Vanilla belongs to the family of tropical climbing orchids where the flavor is extracted from their pods. It is native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Vanilla is one of the most expensive spices in the world because of the fact that it is labor-intensive to produce. Today it is used in a variety of sweet foods and beverages like chocolate, ice cream, milk, bakery goods, and perfumes.

Furthermore, here are its nutrients:

• Calcium: 0.46 milligrams
• Magnesium: 0.50 milligrams
• Phosphorous: 0.25 milligrams
• Potassium: 6.22 milligrams

Here are some health-related benefits of vanilla:

• Research shows that vanilla calms newborns born prematurely by its aroma.
• It also calms adults which decreases startle reflexes and relieves sleep apnea which is a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts.
• It can be a substitute for sugar as it has fewer calories which can be used like this to reduce sugar intake slightly.
• It also soothes toothaches and pains while its antioxidants may provide healing effects.
• Vanilla used as an essential oil can strengthen hair and blood flow to the scalp.
• It helps with anxiety by impacting the nerves to relieve stress when used in aromatherapy.

References

Adam Augustyn. (2023). vanilla.

Lizzie Ball. (2018, August 22). 8 Surprising Health Benefits of Vanilla.

Poonam Sachdev. (2022). Health Benefits of Vanilla.