Do Spices Have Healing Powers?

Going around the mall on your free day for some window shopping with your friends is really awesome, and a bit tiring. While wanting to relax those tired arms and legs, chances are you are also a bit hungry by now. “Let’s have some snack girls. Am famished”. Off you go to a nearby fast food chain to order your favorite pizza and pasta. Before taking a bite, you go to the spice rack for some herb spice. Then you sprinkle your fettuccini with cinnamon and add a dash of oregano to your mozzarella cheese pizza but without giving the spices much thought.

You may not be aware, but do you know that your favorite flavors can actually do your body good? That spices have healing powers. I will explain further. Health studies revealed that while dried herbs and spices are only effective when eaten at least daily, each has its own specific health benefits. When included in your regular diet, these additives can help burn unwanted fats, soothes a sore throat or even allows you to have a good sleep. Let us study few of them.

• Cardamom - Fruit of the Elettaria cardamomum plant in the ginger family.

Health Benefits – alleviate belching, flatulence and indigestion; cures respiratory conditions like coughing, asthma and loss of voice; helps in the removal of toxins through your skin.

Regular Dose - Mix the additive after you ground a few pinches of cardamom pods into a shot of OJ or on your morning fruit salad. Can also be mixed with white or brown rice before you boil it.

• Cayenne - Fruit of the Capsicum annuum plant in the Solanaceae family, along with chile pepper.

Health Benefits - Removes gas from the stomach and intestines; soothes sore throat, cold and flu symptoms; increases metabolism for weight control.

Regular Dose – For a contrasting flavor kick, mix it into a cup of hot chocolate or any sweet juice drink.

• Cinnamon - Bark of a small evergreen tree.

Health Benefits – Relieves nausea and stomach ulcers; functions as a mild anti-inflammatory; increases insulin sensitivity to help focus fat burn.

Regular Dose - Mix into coffee/tea, yogurt, oatmeal or any boxed cereal.

• Cloves - Flower bud found at the base of an evergreen tree.

Health Benefits - Soothes digestive tract muscles and is a potent antihistamine.

Regular Dose - Mix into your nightly ice cream treat or sneak into mustard spread.

• Nutmeg - Fruit of Myristica fragrans,an evergreen tree.

Health Benefits - Improves digestion; eases the symptoms of menstruation; induces calm and sleep.

Regular Dose- Grate a small amount into applesauce or plain yogurt. (Note: It’s safe to grate the entire nut, which you can usually buy whole at the supermarket, but you never want to consume more than one nutmeg per day because too much of this potent spice can cause stomach pain, double vision and other uncomfortable reactions.)

• Celery Seed - Seed of the Apium graveolens plant in the parsley family.

Health Benefits - Flushes out toxins from the liver; lowers blood pressure; combats water retention.

Regular Dose - Think salads—tuna, potato and egg all work—which can be tossed onto a bed of lettuce, eaten alone or spread onto bread.

• Coriander - Also known as cilantro; the leaves and seeds of the Coriandrum plant in the aromatic Apiaceae family.

Health Benefits - Acts as a diuretic; eases seasonal allergies.

Regular Dose - Cook into couscous and quinoa, which you can store and eat with leftovers.

• Fennel - Seed of the Foeniculum plant in the aromatic Apiaceae family.

Health Benefits - Calms bowel distress; supports milk production in nursing mothers; combats water retention.

Regular Dose - Add to canned minestrones and vegetable soups.

• Oregano - Leaf of the Origanum plant in the mint family.

Health Benefits - Loosens mucus; helps treat respiratory illnesses; and calms indigestion.

Regular Dose - Use in any tomato-based foods, like marinara sauces, pizza and soups.

• Thyme - Leaf of the Thymus plant in the mint family.

Health Benefits - Relaxes the muscle tissue of the gastrointestinal tract; stimulates immune system.

Regular Dose - Toss into any meat-based dishes.

• Turmeric - Root of the Circuma plant in the ginger family.

Health Benefits - Reduces inflammation (joints, airways); detoxifies the liver.

Regular Dose - Mix in with oil-and-vinegar-based salad dressings.