The Health Benefits of Allspice

The benefits of spices like ginger and cinnamon have been highly touted for some time now. However, they are not the only spices that confer health benefits. One particularly healthy spice I'm sure you're familiar with is allspice. Generally this spice is relegated to hot spiced cider or pumpkin pie but you certainly don't have to limit this spice to occasional seasonal foods. In fact, due to its impressive health benefits, you might want to try consuming allspice on a regular, even daily basis.

Like many spices, allspice is an effective digestive aid. The consumption of allspice with meals can result in stronger digestion, can reduce gas and bloating, and can ease nausea. Allspice also has blood sugar regulating effects making it a great flavoring agent to use to control appetite and prevent wild, unhealthy swings in your blood sugar levels. This can be particularly helpful if you are trying to tame your appetite in an effort to lose weight.

Allspice is also a great natural remedy for mild pain relief. A hot beverage or tea made from allspice can be drank to relieve pain caused by menstrual cramps, mild headaches, muscle and joint soreness, arthritis, and toothaches. Drinking allspice can also help you to relax your body and mind, and can be a wonderful drink to consume before bedtime or whenever you desire to simply unwind. Additionally, allspice can be applied topically. Simply apply a very small amount of the concentrated oil to the area in pain. You can also add some allspice oil to a hot bath to relieve general body aches and pains.

And, of course, the best benefit of allspice is its taste! Allspice has a distinct sweet, spicy, and earthy flavor combination. For this reason it works well in sweet desserts as well as in warming seasonal dishes. How can you incorporate more allspice into your diet? Try stirring some of the delicious spice into a hot mug of apple cider, hot cocoa, or coffee. Stir some into warm apple sauce or an autumn smoothie. You can make the traditional pumpkin pie or you can make a savory earthy, sweet, and spicy dish with popular fall vegetables like squash, sweet potato, carrots, or potatoes. Allspice is also a great spice to add to yogurt. In fact you can make a digestion promoting functional food by adding allspice, ginger, cinnamon, and flaxseed to a cup of plain yogurt. Enjoy this for breakfast or any time of the day.