due to their aromatic flavor, juniper nuts are a popular ingredient in marinades, spices, and specialty cocktails.
The juniper tree grows native to many parts of the world, especially Europe, North America, and Asia (1)
it produces seed cones commonly known as juniper nuts. although the colors of the berries vary, most are dark blue. their aroma is often described as woody or spicy.
they have a sour, pine-like taste and are often used in small amounts as spices or flavors.
these small berries have been used in cooking and medicinal purposes since ancient times, and current research suggests that they may provide a variety of health benefits.
here are 5 emerging benefits of juniper nuts.
1. Highly nutritious and potent plant compound
If you've ever eaten juniper nut, you've probably wondered about its benefits
It is known to provide some vitamins and a group of plant compounds.
Like most other berries, they are a good source of vitamin C, providing 10% of the Daily Value (DV) (2) of this water-soluble nutrient per 1 ounce serving (28 grams).
Vitamin C is essential for immune health, collagen synthesis, and vascular function. It also acts as a strong antioxidant, protecting your cells from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals (3).
berries also contain many plant compounds, including flavonoid antioxidants, volatile oils, and coumarins, which have a variety of protective properties. （1）
volatile oils in juniper nuts contain substances called monoterpenes, including limonene, camphor, and β-pinene. monoterpenes have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. （4）
coumarin and flavonoid antioxidants also have a range of health-promoting effects. consuming a diet rich in these compounds can promote health and can prevent chronic diseases, including heart and neurodegenerative diseases. （5, 6）。
Summary: Juniper nuts are rich in vitamin C, flavonoid antioxidants, monoterpenes, and coumarins, all of which can provide a variety of health benefits.
2. Provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects
foods rich in antioxidants are important for health because they help protect your cells from damage that can lead to disease.
juniper nuts are rich in essential oils and flavonoids that act as potent antioxidants and help reduce inflammation.
a test-tube study detected more than 70 compounds in juniper nut essential oil, with monoterpenes α-pinenes, β-pinenes, Laurine, ax, and juniper accounting for the majority. all of this increases the oil's powerful antioxidant effects.
studies have found that this oil reduces cellular damage to yeast cells by increasing the activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. the primary role of these enzymes is to protect cells from free radical damage (7).
another test-tube study showed that juniper essential oil significantly reduced inflammation in human skin cells, an effect that researchers attributed to the high concentration of monoterpenes in the oil (8).
juniper nuts are also rich in the flavonoids rutin, luteolin, and apigenin, which test tubes, and animal and human studies have shown can act as powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. （9, 10, 11）
summary: juniper nuts contain essential oils and flavonoids that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
3. May have anti-diabetic properties
juniper nuts are used in traditional medical practice to treat diabetes, and recent studies have confirmed that they may have anti-diabetic properties.
One study of diabetic rats observed that supplementation with juniper extract significantly lowered blood sugar and increased HDL (good) cholesterol that protects the heart (12).
similarly, another study on the anti-diabetic effects of juniper extract found that it significantly lowered blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in diabetic rats. （13）
the researchers believe that these anti-diabetic effects are due to the high concentration of antioxidants in the berries (14).
while these findings are promising, studies on humans are needed to confirm this potential health benefit.
summary: some rodent studies have shown that juniper extract may improve high blood sugar levels, but there is a lack of research on humans.
4. Can promote heart health
juniper gin can promote heart health by improving HDL (good) cholesterol levels and lowering high triglyceride levels as well as LDL (bad) and total cholesterol.
a study of diabetic rats showed that juniper extract treatment reduced total cholesterol and triglyceride levels by 57% and 37%, respectively, compared with the control group. （13）
Another rat study found that juniper extract also increased HDL (good) cholesterol levels (12).
despite the lack of human studies, studies have shown that eating berries is an excellent way to reduce heart disease risk factors. （15）
however, until more human studies on the effects of juniper nuts on heart health are available, it is unclear whether consuming these berries can reduce the risk of heart disease.
summary: some animal studies suggest that juniper nut extract may improve risk factors for heart disease, but there is a lack of research on humans.
5. Antibacterial and antifungal activity
test-tube and animal studies have shown that juniper nuts have powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties. these are attributed to potent compounds in their oils, including maple, limonene, Laurine, and α- and β-pinene (16).
in one test-tube study, juniper essential oil showed antibacterial and antifungal effects on 16 species of bacteria, yeasts, yeast-like fungi, and dermatophytes, a fungus that grows on the skin and causes diseases such as ringworm. （16）
the strongest fungicidal activity targets dermatophytes, as well as candida spp., which can cause fungal infections such as oral and yeast infections (16).
another test-tube study found that juniper essential oil significantly inhibited the activity of three bacteria that can lead to severe human infections — mycobacterium goblets, mycobacterium avium, and intracellular mycobacterium (17).
extracts extracted from berries may also have antibacterial effects on many bacteria, including campylobacter jejuni and staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that can cause skin, lung, and bone infections, which often cause food poisoning. （18, 19, 20, 21）
while juniper nuts clearly have antibacterial and antifungal properties, human studies are still needed to test whether their extracts can be used to treat fungal or bacterial infections in humans.
summary: test-tube and animal studies have shown that juniper nut extract has strong antibacterial and antifungal effects. however, human studies are needed to confirm these benefits.
Juniper nut use
unlike other berries, juniper berries are usually used only in small amounts to flavor food – rather than in large quantities.
they have an astringency similar to pine, which makes them a popular ingredient in flavored recipes and brewed drinks.
for example, juniper nuts are used to add flavor to marinades and spice seasonings and to give gin a unique flavor.
they are usually sold in a dried form – whether complete or crushed – but can also be purchased fresh.
keep in mind that there are many types of junipers, and not all of them are edible. berries from juniper are most commonly used in culinary applications (22).
juniper nut essential oil is also used in aromatherapy and is said to calm. remember that essential oils should not be consumed.
in addition, gin tea can be purchased in tea bags or crushed juniper nuts at home.
Dosage and precautions
juniper nut supplements and extracts can be purchased online and at certain health food stores.
due to the lack of human studies, it is unclear what doses are most effective in obtaining their medicinal value.
most juniper seed supplement labels recommend taking 1-6 grams daily in multiple doses.
these supplements are not suitable for children and should be avoided by pregnant women as juniper nuts are considered uterine stimulants and high doses may cause miscarriage (23).
supplements may also interact with certain medications, such as diuretics and psychotropic drugs.
in addition, many online sources point out that concentrated juniper nut supplements may harm your kidneys, although there is no evidence to support these claims.
still, given the lack of human studies to determine the safety and efficacy of taking juniper nut supplements, it is best to opt for other thoroughly researched natural remedies.
regardless, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider before trying a new supplement.
summary: juniper berries are often used in small doses for flavoring recipes and beverages. little is known about the safety or efficacy of juniper supplements, so choosing another, more researched alternative may be a better option.
Conclusion
due to their aromatic flavor, juniper nuts are a popular ingredient in marinades, spices, and specialty cocktails.
in animal and test-tube studies, berry extracts have been shown to provide many health benefits. it may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and lower blood sugar levels and heart disease risk factors.
however, due to the lack of human studies on the potential medicinal effects of juniper nuts and their supplements, their safety and efficacy are largely unknown.
therefore, it is best to use fresh or dried juniper nuts in small amounts as a cooking ingredient and opt for more researched substitutes for juniper supplements.