Health Benefits of Spices

Spices are an important part of our life, they add flavor to our meals, but there are many other benefits that spices have. Here are just a few benefits of spices that you might have in your kitchen:

Turmeric is a well-known spice used all over the world. Curcumin, a main active ingredient in turmeric can be very beneficial to our bodies in ways including powerful anti-inflammatory and a very strong antioxidant. Curcumin can be as or more powerful than anti-inflammatory medicine! Unfortunately, Curcumin is only about 3% of turmeric and it doesn’t get absorbed very easily into the bloodstream, so it’s best to take turmeric with black pepper. Black pepper contains piperine, which is a natural substance that helps absorb curcumin. Turmeric can also reduce the risk of heart disease! Curcumin can help endothelium or the lining of your blood vessels.  Endothelial dysfunction is a leading cause of heart disease, and turmeric can help prevent it! Turmeric is a spice that should be in your kitchen. 

Cinnamon is also a spice used all over the world in cooking and baking. Cinnamon is an extremely strong antioxidant, even oregano and garlic aren’t as strong as cinnamon! It’s so strong that it can even be used as a natural preservative! Insulin is an important hormone that regulates metabolism and energy use. Some people have insulin resistance, which means their bodies are resistant to the effects of insulin. Luckily, cinnamon can save the day! Cinnamon can dramatically reduce insulin resistance and help insulin to do its job. Cinnamon is a very helpful spice with many benefits.

Cardamom is a good spice that adds a lot of flavor to a meal. Some studies have proven that cardamom can help with parts of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of health conditions that can cause heart disease or type two diabetes. A study had people take cardamom, which gave the people who took it improved hemoglobin A1c levels and insulin levels. People may think of mint or cinnamon for fresh breath, but cardamom can be a very helpful breath freshener! In a random trial, they had people chew cardamom for five minutes. The result of this was balancing the pH level in their mouths which can help prevent cavities. Cardamom is an effective spice.

Besides salt, black pepper may just be the most common spice found in a kitchen. There are several health benefits of black pepper including weight loss, relieving sinus and nasal congestion and even reducing the risk of cancer, and heart and liver illnesses. Piperine, which is found in black pepper, can exhibit antitumor activity for a couple of types of cancer. These include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer. However, more research is being done to confirm the antitumor properties. Proper digestion is crucial to avoid intestinal issues like diarrhea, constipation, and colic. Consuming pepper increases the hydrochloric acid secretion in the stomach, helping the digestive process. Good digestion helps weight loss. There are many ways your body rids itself of waste including urination, sweat, feces, and breathing. (Fun Fact: Urine is 4% fat! This is why when experts say drinking water can help you lose weight, you are losing a little bit of fat if you drink more water.) Black Pepper is a great spice that is helpful in many ways.

Many spices have various health benefits that can make a difference in your body!