Spice Up Your Health

My interest in spices extends far beyond whatever meal I happen to be creating in the kitchen or even better - eating at the table! That's because many spices have healthy benefits! Now when I tell my wife I want to "spice things up' I'm also excited about the peripheral benefits of many spices which can include a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease, decrease of joint inflammation and much, much more. Trust me when I tell you: if I can stay healthy without the need of medicines or pills then I'm all for it!

A Spicy Health Enhancer

Using spices as a health-enhancer is nothing new. A variety of cultures have been "spicing things up" so to speak for generations. So a take a closer look at the spices in your kitchen, they might be do a lot more than just enhance your next meal. Listed below are a few of my favorites:

Cinnamon : The site treehugger.com points out that far from just being sprinkled on toast or pie, medical research suggests that cinnamon may lower blood sugar levels, improve lipid profiles and even increase insulin sensitivity. Some even say the aroma of cinnamon may even boost brain activity.

Parsley: Sure we use parsley for everything from soups to salads says secretsofhealthyeating.com, but it doesn't end there: parsley isn't just a great source of vitamins A, C and K, parsley is a great antioxidant source that can improve heart function and increase circulation.

Basil: stock full of anti-inflammatory properties which can prevent swelling and alleviate arthritis pain. And you thought basil was just for pizza! Basil is also known to have strong antibacterial properties that can help prevent infection.

Garlic: Bad news for vampires but good news for you because garlic has anti-inflammatory properties to decrease swelling, is known to lower cholesterol and is high in vitamin B6 and C which fights heart disease.

Cilantro: You may have used cilantro in salsa or guacamole but aside from that it is an outstanding source of iron, magnesium and manganese. Can control blood pressure and lower cholesterol.

Ginger: relief of nausea and stomach cramps, in addition to inflammation and arthritis pain. High levels of antioxidants mean ginger is a great candidate for cancer prevention.

It's a rare spice or herb that doesn't contain some type of medicinal benefit. The thing is we often lose sight of how spices can improve our health because our thinking leans more towards using spices as a meal-enhancer rather than a health-enhancer. So next time you open your kitchen cabinets give your spices a second look!