Surprising Healing Benefits of Spices:
Just imagine your food without any flavour of authentic spices & herbs. Unimaginable, is it? Apart from adding colour, flavour and taste, consumption of spices provide infinite health benefits. You can be more creative in use of spices if you know its uses better. The chances are you sprinkle cinnamon into your morning oatmeal or add a dash of oregano to pizza without giving the spices much thought. But did you know your favorite flavors can actually do your body good? Read below and find out which additives can burn fat, ease a sore throat or help you get to sleep, and how you can incorporate them into your daily diet. Here is a quick look at some of them (some of my favourite ones) ::
Black Pepper:
Black pepper is one of the most commonly used spices. In fact, it is not uncommon for a person to use pepper with every meal ... fortunately, as it turns out, this is a good thing. Because black pepper is good for us.
Black pepper improves digestion by stimulating the taste buds and thereby alerting the stomach to increase hydrochloric secretion. Black pepper is also an antioxidant, and it has antibacterial effects. But wait - there's more! You will be very happy to know that the outermost layer of the peppercorn actually helps stimulate the breakdown of fat cells. Black pepper also helps prevent the formation of intestinal gas, promotes urination, and promotes sweating. It is full of manganese, and it also has a good amount of iron and dietary fiber, as well.
Cardamom:
Fruit of the Elettaria cardamomum plant in the ginger family.
Health Powers: Eases belching, flatulence and indigestion; treats respiratory conditions like coughing, asthma and loss of voice; aids in the elimination of toxins through your skin.
Daily Dose: Stir a few freshly ground pinches of cardamom pods into a shot of OJ or your morning fruit salad, or mix it 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 Powers: Eliminates gas from the stomach and intestines; soothes sore throat, cold and flu symptoms; increases metabolism for weight control.
Daily Dose: Stir into a cup of hot chocolate or any sweet juice drink for a contrasting flavor kick.
Celery Seed:
Seed of the Apium graveolens plant in the parsley family.
Health Powers: Flushes the liver of toxins; lowers blood pressure; combats water retention.
Daily Dose: Think salads—tuna, potato and egg all work—which can be tossed onto a bed of lettuce, eaten alone or spread onto bread.
Chili Powder:
Potential health perk: Relieves achy joints. Research shows that capsaicin, found in chili peppers, has an anti-inflammatory effect, which may help ease arthritic swelling and pain.
Hot way to dish it: Sprinkle a few shakes of chili powder and salt on baked French fries
Cinnamon:
Bark of a small evergreen tree.
Health Powers: Tames nausea and stomach ulcers; functions as a mild anti-inflammatory; increases insulin sensitivity to help focus fat burn.
Daily Dose: Stir into coffee/tea, yogurt, oatmeal or any boxed cereal.
Coriander:
Also known as cilantro; the leaves and seeds of the Coriandrum plant in the aromatic Apiaceae family.
Health Powers: Acts as a diuretic; eases seasonal allergies.
Daily Dose: Cook into couscous and quinoa, which you can store and eat with leftovers.
Cloves:
Flower bud found at the base of an evergreen tree.
Health Powers: Soothes digestive tract muscles and is a potent antihistamine.
Daily Dose: Mix into your nightly ice cream treat or sneak into mustard spread.
Curry Powder:
Potential health perk: Safeguards your brain. The yellow curry pigment curcumin may fight Alzheimer's by thwarting development of the disease's signature amyloid brain plaques, says a study.
Whisk 1 1/2 teaspoons mild curry powder into mayonnaise to dress up sandwiches.
Fennel:
Seed of the Foeniculum plant in the aromatic Apiaceae family.
Health Powers: Calms bowel distress; supports milk production in nursing mothers; combats water retention.
Daily Dose: Add to canned minestrones and vegetable soups.
Fenugreek:
Fenugreek, is an herb that is commonly found growing in the Mediterranean region of the world. While the seeds and leaves are primarily used as a culinary spice. Fenugreek is helpful in controlling cholesterol levels, treating Diabetes and lowering Blood Sugar Levels. It is also good in Skin Inflammation problem, heartburn and acid reflux.
Usage: Fenugreek is a subtly sweet yet somewhat spicy side dish with any roasted food to enhance the menu. It taste really well if used as a stuffing in various foods. It goes especially well with cauliflower, eggplant and potatoes.
Garlic:
Improves your heart's health, blood pressure & cholesterol. Garlic consumption can lower total cholesterol and triglyceride levels by an average of 10 percent.
Usage: Add minced garlic and chopped cucumber to plain yogurt for a light dip or salad dressing or even mix it with your daily cooked food for extra flavour.
Ginger:
Ginger has many & many qualities. It is helpful in motion sickness, smooth blood flow, nausea indigestion and in heart dieases. It is an excellent anti-oxidant and helpful in fighting arthritis and cancer as well.
Usage: Add minced garlic and chopped cucumber to plain sweet-yogurt as a kinky starter before main meals and you can even mix it with your daily cooked food for extra flavour.
Nutmeg:
Fruit of Myristica fragrans,an evergreen tree.
Health Powers: Improves digestion; eases the symptoms of menstruation; induces calm and sleep.
Daily 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.)
Oregano:
Leaf of the Origanum plant in the mint family.
Health Powers: Loosens mucus; helps treat respiratory illnesses; and calms indigestion.
Daily Dose: Use in any tomato-based foods, like marinara sauces, pizza and soups.
Thyme :
Leaf of the Thymus plant in the mint family.
Health Powers: Relaxes the muscle tissue of the gastrointestinal tract; stimulates immune system.
Daily Dose: Toss into any meat-based dishes.
Turmeric:
Root of the Circuma plant in the ginger family.
Health Powers: Reduces inflammation (joints, airways); detoxifies the liver. It is a natual antibioticand helpful in digestive disorders.
Daily Dose: Mix in with oil-and-vinegar-based salad dressings.
Wasabi:
Itp prevents ulcers. A 2004 South Korean study suggests Japanese horseradish can kill ulcer-causing Helicobacter pylori bacteria. Plant chemicals may also prevent tooth decay. Hot way to dish it: Mix a smidgen of wasabi paste with mashed avocado for a snappier guacamole.
No comments:
Post a Comment