Five Spices that Improve Brain Function
Using spices to add flavor to recipes makes you smart in more ways than one. Ounce for ounce, certain ordinary kitchen spices contain more brain boosting antioxidants than any other food item. Sprinkle on these five spices to improve food flavor and brain function.
Sage Improves Memory
Sage always makes an appearance around Thanksgiving and Christmas as a seasonal flavor, but using it year around can improve your memory. Sage contains compounds called phenols, these phenols block the breakdown of chemicals that are essential for forming and retaining memories. Sprinkle a teaspoon of sage on food or enjoy a cup of sage tea daily to improve memory.
Cinnamon Immediately Boosts Memory
While sage works to improve memory over the long term, cinnamon immediately boosts memory, making it a perfect spice to use prior to studying or taking a test. Sprinkle a little cinnamon on toast or another favorite carbohydrate and eat within one hour of a needed memory boost. Cinnamon is a sugar-stabilizing spice, and when combined with a carbohydrate it provides the brain with steady dose of glucose (fuel) for one hour.
Ginger Helps Prevent Strokes
Ginger is a more powerful blood thinner than aspirin. Ginger also helps prevent blood clots and lowers triglycerides levels by around one-third, all of which helps prevent strokes. Just one-half teaspoon daily or two tiny slices of candied ginger per day helps prevent strokes.
Beat Depression with Saffron
Recent trial studies have shown saffron to be a more powerful mood booster than several anti-depressant drugs on the market today. Saffron beats depression by increasing the brain's production of serotonin, a natural mood booster. Saffron has a slightly sweet, earthy flavor and adds a yellow color to foods. Just a miniscule amount of one-tenth of a teaspoon of saffron per day will help beat depression.
Garlic Slows Brain Aging
While garlic may not be considered as a spice in some culinary circles, it definitely enhances food flavor and improves brains function. Garlic works hard to control blood pressure and cholesterol, either of which causes the brain to age faster if left unchecked. One clove of garlic, raw or cooked, contains enough sulfur compounds and antioxidants to slow brain aging.
Published by Georgia Lund
Georgia Lund is part of the ever increasing group known as the Sandwich Generation, being caregiver to an aging parent and young grandchild. Georgia enjoys gardening, has over 30 years of gardening experienc... View profile
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