Vanilla extract and beans contain vanillin, a phenolic plant component. It is the part of vanilla that has been studied the most. Additionally, laboratories in China, France, and the United States manufacture synthetic vanillin. Other foods, such as rice bran oil and clove oil, can also be used to make vanillin.

Although these results are encouraging, it is yet unknown how vanillin impacts human health. Additionally, concentrated dosages of vanillin that are greater than what would be absorbed when consuming regular amounts of vanilla extract or bean were employed in research looking at these possible health advantages.

For comparison, vanilla extract has a vanillin content of 0.1-0.2% whereas cured vanilla beans have a vanillin concentration of 1-2%. Vanillin could provide some health advantages, but it's not apparent if regular use would result in any notable advantages. It should be emphasized that despite declining vanilla orchid output, the demand for natural vanilla has surged. As a result, vanilla prices have skyrocketed.

Some of the substances included in vanilla beans and extract have antioxidant properties, which means they aid in cell protection. For instance, the antioxidant capacity of vanillin and vanillic acid, two phenolic plant components found in vanilla, has been studied. A test-tube investigation conducted in 2020 discovered that both vanillin and vanillic acid protected brain cells from oxidative damage. Vanillin was discovered to be the more potent of the two.

Additionally, vanillin was found to protect against liver damage and age-related oxidative damage in 2021 research on aged rats. Further rat research from 2011 showed that pretreatment with vanillin shielded against induced liver damage. Although it is obvious that both vanilla extract and vanilla beans contain ingredients that may provide antioxidant protection, it is still unclear if ingesting regular doses of vanilla would provide people with any antioxidant advantages.

Although inflammation is a crucial component of a healthy immune response, persistent inflammation has been associated with a number of health issues, including a higher chance of developing chronic diseases. Consuming a diet strong in anti-inflammatory foods and beverages may lower inflammatory indicators in your body and enhance general health. Vanillin is one of the chemicals found in vanilla products that have been proved to have potent anti-inflammatory properties.

Taking oral vanillin supplements lowered inflammatory indicators including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-) in both blood and liver tissue, according to a 2018 research that fed obese mice a high-fat diet. Another study conducted on mice in 2017 discovered that oral vanillin administration at various dosages decreased psoriasis-related skin inflammation. Vanillin defends against inflammation-related cell damage, according to other rodent and test-tube investigations. However, there is no proof that ingesting vanilla beans or extract lowers inflammatory indicators or shields human cells from inflammation-related harm. Finally, keep in mind that these investigations did not employ pure vanilla goods, but rather concentrated components from vanilla products.

According to some studies, the vanilla chemicals vanillin and vanillic acid may help to maintain brain function. Additionally, they can have neuroprotective qualities, which means that they might shield your neurological system. For instance, a study conducted in 2021 examined vanillic acid's neuroprotective properties on mice that had been treated with a neurotoxin, a drug that may impair your neurological system.

Injections of vanillic acid protected against nerve cell inflammation decreased Alzheimer's disease-related indicators and lowered the neurotoxin's effects on memory. Vanillin has also been shown to be a potential neuroprotective drug in several test-tube and animal investigations. However, there is no proof that a diet rich in vanilla beans or extract supports brain function or guards against cognitive decline in people.

Utilizing vanilla bean powder or extract in dishes and beverages may help you consume less added sugar. In 2020, 129 young individuals participated in a study that discovered that sugary beverages' perceived sweetness increased when the vanilla scent was added. A 2021 study also showed that adding vanilla flavor to yogurt with lower sugar did not change the way people perceived it to be sweet.

Additionally, a 2020 research of 112 kids found that over 80% of the participants liked reduced-sugar desserts more overall when vanilla was added to milk-based sweets. This implies that including vanilla in desserts can eliminate the need for additional sugar.