Spices and herbs make your food taste excellent, but apart from that, they are very beneficial for your health.
Various spices and herbs play an important role in combating inflammation and reducing cell damage in the body. Herbs, such as basil, which are leaves of a plant, and spices, such as cinnamon, derived from bark, roots, berries, and seeds of a plant, are added to food to enhance its flavour. But do you know that they possess health benefits too? They have plant chemicals called phytochemicals that have anti-inflammatory effects.
Turmeric ranks as number 1 among spices in terms of providing health benefits.
One of the most popular ways of incorporating turmeric into your daily routine is drinking golden milk just before bed. To prepare this magical drink, all you have to do is add a tiny amount of turmeric in almond milk or coconut milk and add some ghee to it. So there you go, an amazingly beneficial drink that helps you have a perfect night’s sleep. Turmeric is a natural antibiotic and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Although messy and leaves stubborn yellow stains, it tastes delicious and is added to numerous cuisines to enhance the aroma, appearance, and taste.
Many spices and herbs are available as health supplements.
Capsules of cinnamon extract, oregano oil, etc., are a few herbs and spices sold as supplements to boost your health. However, it is still recommended that you eat these herbs and spices in their natural forms rather than taking their processed pills. It might be possible that the pill claimed to contain a certain percentage of a particular herb or spice doesn’t have it in that much quantity. Moreover, they might contain unhealthy preservatives and additives that might harm your health.
Next time when cooking, try adding these flavorful yet healthy spices and herbs to your meals.
Adding cardamom to beverages and meals is excellent for soothing an upset stomach. Similarly, dried chilli peppers are a good source of boosting metabolism and may play a crucial role in keeping your blood vessels healthy. Cocoa, which is the main ingredient in chocolate, is not only finger-licking good but full of antioxidants called flavonoids, which are great for the health of your heart. Furthermore, adding ginger to your food is good for aiding digestion, whereas garlic plays a vital role in reducing the chances of cardiac diseases.
Warming spices are great during winters.
Warming spices such as cloves play an essential role in regulating heat within your system and ultimately helps in the process of digestion. During the winter seasons, your digestive enzymes don’t work correctly as they perform their functions during the summertime due to the cold environment. In such cases, nature has gifted you with warming spices like cloves, cinnamon, fennel seeds, ginger, garlic, etc., that generate heat in your body and aid your body to digest and absorb your food correctly.
Adding these flavorful and healthy spices not only enhances the aroma and taste of your food but also keeps you away from adding unhealthy additives like MSG, which processes salts and sugars to your food.