Cinnamon vs. Ground cloves — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Calories

Compared to cinnamon, ground cloves have more calories per hundred grams. A hundred grams of cinnamon provides 247 calories, whereas ground cloves have 274 calories. One teaspoon of cinnamon has four kcal, whereas one teaspoon of ground cloves provides six kcal.

Protein

Ground cloves have more protein than cinnamon. A hundred grams of cinnamon has 4g of protein, whereas ground cloves have 6g. Ground cloves are high in all amino acids except for tryptophan.

Fats

Compared to cinnamon, ground cloves have over ten times more fat. A hundred grams of cinnamon has 1.3g of fat, while ground cloves provide 13g. Cinnamon has less saturated fat, whereas ground cloves are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. In addition, ground cloves have 0.254g of trans fats per hundred grams, while cinnamon lacks it.

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison

Cinnamon

1

:

2

Ground cloves

Contains less Saturated Fat -91.3%

Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +466.3%

Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +5202.9%

Cinnamon

Saturated Fat: 0.345 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.246 g

Polyunsaturated fat: 0.068 g

Ground cloves

Saturated Fat: 3.952 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 1.393 g

Polyunsaturated fat: 3.606 g

Contains less Saturated Fat -91.3%

Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +466.3%

Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +5202.9%

Carbohydrates

Cinnamon is high in total carb content. However, cinnamon has a higher dietary fiber content, whereas ground cloves are high in net carbs. A hundred grams of cinnamon contain 80.59g of carbs, whereas ground cloves provide 65.53g. 

In a 100g serving, cinnamon and ground cloves have 27.49g and 31.63g of net carbs, respectively.

In a 100g serving, cinnamon and ground cloves have 53.1g and 33.9g of dietary fiber, respectively.

Both contain equal amounts of sucrose, fructose, and glucose. Ground cloves also contain 0.15g of galactose, whereas cinnamon lacks it.

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison

Cinnamon

1

:

2

Ground cloves

Contains more Galactose +∞%

Equal in Sucrose - 0.02

Equal in Glucose - 1.14

Equal in Fructose - 1.07

Cinnamon

Starch: 0 g

Sucrose: 0.02 g

Glucose: 1.04 g

Fructose: 1.11 g

Lactose: 0 g

Maltose: 0 g

Galactose: 0 g

Ground cloves

Starch: 0 g

Sucrose: 0.02 g

Glucose: 1.14 g

Fructose: 1.07 g

Lactose: 0 g

Maltose: 0 g

Galactose: 0.15 g

Contains more Galactose +∞%

Equal in Sucrose - 0.02

Equal in Glucose - 1.14

Equal in Fructose - 1.07

Cholesterol

Cinnamon and ground cloves are cholesterol-free.

Vitamins

Cinnamon has over 1.8 times more vitamin A and 19 times more vitamin C. In a 100g serving, cinnamon and ground cloves have 3.8mg and 0.2 mg of vitamin C, respectively. Unlike it, ground cloves have over 3.8 times more vitamin E, four times more folate, and 4.5 times more vitamin K. Cloves also contain more vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6.

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Cinnamon

2

:

8

Ground cloves

Contains more Vitamin A +84.4%

Contains more Vitamin C +1800%

Contains more Vitamin E +280.2%

Contains more Vitamin B1 +618.2%

Contains more Vitamin B2 +436.6%

Contains more Vitamin B3 +17.1%

Contains more Vitamin B5 +42.2%

Contains more Vitamin B6 +147.5%

Contains more Folate +316.7%

Contains more Vitamin K +354.5%

Cinnamon

Ground cloves

Contains more Vitamin A +84.4%

Contains more Vitamin C +1800%

Contains more Vitamin E +280.2%

Contains more Vitamin B1 +618.2%

Contains more Vitamin B2 +436.6%

Contains more Vitamin B3 +17.1%

Contains more Vitamin B5 +42.2%

Contains more Vitamin B6 +147.5%

Contains more Folate +316.7%

Contains more Vitamin K +354.5%

Minerals

Cinnamon provides over 1.5 times more calcium, whereas ground cloves contain over 2.5 times more potassium, 4.5 times more magnesium, and 3.5 times more manganese. Cloves are also high in iron, selenium, phosphorus, and choline. On the other hand, cinnamon provides over 28 times less sodium. In a 100g serving, cinnamon and ground cloves have 10 mg and 277 mg of sodium, respectively.

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Cinnamon

2

:

8

Ground cloves

Contains more Calcium +58.5%

Contains less Sodium -96.4%

Contains more Iron +42.2%

Contains more Magnesium +331.7%

Contains more Phosphorus +62.5%

Contains more Potassium +136.7%

Contains more Zinc +26.8%

Contains more Manganese +244.3%

Contains more Selenium +132.3%

Equal in Copper - 0.368

Cinnamon

Ground cloves

Contains more Calcium +58.5%

Contains less Sodium -96.4%

Contains more Iron +42.2%

Contains more Magnesium +331.7%

Contains more Phosphorus +62.5%

Contains more Potassium +136.7%

Contains more Zinc +26.8%

Contains more Manganese +244.3%

Contains more Selenium +132.3%

Equal in Copper - 0.368

Oxalate content

Both are high in oxalates. However, cinnamon has a higher oxalate content. A 100-gram serving of cinnamon contains 3460mg of oxalate, whereas the oxalate content of ground cloves is 3245mg. Because the serving size is small, each serving contains very few oxalate levels.

Acidity

The potential renal acid load (PRAL) level indicates the food's capacity to degrade into acids or bases within the body. Cinnamon has a PRAL level of -19.3, whereas the PRAL value of ground cloves is -29.6. Both are alkaline-forming. 

Antioxidant Activities

Overall, cinnamon and cloves contain high levels of phenolics and have antioxidant properties (1). Among spices, clove has the highest concentration of antioxidant chemicals (2).

Neuroprotective Activities

Antioxidants play a crucial role in addressing memory deficits induced by oxidative stress. According to the study, clove oil may improve short and long-term memory and learning impairments caused by scopolamine through its antioxidant properties (2). 

Sodium benzoate (NaB), a metabolite of cinnamon, has neuroprotective properties. Studies suggest that NaB may reduce the production of proinflammatory chemicals in activated glial cells (3).

Antibacterial Activities

Several studies have indicated the potential effectiveness of cinnamon extracts and essential oils in combating oral cavity infections. Research revealed that cinnamon essential oil exhibited activity against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus, which play roles in dental plaque formation and caries development. More recent investigations have explored the antibacterial properties of fresh leaf extract from Cinnamomum zeylanicum against Enterococcus faecalis (4).

Clove oil possesses various biological properties, including antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal activities. Furthermore, it serves as an antiseptic in treating oral infections. Studies have indicated that it may inhibit the growth of bacteria, molds, and yeasts (5). 

The research found that cinnamon and clove oil have antibacterial properties against wound pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae (6, 7). 

Anticancer Activities 

Cinnamon extract inhibits cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and blocking NFκB and AP1 (8).

β-Caryophyllene (CPO), a key component of cinnamon, has shown potential in altering cancer cell survival pathways. It has antiproliferative effects on prostate and breast cancer cells (9).

Eugenol found in cloves and cinnamon may repress the development of malignant melanoma growth, decrease tumor size, and inhibit melanoma invasion and metastasis (2, 10). 

The ethanol extract of clove (EEC) may increase cell growth inhibition in various human cancer cell lines encompassing breast, ovarian, cervical, liver, pancreatic, and colon cells (11).