Spices can be on the pricey side but cooking with them not only enhances the flavor of your food, but enhances your health and well-being as well.
Spices can act as natural remedies for minor ailments such as the common cold and headaches to having more long-term effects like fighting cancer and preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
We’ve compiled a list of 5 of the healthiest spices that are easily obtained and can make most recipes taste great!
Sage
Sage is believed to aid in memory retention and soothes sore throats.
This spice goes well with squash, pasley, rosemary, thyme, and walnuts or can be mixed into a tea to calm an upset stomach or aching throat. Sage assists in memory retention because research has shown that it inhibits a particular enzyme from destroying acetylcholine, a chemical involved in the functions of memory and learning.
Tumeric
Tumeric is believed to calm inflammation and inhibit the formation of systs and tumors.
Native to India, this spice goes well with garlic, citrus, and is especially tasty in curries. As a traditional remedy used in India, people would apply a tumeric paste to wounds to reduce swelling and increase the rate of healing. Tumeric paste can also be used to sooth infections of the eyes and skin as it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is thus able to reduce irritation and get rid of infection-causing irritants.
Rosemary
This spice is said to be able to enhance mental focus, and fight foodborne bacteria to avoid the occurance of food poisoning.
Rosemary pairs will with potatoes, citrus, honey and garlic and has been used in traditional medicine to help users focus for studying. Tests have proven that students do better on tests when rosemary mists were sprayed in their workspace. As another powerful antioxidant ingredient, rosemary has the ability to kill harmful bacteria and can prevent meat from spoiling quickly.
Ginger
Ginger can be used to sooth an upset stomach and remedy arthritis pain.
Ginger goes will with soy sauce, citrus, and garlic and is often used in Eastern dishes. Ginger contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds that help to reduce arthritis pain by removing free-radicals that often cause irritation and swelling in the joints. Ginger also soothes stomach problems associated with morning sickness, motion sickness, and nausea because it is believed to have a calming effect on the body. Ginger tea has long been used as a natural remedy for stomach issues and can either be made at home or bought inexpensively at a whole foods location.
Cayenne
Cayenne boosts the metabolism and increases calorie burn.
Derived from red hot chili peppers, cayenne can be paired with ginger, chocolate, beans, and beef for a rich, spicy, flavorful taste. Cayenne contains a substance called “calsaicin” that increases thermogenic (fat burning) activity in the body. Cayenne is believed to be able to increase the metabolism and therefore a person’s calorie burn for several hours after consumption.
Conclusion
Each of these spices can be purchased at your local grocery store and make a great addition to any dish, whether it’s lacking in flavor or not. Cooking with spices regularly is the perfect way to make a small lifestyle change that will impact your health 20 years into the future.