All herbs and spices, especially in their natural form, contain plenty of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that can help stave off health problems and keep your body in tip top shape. So the next time you cook or eat, be generous with flavoring your food with herbs and spices - you'll instantly have a flavorful, healthy meal!
Here are 5 of the healthiest common herbs and spices that you should start including in your meals regularly:
1. Ginger
Ginger is a common herb best known for its ability to treat stomach problems and motion sickness. It contains gingerol, a substance that has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Because of this, ginger is also effective in treating muscular pain as well as reducing the risk of arthritis, osteoarthritis and certain kinds of cancers. One recent study proved how effective this powerful herb is - after a session of strenuous exercise, the muscle pain of participants was significantly reduced after taking ginger supplements.
2. Turmeric
Turmeric is the spice responsible for giving curry its distinctive yellow color. This strong-flavored yet delicious spice contains an active ingredient called circumin, believed to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and can help combat breast and skin cancer. Also, the rate of Alzheimer's disease is far lower in the curry-loving country of India compared to the United States and experts believe this is because they regularly consume a diet rich in turmeric.
3. Sage
Sage is a fragrant herb that is considered to be one of the healthiest in the world. It helps improve the memory and keep the brain healthy. According to a recent study, students who took sage capsules did better or memory tests and experienced a lift in their moods. Sage in the form of tea is known for effectively soothing sore throats and treating upset stomachs.
4. Black Pepper
Black pepper, which is derived from peppercorns, offers numerous health benefits that it is sometimes called the "king of spices". This common flavorful spice has powerful antioxidant and antibiotic properties and is known to be good for the heart. It helps decrease the levels of bad LDL cholesterol in the blood while increasing the good HDL cholesterol levels. Because of this, LDL cholesterol build-up is flushed out of the body, resulting to a healthier heart and even contributing to weight loss.
5. Cinnamon
This sweet and mild-flavored spice not only satisfies any sweet tooth, but also offers plenty of health benefits. Cinnamon is best known for reducing blood sugar and for helping curb diabetes. According to Mayo Clinic, regularly sprinkling your oatmeal with cinnamon may help prevent the said health problem. A recent study also shows that diabetics who took cinnamon supplements experienced increased insulin activity which led to improvements in their glucose control.
Include these 5 healthy herbs and spices regularly in your daily meals and you'll soon experience some improvements on your health!
Adrian T. Cheng is a food blogger who promotes healthy eating. He has written numerous posts and articles about natural herbs and spices, shared countless of delicious and healthy recipes and reviewed top quality kitchen accessories that are worth checking out. You can view Adrian's posts about healthy eating and other interesting topics on his page.
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The 5 Healthy Herbs and Spices That You Should Start Eating Today
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