Doctors and dietitians agree that your spice rack can be
just as essential as your medicine cabinet when it comes to preventing and
treating disease Studies consistently show that many herbs and spices possess
powerful healing properties and have a role in preventing and treating
everything, from colds to cancer. Below are some of the best spices and herbs
that can improve your overall health.
Here's the List of ten Healing Spices
Cumin: Prevents Cancer
HOW IT WORKS: It’s no surprise to many spice researchers
that cancer rates are lower in India, where cumin is a diet staple. Studies
show that the curcumin in this spice inhibits the enzymes that help cancer
cells invade healthy tissue and also keeps tumors from developing the new blood
vessels that help them grow. TRY TO GET: 6 teaspoons of seeds or 1/2 teaspoon
of powder a day. USE IT: Toss a bowl of root veggies, such as sweet potatoes,
parsnips, cauliflower, and turnips, with olive oil and 1 teaspoon cumin powder.
Bake at 300 degrees for 25 minutes or until tender, and add salt, pepper, and
chopped cilantro to taste before serving.
Ginger: Calms Nausea
HOW IT WORKS: Chinese medical texts dating back to the
fourth century BC tout ginger’s antinausea properties, and modern clinical
studies offer scientific proof that it works—a substance in ginger shuts down a
nerve receptor in the body that triggers the vomiting reflex. TRY TO GET: Juice
from 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger or 1/2 teaspoon dried ginger four times a
day. USE IT: Add 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger and a few drops of toasted sesame
oil to your usual tuna salad recipe for an Asian-style flavor.
Basil: Combats Colds
HOW IT WORKS: Basil is rich in antioxidants, which help
boost immunity. It’s also an antimicrobial, which fights the germs that can
cause colds. TRY TO GET: 1 to 2 tablespoons a day. USE IT: Toss 1 tablespoon
chopped basil into a shrimp stir-fry during the last 3 to 5 minutes of cooking.
Or slice strawberries, toss with honey, and set aside for 15 minutes until
juicy. Then top with a few tablespoons of finely chopped basil.
Cinnamon: Fights Diabetes
HOW IT WORKS: People with type-2 diabetes have difficulty
processing insulin, the hormone that tells cells to remove excess sugar from
the bloodstream. But studies show that cinnamon contains a substance that can
help cells respond to insulin. The result? A reduction of blood sugar levels by
an average of 18 percent to 29 percent, according to a recent Pakistani study.
TRY TO GET: 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon (or one stick) a day. USE IT: Mix 1/2 teaspoon
cinnamon into 2 tablespoons peanut butter, and spread over apple slices.
Rosemary: Improves Memory
HOW IT WORKS: “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance,”
Ophelia said to Hamlet more than 400 years ago. Today, a variety of studies
back up Ophelia’s claim. The ursolic acid in rosemary inhibits the breakdown of
a neurotransmitter essential for memory. TRY TO GET: 1 to 2 teaspoons a day.
USE IT: Make a rosemary-infused simple syrup by mixing 1 cup water, 1/2 cup
sugar, and 2 sprigs rosemary. Bring to a boil so sugar dissolves, and let sit
for 10 to 15 minutes. Drizzle over a fall fruit salad of chopped apples, pears,
and red grapes. Use 1 cup syrup to 4 cups fruit.
Garlic: Reduces Cholesterol
HOW IT WORKS: Although researchers disagree about how
effective garlic really is at lowering cholesterol, a review of several studies
conducted by the Linus Pauling Institute found that people who took garlic for
three months had a 6 percent to 11 percent reduction in total cholesterol.
Because garlic is an antioxidant, it may prevent the oxidation of cholesterol
in the arteries. TRY TO GET: 3 to 5 crushed cloves a day. USE IT: Roast up to 5
garlic cloves, and add to homemade hummus before pureeing.
Nutmeg: Lowers Blood Pressure
HOW IT WORKS: “Warming spices” like nutmeg can bring blood
from the center of the body to the skin. This helps disperse the blood more
evenly throughout the body, reducing overall pressure. TRY TO GET: 1/2 to 1
teaspoon a day. USE IT: Steam 1 head of broccoli and one potato until soft, and
then puree with 1/4 cup butter and 4 to 5 gratings of fresh nutmeg or 1/4
teaspoon of ground nutmeg.
Cloves: Helps Arthritis Pain
HOW IT WORKS: According to Chinese medicine, cloves have hot
and moving properties that relieve arthritis pain caused by cold and
stagnation. Cloves contain a phytochemical that interrupts the pathways of a
protein complex in the body that’s been linked to inflammatory diseases such as
arthritis. TRY TO GET: 1/2 teaspoon a day. USE IT: Sauté 1 cup fresh parsley
(finely chopped), 1 clove garlic (crushed), 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper,
and 1 teaspoon cloves in 1 tablespoon olive oil. After 3 minutes, add 4 cups
shredded rhubarb chard, and fry until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Serve
hot with chicken or fish.
Turmeric: Curbs Inflammation
HOW IT WORKS: An ancient spice that gives curry its deep
golden-orange color, turmeric reduces the inflammation in the body that causes
pain. Curcumin, a component in turmeric, inhibits cell enzymes that contribute
to inflammation. TRY TO GET: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon a day. USE IT: Add a dash to
organic canned soups, such as tomato, lentil, or black bean varieties.
Thyme: Eases a Cough
HOW IT WORKS: Thyme is an antispasmodic, which helps with
bouts of nonstop coughing. Thyme’s antiseptic properties also make it very
effective against inflammation of the throat, which can cause coughing. TRY TO
GET: 2 to 3 teaspoons a day. USE IT: For a simple vinaigrette, whisk together 1
tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh thyme leaves with 1 tablespoon white wine
vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 3 tablespoons extra-virgin
olive oil.
Source : justnaturallyhealthy
