches and Pains

I’m not ancient, but I’ve definitely started making that weird “ugh” noise every time I get off the couch.

Cloves contain natural anti-inflammatories. I once made a paste of clove and coconut oil and slapped it on my sore shoulder. Felt like nature gave me a hot compress.

💡 Bonus: Eating cloves helps reduce internal inflammation too. Less joint pain, more dancing in the kitchen.

8. 🌬️ Breathing Easier—Literally

Got a stuffy nose? Sore throat? Sinuses acting up?

Steep cloves, ginger, and honey in hot water and sip slowly. Clears up mucus and opens up your airways like a charm.

Also, it smells like a witch’s brew—but in the best way.

9. ❤️ Hearts Love Cloves

Oxidized cholesterol = bad news. It clogs your arteries and stresses your heart.

Cloves help stop that. They lower bad cholesterol, improve blood pressure, and keep your cardiovascular system humming along like a smooth jazz sax solo.

Add a little clove love to your daily diet, and your heart will sing back.

10. ✨ Better Skin Without Fancy Serums

Tried clove oil on a pimple once—gone by morning.

Cloves are antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant-rich, which is basically the skincare trifecta. Add them to your tea for an inside-out glow, or mix a drop of clove oil with aloe gel and apply directly.

🔥 Caution: Always dilute clove oil on skin. It’s powerful stuff.

11. ⚖️ A Little Help with Weight Loss

Let’s be real: cloves aren’t magic fat burners. But they do help your metabolism work better, reduce inflammation, and curb cravings.

Ever notice how spicy foods make you feel full faster? That’s cloves doing their thing.

I sip clove tea when I feel snacky. Half the time, just the warm scent tricks my brain into thinking I’ve eaten.

🧪 How I Use Cloves Daily

Here’s how I get my daily fix without overcomplicating life:

• Chew them raw: Two in the morning. Spicy, yes. Effective? Also yes.
• Clove tea: Add 2 cloves to hot water, steep for 7 minutes. Add honey if you like it sweet.
• Add to food: Curries, baked goods, oatmeal, you name it.
• Spot treatment: Mix clove oil with jojoba or aloe gel—dab on pimples or sore joints.
• Toothache relief: A diluted drop of clove oil on a Q-tip pressed to the tooth = game changer.

⚠️ But Wait—Don’t Overdo It

Cloves are strong. Too many can upset your stomach or trigger allergic reactions. Pregnant? On meds? Talk to your doctor before adding cloves daily.

Stick to two cloves a day, and you’re golden.

✨ Final Thoughts

Who knew something so tiny and fierce-looking could be your body’s secret weapon?

Cloves might not be trendy like turmeric or sexy like matcha, but they’re quiet little powerhouses. From digestion to skin to immunity, these bad boys deliver.

Start with two cloves a day.
Stick with it for a week.
Watch your body whisper back:
“Hey… thank you.”

💬 Have you tried cloves in your routine? Got your own clove remedy or weird success story? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear it!