Five Everyday Spices

Spices add a ton of flavor to food, but did you know that they also provide many health and nutritional benefits? You can easily incorporate these 5 spices in your daily food to reap great benefits.

It’s important to know that a little goes a long way. In fact, spices are traditionally added in “pinches” unless you are making huge batches of foods. The key is to incorporate them in your food often, even daily if possible.

Turmeric

Turmeric is an effective anti-inflammatory ingredient and naturally detoxifies the body. In India it’s used in everyday cooking, and in many ailment remedies. It is also widely used in beauty treatments. We now know that inflammation within our bodies is the root cause for many illnesses. Curcumin, a key active ingredient in turmeric helps reduce inflammation and thus addresses the root cause. A Johns Hopkins study found that a combination of curcumin and a chemotherapy drug was more effective at shrinking drug-resistant tumors than using chemotherapy alone. There are numerous other studies that show its effectiveness in treating depression, Alzheimer’s, arthritis and many other inflammation related ailments. Turmeric is truly the elixir of life!

Here are 25 ways in which you can add turmeric to your food, and 10 ways to use as a beauty product.

Garlic *Prebiotic*

Garlic is known to promote heart health in addition to imparting many other benefits. Studies show that it helps in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as reducing artery stiffness and blood markers for inflammation. It is also a prebiotic and improves gut health. Crushed or chopped garlic is the most effective as it releases an enzyme, Alliinase, which imparts its health benefits.

Add garlic to your food in these 25 ways. To great flavor and great health!

Cinnamon

Cinnamon helps with insulin sensitivity and glucose transport while decreasing inflammation. This can aid in blood sugar control and managing diabetes. It also has anti-oxidant and anti-infection properties making it an ingredient of choice in oral hygiene and beauty products.

This spice is used in various sweet and savory recipes.

Chilli Peppers

Chilli Peppers improve metabolism.

Cumin

Cumin regulates digestive health leading to better absorption of essential nutrients. It also promotes weight loss.

Note! There are several studies about the effectiveness of spices in their natural form vs as supplements. Our research indicates no conclusive results one way or the other. We strongly believe in using food as medicine, and so prefer natural ways of incorporating them in diets.