Holiday Spices That Make Healthy Treats This Season
Eat Another Piece of Pumpkin Pie, It's Good for You!
Many of the spices used in holiday baking offer a range of healthy benefits. So, put aside the chocolate and peanut butter desserts, and load up on seasonal favorites full of traditional holiday spices. Cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg all offer a variety of health benefits. Here are just a few interesting facts about these spices:
Cinnamon:
Cinnamon bread, cinnamon rolls and spiced cider may actually help lower your LDL cholesterol. Cinnamon is also known to help regulate blood sugar, and relieve arthritis pain. The holiday spice is high in fiber, calcium and iron too. So, eat up this holiday season, and remember to put a stick of cinnamon in your next cup of hot tea!
Ginger:
Holiday cookie trays are often overflowing with gingerbread men and gingersnaps. Feeling a little queesy from the long ride to the holiday dinner? Eat up, since ginger helps reduce nausea and dizziness from motion sickness. Feeling a headache coming on during all the holiday shopping? Ginger is also known to help reduce migraines and offer relief to arthritis sufferers. Just an ounce of fresh ginger a day can also help lower cholesterol.
Cloves:
Holiday hams spiced with cloves and spiced apple pie should be on your menu this holiday season. The clove seasonings will aid in digestion problems, and help with blood circulation. Try chewing on one of the cloves to freshen your breath. After dinner, add a clove to a cup of tea to ease the coughing from a winter cold or soothe a toothache.
Nutmeg:
Fresh pumpkin pie and egg nog is loaded with nutmeg. This spice helps lower blood pressure and helps relieve inflammation in joints. Nutmeg also lowers blood pressure.
So, go ahead and eat another piece of pumpkin pie, or grab another gingerbread man cookie. It may be healthier than that plate of brownies you've been eyeing!
SOURCES:
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-cinnamon.html
http://www.fitnessandfreebies.com/fitness/ginger.html
http://www.indepthinfo.com/cloves/health.shtml
http://www.indepthinfo.com/nutmeg/health-effects.shtml
Published by Angela Tague
Angela Tague has worked in news writing and photography since 1998. After attaining a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Iowa, Tague's journalism career has led to positions at two... View profile
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- Cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg all offer a variety of health benefits.