To give a little colour and add some taste – that’s the job description of spices but there is one more task that spices do silently without demanding credit for it. Spices’ skills aren’t limited to just colour or taste. Some of them work like magic on health, curing you of simple, not chronic, or serious health issues.
Spices aren’t something you can create in a blend by mixing and matching elements. Nah, they come from trees, veggies, or other organic sources bearing their medicinal qualities.
Cinnamon
A little cinnamon powder a day can keep the blood sugar away. Really, cinnamon lets your taste buds enjoy the sweet candy feeling without sugar. Experts say that cinnamon slows down the carb digestion process and heightens insulin actions. Chasing away inflammations and serving as antioxidants are just some extracurricular activities of Cinnamon. The next time you sprinkle cinnamon powder on your cinnamon rolls, be generous.
Turmeric
Along with being anti-inflammatory, turmeric slips into the antioxidant role seamlessly. The credit for all these medicinal benefits goes to the heroic element called Curcumin, which is found in ample in this spice. From being used in latte to cure cold to daily meals, this one’s the dark horse of the kitchen.
Cayenne Powder
Made from cayenne pepper, it can more or less be called the red chili powder, which gives a spicy turn to your food. But it also gives relief from pain. Really, not joking! Do some research and you’ll come across a never-before substance called capsaicin residing happily in cayenne pepper. Now, this capsaicin turns up the hotness level and tones down the pain level, by lowering the pain signals to the brain. For people struggling with constant pain or discomfort like arthritis, cayenne powder can be a blessing.
Fenugreek
Your very own methi – fenugreek – does wonders for your hair as well as for your blood sugar levels. It’s rich in a plant protein 4-hydroxy isoleucine, but what is it good for? Well, studies suggest that this hard-to-spell plant protein pushes your insulin to take its action a notch higher and scare down the blood sugar level.
Peppermint
Say yes to the peppermint flavor – after all, it’s good for your health. Again, another pain manager, but Peppermint gets some extra brownie points giving extra care to your bowl. If discomfort has rented a permanent place in your bowl, then shoo it away with peppermint.
Black Pepper
Black pepper in your salad, or on your bead – it’s a spice that fits in every recipe like a missing piece. This so ‘I am okay with everyone’ spice brings along Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Of course, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics remain ever present in black pepper as well. If you want spicy but not too spicy and good for health spice then black pepper is your deal.
Cumin Powder
Very popular in Indian dishes, but pretty well known to the world especially Middle East and Greece. But besides leveling up the taste, cumin actually sorts out your digestive problems. It contains a substance called thymol, which works like magic on your gut. Solving your digestion problem is just the start, cumin is an antioxidant and rich in elements like iron, copper, calcium, zinc, and more.
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