The Secret Powers of Herbs and Spices
Spicy Food! Who doesn’t love spicy foods?
Food that has been pepped up with some spices can make a huge difference to the taste. Generally, spices are accompanied by herbs.
Herbs not only help complement the taste of the spices but also, they add a great flavour to the food.
All these things apart, herbs and spices help us in one more way.
They are extremely healthy. Yes, you read it right!
Herbs and spices actually help your body in staying healthy.
There must be some catch, you ask?
No, there is absolutely no catch as these wonderful ingredients and no-calorie to your meal.
That is not to say that they do not have any calorific value.
It’s just that they do not add any harmful calories to your food.
Today we will be discussing some common spices that are used in food and learn about their benefits.
By the way, did you know that in ancient days (and today, to some extent) India was the center for spices in the world.
If you needed spices just visit India.
Even today, the Indian Cuisine heavily relies on spices and herbs for both taste and flavor.
So first up on the list is Basil.
Basil is regarded as a Holy Plant in Indian culture. And for very good reason.
Basil has a plethora of benefits.
From curing cough and cold to boosting the immune system, Basil leaves do it all.
When used in cooking basil leaves are an excellent source of a variety of vitamins (A, C and K to be exact) and minerals (iron, magnesium, and potassium).
Basil also has a very pleasant flavour, so it enhances the taste of the food.
Next up we have and potassium). Basil also has a very pleasant flavour, so it enhances the taste of the food.
Next up we have cinnamon, cloves and ginger.
All of them are spices that have a very beneficial compound call an “Antioxidant”.
Now these antioxidants are the holy grail of medicine.
As the name suggests, they destroy oxidized substances.
These substances include a variety of stuff, from diabetes to Alzheimer’s and even cancer.
Cinnamon has also been proven to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Many other spices have many other benefits. For example, Sage oil helps in increasing memory.
Cloves have heaps of benefits.
They have a high concentration of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which make them suitable for a variety of healing purposes. Clove oil also has a numbing effect.
So the next time you have a toothache, take some clove and chew them softly under the aching tooth for at least half an hour.
Garlic is another spice that is nothing short of a wonder spice.
In ancient times, people thought that Garlic had some magical properties since it was so beneficial.
When eaten regularly, garlic helps to reduce heart risk by a staggering 75%!
It is also rich in antioxidants and hence has a large number of benefits like preventing colon and stomach cancer.
We have saved the best for the last. Turmeric is the king of spices.
It does not matter if you eat turmeric raw or in a powdered form, the benefits stay the same.
Turmeric not only helps in fending off cancer, and it also helps to stimulate hunger and help in digestion.
Turmeric has been used in Ayurveda for ages.
It is generally applied on a swollen part and can reduce the swelling in twenty-four hours or less.
Turmeric also helps in reducing cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease.
So we see that spices and herbs have the potential to keep us very healthy.
That is why it is advised to have a perfect blend of herbs and spices in our meal to keep u healthy.
So the next time you make a dish, do not forget to sprinkle some spices and add some herbs and eat your way to a healthy life.