Are you trying to expand your horizons in the kitchen? Do you find yourself trapped in the spice aisle, staring at different spice packaging, wondering what they’re all used for and how the heck you cook with them?
If you find yourself looking at all that spice packaging and wondering what do, don’t fret. By reading food packaging labels—something that nearly two-thirds of Americans do—you can actually discover that there’s a lot of benefits that spices can have on your health.
Throughout history, spices have been used and now in modern times, spices have been found to have numerous health benefits. So the next time you’re looking at different spice packaging, keep these things in mind about different spices:
- Cinnamon: Chances are good that you use cinnamon in your everyday cooking, so you’ll be surprised to learn that it helps lower a person’s blood sugar and assist in digestion. It is also very potent as an antioxidant, helping to fight inflammation and also helping to lower cholesterol.
- Sage: This spice has a strong reputation for its healing properties and modern science h as shown it can help improve brain function and memory, especially among older folks who may suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.
- Peppermint: When you talk about spices and medicinal properties, peppermint is one of the ones that often comes up. The oils in peppermint can be used for pain management for irritable bowel syndrome, by relaxing the muscles in the colon. Peppermint can also be used for settling the stomach and is commonly used in aromatherapy.
- Turmeric: Turmeric is commonly used in curry, but it also contains curcumin, which is a powerful antioxidant and helps to fight oxidative damage, which is believed to be one of the key factors involved in ageing and diseases. Another benefit of curcumin is it is strongly anti-inflammatory and can help improve brain function, reduce the risk of disease and relieve arthritis, to name just a few benefits.
- Holy basil: If you’ve ever looked at spice packaging in the store or looked at resealable pouches for spice, you’ve more than likely seen basil. Holy basil is different than regular basil, but it’s been linked to treating anxiety and depression and also reducing blood sugar levels. Holy basil can also boost the immune system and inhibit the growth of yeast and bacteria.
- Cayenne pepper: If anyone has ever told you to add some spice to your meals, it’s for good reason. Cayenne pepper and other chili peppers are filled with capsaicin, which can increase fat burning and appetite reduction.
- Ginger: When you’re talking about spices, ginger is one of the most popular. It can be used to treat nausea, it has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger can be a popular ingredient to cook with, but you may also find it in things like tea as people add it in to help with pain management and general wellness.
- Fenugreek: In olden days, it was suggested that fenugreek was used to raise testosterone levels and enhance libido. Studies have shown those things to be inconclusive, but fenugreek has help improve the function of insulin in the body and can also positively effect the blood sugar.
- Rosemary: Rosemary is filled with rosmarinic acid, which can prevent nasal congestion and suppress allergies.
- Garlic: If you cook regularly, you likely use garlic all the time, whether in powder form or with cloves. Garlic has always been prized for its medicinal properties. These include combating sicknesses like colds and for having positive effects on your heart health, such as a reduction in blood pressure.
By taking time to read food packaging for things like spices, you’ll be able to find spices and herbs that have plenty of positive medicinal properties. Adding things like garlic, rosemary, turmeric and cayenne pepper will not only add plenty of flavor to your dishes, but you’ll be doing a lot of good for your health.
