Vanillin: health benefits and harms

Such a spice as vanillin is present in almost every kitchen. It has a pleasant aroma, often used in the preparation of culinary delights. The aroma of this spice is the strongest love aphrodisiac.

What is vanillin and what is it made of

Vanilla is an evergreen perennial vine belonging to the Orchid family. Vanillin, well known to many culinary specialists, is obtained from vanilla pods formed after the plant fades. For the preparation of spices use immature pods subjected to special processing. The plant is dried in a well-ventilated area for about two to three months until a white coating appears, which symbolizes the readiness of the spice for processing.

The birthplace of this fragrant plant is Mexico. Europeans, once acquainted with this spice, wanted to spread it to other areas of numerous colonies, but the culture did not bear fruit. And only in 1836, a scientist from Belgium managed to find out that the pollination of flowers is done by melipons, merciless bees that live only in Mexico. No other insects could do this.

In 1841, an ordinary boy found a method of artificial pollination of vanilla flowers. With a thin sliver he pushed aside the membrane, which prevents the flower from self-pollinating, and with his thumbs transferred the pollen to the pestle. This had to be done with every flower. This method has become widespread throughout the world.

But pollinating a flower is only half the job. It is necessary to collect the pods in a certain period of ripeness, and the ripening time of each is different. After collection, they must be heat treated to stop adverse fermentation. After that, the pods must be wrapped in a fabric made of natural wool and allowed to lie down under sunlight for no more than an hour for about two weeks. Then they need to be dried for a long time before the appearance of white crystals - this is vanillin. It should ripen in this state for about a couple of months.

Kinds

The following varieties of vanilla are grown for production as a spice:

• fragrant;
• Tahitian
• Antillean.

Fragrant vanilla has large foliage of a light green hue, fairly large light yellow flowers. Each inflorescence has about 7–9 flowers. This species grows in Indonesia, in the Caribbean, and it can also be found in Central America.

Extract from Antillean vanilla is obtained. For the growth of this type of spice, a hot climate is required, while the height above sea level should not exceed 500 m. It is produced in Central America and Panama.

From the cross between Antillean and fragrant vanilla, Tainan appeared. It is cultivated in Polynesia, some regions of the Pacific Ocean. For the growth of this plant requires a humid southern climate. Spice is used as a decor.

Vanillin can be in several forms: crystalline, powdery and liquid.

1. The crystalline form has a classic vanilla odor, does not lose its spicy qualities at high temperature. It is often added to pastries, ice cream.
2. Powdered vanillin is a mixture with various enhancers of taste and smell. It has a fine structure compared to crystalline. Used in the manufacture of chocolate.
3. The liquid form of vanilla flavor is used in the manufacture of dishes based on dairy products, various drinks and pastry. It is obtained from a crystalline form dissolved in alcohol.

What is the difference between vanillin and vanilla sugar

Vanilla sugar is obtained by mixing vanillin powder and regular sugar or powder, and vanillin is an artificial substance that is similar to vanilla. Usually mixed with two pods during the production of 500 g of sugar or powder.

Vanilla and vanilla: what is the difference

Vanilla has a natural origin. It is obtained from the fruits of vanilla. And vanillin is a powder that has a crystalline structure and a characteristic pleasant aroma of vanilla that does not have color. This powder is highly soluble in water. Due to the high cost and complexity of growing the plant, a powder was created in which vanilla extract was added.

Composition and calorie content

The composition of vanilla includes aromatic substances, essential oils, balms, fats, sugars and resins. In addition, it also contains a significant amount of carbohydrates, some proteins and fats, as well as B vitamins, PP, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin and pyridoxine.

In 100 g of vanillin - 288 kcal.

The beneficial properties of vanilla

General benefit

1. It has a pleasant sweetish soft aroma that helps a person to relax and calm down.
2. Helps relieve nervous tension, helps to cope with irritation, remove a sense of anxiety.
3. Deals with anxiety and insomnia.
4. It has a healing effect for the treatment of the nervous system.
5. It is a powerful anticarcinogen, antioxidant and antidepressant.
6. May lower blood pressure.
7. Helps with allergic reactions, convulsions, fever, arthritis.
8. It fights against inflammatory processes in the body.
9. Normalizes digestion processes.

For women

Vanilla contributes to the normalization of the menstrual cycle, facilitates the condition during premenstrual syndrome, helps to cope with painful sensations. Since vanilla has a sedative effect, it is used for inflammation in the digestive, as well as cardiovascular, excretory and respiratory systems. It is used in various cosmetic procedures.

For men

Vanilla can have a beneficial effect on the digestive system. Essential oils, which are part of the spice, contribute to improving appetite. In folk medicine, there are many recipes based on vanilla for the treatment of diseases such as dyspepsia, rheumatism, cramps, and fever, which are so common in men.

During pregnancy

The use of vanilla during pregnancy is not recommended. This spice helps increase appetite and can provoke an allergic reaction.

When breastfeeding

In the first months of breastfeeding, you especially want sweet pastries. But, as you know, sweets from the store include various flavoring enhancers and flavors that can negatively affect the health of a small child. Therefore, their use should be treated with great caution. Because of the pleasant aroma, sweets containing vanillin, I want to eat first. However, you need to be careful, since the fragrance can provoke the occurrence of allergies in infants. You need to start with a small piece of goodies and wait about two days. If the baby does not have rashes on his face, there are no problems with the tummy, then the spice can be eaten, but in small quantities.

For kids

Vanillin is the strongest allergen, so it should be used with great care. Children before they reach the age of three include it in the diet is contraindicated.

Due to the presence of essential oils in the composition of vanillin, they favorably affect the digestive system. Spiciness reduces the risk of diabetes, due to the presence of antioxidants in the composition, it improves vision, helps relieve nervous tension and cope with stress.

When losing weight

Traditional medicine claims that vanilla helps to lose weight. Spice is used as a flavoring that can "satisfy" hunger, which will help to quickly eliminate flour and sweet products from the diet.

When vanilla is added to coffee or tea, spice helps to reduce the production of the hormone responsible for hunger. This drink is usually drunk 30 minutes before a meal. This will help to eat less food and thereby favorably affect the process of losing weight.

Vanillin in medicine

A pleasant spice should be included in the daily diet when there are health problems, the appearance of neurosis and outbreaks of aggression, insomnia, premenstrual syndrome, irregular menstrual cycles, menopause, a tendency to excessive alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, flatulence, colitis, intestinal colic. It is used for disorders of the nervous system, to get rid of rheumatism, dyspepsia, and to increase appetite. Vanillin is an excellent alternative medicine, used for anemia, able to stimulate and stimulate the activity of the muscular system.

Do not lubricate the oral mucosa with a vanilla extract, dig it into the auricle and nostrils, rinse and make microclysters. All other methods of treatment with vanilla essential oil are quite applicable.

With the help of vanillin, air is aromatized, rubbed on its basis, compresses, used in skin care, added to bathtubs. Vanilla oil helps to increase the elasticity of the skin, makes them soft, eliminates irritation and rashes, reduces inflammation.

Vanilla extract serves as an additive to many medicines, eliminating their bitter taste and unpleasant odor.

With diabetes

Vanillin can be added to dishes that are specially prepared for people with diabetes. But this does not apply to vanilla sugar, the use of which is prohibited under this disease, since it contributes to a sharp increase in blood sugar. With the help of this spice for diabetes patients, you can cook many healthy dishes, diversify, make the taste of ordinary food more rich and rich.

With pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. To get rid of this disease, you should reconsider your usual diet and adhere to a strict diet. In this disease, experts recommend that all spicy seasonings be excluded from dishes, and the amount of salt consumed should be minimized.

In order to diversify the menu, vanillin is often used as an additive to pastries and other allowed dishes. This will make the menu the most attractive and rich in taste.

Application in cosmetology

Vanilla used in cosmetology began a very long time ago. To give the hair softness and silkiness, vanilla oil was used and applied to its entire length. Now cosmetology companies use vanilla extract in production.

Based on vanilla extract, you can take a relaxing bath. You just need to add a few drops of vanilla extract to the honey and milk, slightly salted mixture. Add the resulting mixture to a bath filled with water.

From vanillin, you can make an anti-cellulite body mask. To do this, mix the following ingredients: 250 g of sugar, 50 g of ground coffee, 15 drops of vanilla oil. Apply to the skin with massaging movements, but not on the face or on inflamed and sensitive areas of the body.

Vanilla has a wonderful aroma, so it is often added to eau de toilette and perfume.

To soften and give the hair a healthy shine, conditioners and shampoos with the addition of vanilla oil should be used in the care.

1. In order to accelerate hair growth, you can prepare the next mask.It is necessary to mix with each other 10 g of finely grated ginger root, 25 g of fat sour cream and 3 drops of vanilla oil. Lubricate the hair roots with the mixture, leave for 20 minutes, then rinse with water. To consolidate the effect, you can rinse your hair with a decoction of chamomile.
2. The following mask will help to cope with the problem of excessive hair loss. To prepare it, you need to mix 2 drops of vanilla oil, 7 g of coconut oil and 5 g of burdock oil. After mixing the ingredients with each other, warm them in a water bath, and then distribute them on the scalp. Hold the composition all night, wrapping a towel around his head. Wash off the mask using shampoo.
3. To strengthen the hair, give them shine, you need to prepare the next mask. To begin with, mix 2 drops of vanilla oil with 3 egg yolks, add 30 g of brewer's yeast to the resulting mixture. Apply to clean, slightly damp hair. Wrap your head in a towel for 1 hour, then rinse with shampoo. This mask is recommended to be used no more than 5 times per month.
4. To give hair silky and smooth, you need to use the following mask. Mix 3 drops of vanilla essential oil, 20 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice, and the same amount of sunflower oil. Mix all the ingredients together, apply to dry, clean hair. Wrap your head with foil and warm your hair for 10 minutes with warm air from a hair dryer. Then wash off the mask using shampoo.
5. The following remedy will help to thicken the hair. To prepare it, you need 3 drops of vanilla oil, 5 ml of almond oil. In a separate container, mix 20 g of ground henna with tea. Add oil to the mixture and mix until smooth. Apply the mask to the roots, then wrap hair with a towel. Keep the mask for about 2 hours. Wash off with shampoo.

Homemade masks containing vanilla should be used no more than 2 times during the week. Hair will become more luxuriant, gain a healthy shine, the problem of split ends and hair loss will disappear.

Vanilla oil is also used in the preparation of homemade face masks.

1. This mask will help get rid of wrinkles. To prepare it, mix 2 drops of vanilla oil with mashed potatoes from 1 avocado and 1 banana. Apply the resulting mixture to the skin of the face with a thick layer. Wash off the mask after 30 minutes. Use this mixture once a week.
2. If you are concerned about frequent rashes, acne, then you should try the following mask. Mix 2 drops of vanilla oil with 20 drops of grape seed oil, add 10 g of giardia and the same amount of corn starch. Dilute everything with mineral water to a consistency of thick sour cream. Apply the mask to problem areas and keep for about 10 minutes.
3. In order to cope with dry skin, you should use the following mask. To prepare it, mix 2 drops of vanilla oil with 10 ml of olive oil, 2 drops of sandalwood oil, mix 1 egg yolk in the mixture, beat everything. Heat the resulting mixture in a water bath and apply on steamed clean skin. It is recommended that you leave the mask on your face all night or hold it for about 3 hours. Wash off the mask and apply a greasy cream.

The use of vanillin in cooking

Vanillin and vanilla sugar, a processed spice, are often used in the preparation of culinary delights. Most often it is used in the form of syrup or mixed with granulated sugar. Real vanilla is added to desserts, pastries and flour products. To give a special taste and pleasant aroma, it is added to various liquors, fillers for cakes, mulled wines, cocktails and homemade preparations.

Most often, artificial vanillin is found in the store - a replacement for natural vanilla. Unlike the original, artificial spice has a pungent smell. 20 g of vanillin powder replaces 1 kg of vanilla sticks.

In production, spice is added to sweets and chocolate products. To give the dishes and drinks a vanilla aroma, half an hour before serving, put a vanilla pod, about 15 cm long, on them, before removing the dish, remove it. Vanilla sugar is most often added to dough and desserts.

Vanilla syrup is used to coat cakes and biscuits.To prepare vanilla syrup, you should take 400 g of granulated sugar and mix with 1 cup of water. Melt the mixture over low heat, then allow to cool. Separately mix 3 g of vanillin and 50 g of vodka. Pour the mixture into the cooled sugar syrup, mix everything until a homogeneous mass is obtained.

What can be replaced

Vanilla is a fairly expensive spice, so it is often replaced with artificially prepared vanilla or vanilla sugar. In addition, vanillin can be replaced with no less aromatic spices, such as cinnamon, chicory, vanilla syrup or powder.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the fact that vanilla has many useful properties, there are also contraindications in its use, neglecting which, you can cause significant harm to the body. This spice is prohibited during pregnancy, you should be careful during breastfeeding. Spice can cause a severe allergic reaction.

Vanilla increases the sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet light, so after applying a mask or cream containing this spice, you should not go out in the open sun for some time.

Is it possible to add vanillin

Vanillin is used as a flavoring additive in various homemade preparations.

In jam

When added to the sweet preparation, vanillin gives the jam even more saturation, sweetness and aroma and more reveals the taste of fruit or berries. Although some housewives believe that vanillin sets off the natural taste of the product, and you should not add it. Therefore, to add or not this spice to the jam - depends on the taste preferences of the hostess.

In pancakes

When cooking pancakes, the housewives often add vanilla sugar to the dough. This spice gives the dessert a delicate aroma and a special taste, stimulates appetite. Any products are suitable for the basis of pancake dough - it can be water, milk, kefir, yogurt.

In coffee

This spice is added in the preparation of various cocktails, such as vanilla mocha, latte and other varieties. Vanilla sugar is added to raf coffee. The United States is preparing a drink called French Vanilla.

Only when heated, vanillin or vanilla give their flavor and sweet taste to the drink. Therefore, in cold coffee, they will be almost invisible, but they will add a note of piquancy to the espresso. They should be added during the cooking process. Vanilla syrups are also used to make coffee drinks. It is best to add vanilla sugar to coffee, a natural spice will give a rather peculiar flavor.

In compote

When making compotes, vanillin is added during the cooking process. Spice enhances the natural sweet taste of fruits and berries from which the drink is brewed.

How to choose and store

Experienced chefs advise you to pay attention to the appearance of the spice. These should be smooth, not thin, sufficiently plastic pods that should not break when bent. If a white coating forms on the surface of the vanilla, this is a sign of a high quality product.

Spice can be stored in unopened packaging for up to three years. If the pack has a plastic clasp, the vanilla pods in it will not go bad for about three more months. However, they should be stored at room temperature not higher than 26 degrees, otherwise the pods will begin to release moisture. It is better not to store vanilla in the refrigerator, as it gradually loses moisture, and mold forms on the surface.

The most optimal storage medium is cling film or wax paper. Spicy sticks need to be wrapped in paper or wrapped with cling film in several layers, put in a glass container. Glassware should be placed in a place where direct sunlight will not fall, in which it will be dry and cool. The container should be well closed, otherwise the spice will absorb all extraneous odors and may also dry out.After a couple of weeks, the vanilla pods need to be removed and left for a quarter of an hour for ventilation.

Using these simple methods of care and storage, you can provide spices in their original form for a couple of years. In practice, there are cases when vanilla was suitable for use even after 30 years of storage.

Often a white crystalline coating appears on the surface of the spice; many inexperienced housewives can take it for mold and throw away suitable pods. This plaque confirms how good vanilla sticks are. In order not to confuse it with mold, you should carefully consider the pods. Vanillin crystals shine in the light, but the mold is a dull shade. Yes, and a spoiled product smells very specific.

Interesting facts about vanilla

1. The aroma of vanilla promotes the production of the hormone of pleasure.
2. Vanilla is considered one of the most expensive spices in the world because of the difficulty of growing it.
3. In June, in the homeland of spices, in Mexico, an annual vanilla festival takes place.
4. There are more than a hundred varieties of vanilla, but only three varieties are specially grown from them. They grow on the island of Madagascar.
5. The Aztecs in the 16th century served as vanilla cash equivalent.
6. Artificial vanilla has nothing to do with natural vanilla. It is produced synthetically from such products: pine bark, clove oil, waste from paper making, bran from rice, currently petrochemical compounds.
7. Culinary experts value vanilla seeds the most; they have a very intense aroma. They are used in the manufacture of baking, added to dairy products.
8. Vanilla is one of the strongest aphrodisiacs in the world.
9. Until now, vanilla is collected only by hand; no one has yet been able to automate its collection.
10. Previously, each pod was numbered on vanilla plantations, fearing theft, since vanilla was very expensive.
11. In the distant past, vanilla served as a medicine, and now it is added to medicines to give them a pleasant aroma and soften an unpleasant aftertaste.