Some Healthy Spices And Their Benefits

By Kate McMahon


While healthy spices add flavor and lend a delightful aroma to many culinary preparations, many of them are also abundant in health benefits. In fact, some of the most commonly consumed foods and widely cooked dishes can benefit hugely from a helping or addition of a certain condiment. Not only can the fragrance become more alluring and the taste more finger licking, but you would also probably be serving food that is helping keep a variety of diseases at bay.

One of the first in the list of such foods is cinnamon. Its rich fragrance and irresistible taste leave no room for complaint in the coffee it is added to. Used in baking cakes, it further adds to the finger licking quality of the dish. However, its use is not limited to beverages and sweetmeats only. It is used in cooking meats and vegetables as well. Rich in antioxidants, cinnamon is also known to contain healthy doses of calcium, manganese and iron. For those suffering from diabetes, cinnamon is an essential part of the diet.

Cumin comes with some advantages of its own. Cooked in vegetable preparations and especially popular when cooked with rice, it is also good for reducing levels of blood sugar in the body. Moreover, for those ridden with arthritis, the consumption of cumin can provide immense relief from inflammation.

A spice used extensively in Indian cooking is turmeric. It adds color and flavor to many dishes it is used to prepare. Known for its anti-inflammatory qualities, turmeric is added to plain milk and handed to children suffering from a cold for almost immediate respite. Another benefit it its ability to reduce the risk of cancer when regularly consumed.

Ginger is a food that has a range of health benefits. Its anti inflammatory properties are quite popular. It proves effective in curing a sore throat. Ginger tea is a popular concoction the world over. Also used in cooking, ginger is a known accompaniment of its cousin, garlic.

A rather well known and used herb is sage. It goes extremely well with a lot of vegetable dishes. It can also be added to Italian, European and Indian cuisines. Sprinkled lightly over cooked vegetables, it is best savored in moderate quantities. Some of the known benefits of this food include the sharpening of memory and its qualities of boosting capabilities academically.

A rich and highly appreciated item is saffron. Added to foods to enhance the richness of already exotic preparations, saffron is used widely in preparing rice, shellfish, and medicinal tea. A great remedy for curing depressing and premenstrual syndrome, saffron could also be a bit costly to the pocket.

A spice that is not exactly very popular across the world is rosemary. However, those countries and cuisines that do use it are well aware of its goodness quotient. Rosemary is known to reduce the risk of cancer. It is also known to contain a rich amount of antioxidants, necessary to pump blood into the body. It can be sued in vegetable or met preparations.

To consume good quality as well as delicious culinary fare is something everyone deserves. When you know what you are eating is actually right for your body or not, you are doing yourself a huge favor. So, get to know the healthy spices that can add taste and wellbeing to your daily diet.




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