Vanilla extract is a flavourful liquid made by macerating real vanilla beans (the fruit of an orchid) in a solution of ethanol (alcohol) and water, creating a complex essence used to enhance desserts like cakes, ice cream, and custards. It contains hundreds of flavour compounds, though vanillin is the main one, and pure extract must meet specific alcohol content standards.

History and Origin

Vanilla's history begins with the Totonac people in Mexico, who first cultivated the native orchid, later used by Aztecs and then brought to Europe by Spanish explorers who mixed it with chocolate; it became a global commodity after Edmond Albius's 1841 hand-pollination breakthrough in Réunion Island (now Madagascar), solving the pollination mystery that previously kept it exclusive to Mexico, eventually leading to vanilla extract production by soaking beans in alcohol.

Nutrient Database – USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)

Reference Values for Nutrition – FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Source of antioxidants - Vanilla extract is a source of antioxidants, primarily from compounds like vanillin, which help fight free radicals, reduce oxidative stress, and offer anti-inflammatory benefits for skin and potential internal health, though more human studies are needed to confirm benefits from normal consumption. Its antioxidant power makes it useful in cosmetics and potentially as a natural preservative, with research exploring vanillin for conditions like neurodegeneration.

Anti-inflammatory properties - Vanilla extract, primarily due to its active compound vanillin, has significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, helping to reduce oxidative stress, soothe skin, protect against cell damage, and potentially benefit conditions like neurodegenerative diseases and stomach ulcers. 

Neuroprotective - Vanilla extract, specifically its main compound vanillin, shows promising neuroprotective effects in studies by fighting oxidative stress, reducing inflammation, preventing protein clumping (like amyloid), and protecting brain cells from damage, suggesting potential in neurodegenerative diseases, though human evidence from dietary intake is limited.

Antibacterial - Vanilla extract has antibacterial properties due to compounds like vanillin and vanillic acid, which inhibit bacterial growth, disrupt cell membranes, and can even enhance synthetic antibiotics, offering potential for fighting drug-resistant germs and preserving foods. While vanilla extract itself isn't a primary antibiotic, its natural components show promise as adjuncts or preservatives against harmful bacteria like E. coli, S. aureus, and even multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens.

Digestive aid - The beneficial properties of vanilla are largely attributed to the compound vanillin, which possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. Vanilla has been traditionally used as a digestive aid to help soothe various stomach conditions, including bloating, cramping, nausea, and diarrhoea.

Heart Health - Vanilla extract supports heart health primarily through its main compound, vanillin, which shows promise in lowering bad cholesterol, reducing inflammation, and improving blood flow, all crucial for preventing heart disease, though most studies are on animals, so human benefits need more research. Its antioxidants and minerals like potassium also help fight oxidative stress and regulate blood pressure, making pure vanilla a potentially heart-healthy flavour addition, unlike artificial versions.

Antioxidant properties - Vanilla extract contains compounds like vanillin with documented anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, shown in lab and animal studies to help with skin inflammation (cold sores), gut issues, and neuroinflammation, though more human trials are needed to confirm these benefits in typical consumption.

Reduces Sugar Needs - Vanilla extract helps reduce sugar needs by enhancing sweetness perception, making foods taste sweeter with less actual sugar, and its natural flavour allows for cutting back on added sweeteners in drinks and desserts like smoothies, coffee, or yogurt, supporting lower-sugar diets without sacrificing flavour. Studies show vanilla can enable significant sugar reductions (e.g., 15% in water, 13% in coconut milk) while keeping perceived sweetness high.

Vanilla Extract – From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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