When we add small amounts of herbs, spices, and other seasonings to our food, we’re usually only interested in enhancing flavor. What we may not know is that we’re adding powerful health benefits beyond just taste.
Many of our favorite herbs and spices have powerful health properties, including:
antibiotic and antisepticthus protecting us from bacteria, fungi and parasites
anti-inflammatory thus protecting heart health and relieving arthritis.
antioxidantprotecting us from the ravages of free radicals.
A cooking lesson with herbs and spices
Let’s make a pot of chili, bake a pumpkin pie, and finish it off with a cup of mint tea.
We’ll really spice up that chili with all of the following ingredients:
chilli powder The active ingredient in chili peppers is capsaicin. Chili powder is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It is claimed to be an appetite suppressant (hint, hint) and a cancer fighter.
Garlic Contains organosulfur compounds and the antibiotic allicin. It is antioxidant and antibiotic. Reduces cholesterol, thins the blood. It can fight cancer when combined with tomatoes. (Lots of great recipe ideas in there.)
Onions protects against infections, strengthens the health of the immune system, normalizes cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Rosemary Contains camosol and rosarinic acid. It can fight breast, lung and skin cancer. Use when grilling meat to reduce the formation of carcinogens, heterocyclic amines. (The piney flavor of the rosemary is good for the filling.)
Turmeric contains a potent phytochemical, curcimin. It’s a cancer fighter, turning off the proteins that make cells grow, inducing cancer cells to self-destruct. It can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, psoriasis and arthritis. (If you like Indian food, the curry powder contains turmeric.)
The active ingredients in Oregano are quercertin and rosmarinic acids, powerful antioxidants that protect against breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer.
Cumin It is an antioxidant that reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. It may protect against stomach ulcers and gastric cancer by killing H. pylori bacteria.
(Add it to Mexican foods, meats, scrambled eggs).
It’s time to bake a pumpkin pie. See what spices can do for you.
Cinnamon it is antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It relieves arthritis, improves blood glucose levels, lowers cholesterol, is an anticoagulant and aids digestion. Wow! (Add cinnamon to coffee grounds for a morning treat. Add to oatmeal along with blueberries and skim or soy milk for a power breakfast.)
nutmeg Reduces cholesterol, increases circulation, joint pain, gout and indigestion.
Cloves They are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant, help relieve asthma, bronchitis and muscle pain, and eliminate parasites, fungi and bacteria.
ginger relieves intestinal gas, morning sickness and stimulates the immune system.
Would you like some mint tea to finish off?
Mint soothes the digestive tract, relieves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and protects against cancer.
