Mace

There are several important natural herbs and plants which nature has blessed on mankind. Mace or nutmeg is one of the natural boons. While nutmeg is the actual seed of the tree, mace is the dried reddish covering of the seed. Known for its several culinary and medicinal uses, mace is a prominent flavoring agent in cuisines of most countries.

Mace can be used in several forms, either as the dried lacy covering or in powdered form. Its versatile flavor makes it an important ingredient in various dishes to enhance the taste and bring out the color of the food. White sauce, lasagna, stews, ragouts, sausages and pastries are just some delicacies that incorporate mace in their recipes.

Mace spice is dry, outer aril that firmly enveloping around the nutmeg kernel. Nutmeg and mace indeed are two separate spice products of same nutmeg fruit. However, mace characteristically has higher concentration of certain essential oils and features refined yet intense aroma than nutmeg. For the same reasons, it commands special place in the kitchen spice box!a.

Mace as well as the nutmeg seeds were thought to have originated in the tropical rain forest of indonesian maluku islands, also known as the spice islands. Binomially, nutmeg is an evergreen belonging to myristicaceae family, and known scientifically as myristica fragrans. There are several species of nutmeg grown all over the world other than myristica species, such as m. Argentea, m. Malabarica (indian), and m. Fatua. They are rather similar to m. Fragrans in appearence, however, have inferior flavor and aroma.

Mace is highly nutritious and extremely rich in protein and fiber. Besides, there are plenty of health benefits that make mace a significant spice to be stored in the kitchen cabinet. Read further, to acknowledge you with the nutrition facts and advantages to health it has to offer. Mace has very similar healthy benefits as nutmeg.

Mace oil has great abilities of treating muscular and joint pains and sores as it is an excellent sedative.

It also has anti-inflammatory properties and can be very effective for curing arthritis, rheumatism, lumbago, etc.

It plays an important role in chinese medicines for treating abdominal pain and inflammation.

Mace is very handy for digestion and easing stomach aches and gas from stomach and intestine.

Apart from encouraging appetite, it is beneficial for preventing indigestion, flatulence, vomiting and diarrhea.

Mace oil is a good stimulator as it not only boosts the mind, but also the entire body.

Its aromatic properties help in comforting the body and increasing blood circulation.

Mace contains several essential minerals such as copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc and magnesium.

Potassium present in mace is significant for controlling heart rate and blood pressure.

Mace is rich in manganese and copper which are used by the body as co-factors for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.

It contains iron which is essential for red blood cell production and as a co-factor for cytochrome oxidases enzymes.

Mace is extremely rich in important b-complex vitamins, vitamin c, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin a and many flavonoid anti-oxidants like beta carotene and cryptoxanthins. These vitamins and nutrients are necessary for inducing optimum health. It is an important ingredient in many cough syrups and cold rubs as it helps in relieving cough and cold.

Further, it is very effective in treating asthma. Since mace is a great stimulator, it stimulates the brain and eliminates any signs of mental exhaustion and stress.

It can improve the quality of dreams, making them more intense and colorful.

Mace can be considered as a good remedy for anxiety as well as depression.

It enhances concentration and increases the overall efficiency at study and work.

Mace is antiseptic in nature and is an important ingredient in several toothpastes.

It effectively cures toothaches, aching gums, and bad breath.

Mace is beneficial for treating kidney infections and kidney diseases.

Besides, it is known for even dissolving kidney stones.

Just like nutmeg, mace is used as a flavouring agent in jams, pastries, cakes and indian sweets.

Essentially employed as an aromatic agent, mace spice greatly enhances color, taste and flavor of foods. Nonetheless, it contains some of the anti-oxidant compounds essential oils, minerals, and vitamins.

Mace features quite different nutritional profile than nutmeg has. It is less in calories, however, has more concentrations of essential oils, vitamin a, vitamin c, carotenes, iron, calcium

The spice contains fixed oil trimyristine, and many essential volatile oils, which gives a sweet aromatic flavor such as myristicin, elemicin, eugenol and safrole. These oils occur in higher concentration in mace than in nutmeg. The other less important volatile-oils are pinene, camphene, dipentene, cineole, linalool, sabinene, safrole, terpeniol.

The active principles in ace spice have many therapeutic applications in many traditional medicines as anti-fungal, anti-depressant, aphrodisiac, digestive, and carminative functions.

Mace has more vitamin-c content than nutmeg. 100 g mace spice has 21 mg against just 3 mg of nutmegs. Likewise, mace blades contain more riboflavin (vitamin b-2).

Mace arils are rather excellent sources of vitamin-a. 100 g of mace provides 800 iu vitamin a, nearly nine times moreacompared to that in nutmeg.

Mace arils contain more calcium, copper, iron and magnesium than nutmeg. 100 g of mace powder has 13.90 mg of iron when compared to just 3.04 mg of nutmeg. Manganese and copper are utilized by the human 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.

It is also used in many savoury cuisine including curries, white sauce, stews, lasagna, ragouts, meats, sauces, ketchup, pickling and even worcestershire sauce. Mace can be used as substitute to nutmeg in various recipes.

It is a bit sweeter and milder, but its flavour has striking similarity with nutmeg. Mace can be used in place of nutmeg, as sometimes dark coloured flecks of nutmeg might spoil the appearance of certain dishes. Ground mace can be substituted in clear broths, light coloured sauces, omelettes and mashed potatoes to add colour. To release essential oils, aroma and flavour, whole mace should be crushed or ground. Preferably it should be added at the beginning of the cooking process as it allows its robust flavour to come out completely.

Nutmeg oil is very useful for treating muscular and joint pain as it is an excellent sedative.

Nutmeg oil is also anti-inflammatory, so massaging nutmeg oil on the affected area is an effective treatment for arthritis, rheumatism, and lumbago.

Nutmeg oil is an essential part of chinese medicine when it comes to treating abdominal pain and inflammation.

It also reduces swelling of the joints.

Often, overexertion leads to body or muscle ache, and in such cases, nutmeg oil can be very useful in removing the pain.

Mace has long been used to treat digestive woes such as nausea, diarrhea, stomach spasms and gas.

A common mixture known to ease indigestion, gas and nausea is a tea made of slippery elm bark, mace and nutmeg which are combined with cream and boiled, then drank when lukewarm.

A popular treatment for diarrhea, according to chinese and indian medicine, is to place 3 drops of the essential oil of mace/nutmeg on a sugar cube and swallow it after the oil has seeped in.

If a capsule is preferred, one 200mg capsule can be taken twice per day until the diarrhea subsides.

The flavor of mace is very subtle and hence it should be used quickly to ensure optimum flavour and aroma.

Whole dried and ground mace is readily available in cooking supply stores.

Both should be stored in a cool dry place strictly avoiding the moisture. If your mace has gone stale from extended storage, lightly toast it to refresh it before use.

Both ground mace and blades should be stored in airtight containers in a cool dry place. Any contact with moisture will ruin the flavour of the spice.

A study published in the april 2012 issue of the "asian pacific journal of tropical medicine" showed the essential oil of mace/nutmeg can help treat, and possibly prevent, cancer by inhibiting the formation of blood vessels that feed cancerous tumors.

A study published in the april 2012 issue of the "journal of food science" showed the compound myristicin to inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells.

Mace also offers mild anti-anxiety and sedative properties.

In a report published in the spring 2006 issue of the "journal of medicinal food", mace was shown to exert significant anti-depressant effects.

Researchers made the conclusion that these affects arise from the activation of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin.

Mace has been used for centuries in chinese medicine as a topical pain reliving massage oil.

A few drops of the essential oil mixed an an ounce of a carrier oil, such as olive or grapeseed, then massaged onto the affected area, can provide relief from many ailments; muscle pain, arthritis, aching joints, bruises and sores.

Mace is highly effective at combating bad breath because of its antibacterial properties.

By adding a very slight pinch to your toothbrush when brushing your teeth, it can destroy the bacteria that cause bad breath.