The spice of life
Punch up your food's nutrition and its flavor with these enhancers
Spices like turmeric and ginger come from the roots of their plants, while cinnamon, comes from the bark of its plant.
NUTRITION
We know the importance of herbs and spices for enhancing flavors, but do you know how they can enhance your health, as well? They have been used for centuries for both culinary and medicinal purposes.
Herbs like basil, oregano and cilantro are the leaves of the plant, and spices like cinnamon and ginger come from the roots, bark, berries, flowers or seeds of the plant.
Turmeric
Turmeric has been used for centuries, especially in Indian culture, for culinary, medicinal, traditional and religious purposes. Turmeric's vibrant golden hue comes from a substance known as curcumin. Curcumin is also what makes turmeric a medicinal "cure-all," thought to aid in oxidative damage, inflammation, brain function, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, cancer, arthritis and depression.
Curcumin fights free radicals in two ways: It blocks them, and it also helps to increase our body's own antioxidant enzymes. Curcumin has such strong anti-inflammatory properties that it matches the power of some anti-inflammatory drugs but without side effects.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is made from the dried and then ground bark of a tree native to Sri Lanka. It contains one of the highest levels of antioxidants compared with other common spices. Research shows that consuming cinnamon may help lower blood sugar levels by slowing the breakdown of carbohydrate in the digestive tract and by improving insulin sensitivity. Additionally, it has been shown to significantly decrease fasting blood sugars.
Ginger
Ginger is a spice native to Asia and is closely related to turmeric. It is most effective at reducing nausea and vomiting due to sea sickness, chemotherapy and pregnancy. Ginger helps the digestive system by relieving flatulence and by relaxing and soothing the intestinal tract.
Garlic
Garlic is part of the onion family, also known as the Allium family. Hippocrates prescribed garlic for many medicinal purposes and today, you can take garlic supplements to help boost immune health and reduce blood pressure and cholesterol.
