Hey there, viewers!
Have you ever tasted cooked food and found it to be bland?
A major reason for this is the absence of spices and herbs.
They are key components of any modern kitchen today.
But they have a much more important function than just adding flavour to your food.
Herbs and spices provide a wide range of natural health benefits.
Although their importance is widely known,
wars have been fought and new lands have been discovered over them.
Spices were even used as medicines and healers dating back to the world’s first civilizations.
In today’s video, we will tell you about herbs and spices with the most powerful health benefits.
Turmeric
The most famous of the spices, turmeric is a flavorful addition to sauces,
curries, stir-fries, and casseroles.
It gets its orange color due to the presence of a
miracle compound called curcumin which gives it a variety of health benefits.
Studies have shown that curcumin can help prevent
or even reverse Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
It has also been shown to reduce unhealthy levels of inflammation,
protect you against heavy metal toxicity, and even lower your risk of heart disease.
Your recommended daily average turmeric intake should be 1.4
mg per pound (0–3 mg/kg) of your body weight.
There are a number of ways you can add turmeric to your diet.
This includes blending it into a smoothie, using it in soups, adding it to rice and making tea.
Take your pick!
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice usually meant to give extra flavour to desserts and baked goods.
It is ironic that this natural sweetener can help control your blood sugar and prevent diabetes.
A study found that when a meal contained cinnamon, antioxidant activity in the
blood was increased by 13 percent and insulin response decreased by about 20.
This is due to the presence of cinnamaldehyde, cinnamon’s active ingredient.
This works as a blood-sugar balancer by stimulating insulin receptors on cells
and allowing excess sugar to move out of your blood.
Cinnamon has also been shown to improve cholesterol,
prevent against food-borne illnesses and ward off the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
You can add cinnamon to your diet by adding it to smoothies,
apples, cookies, banana bread and crumbles.
Basil
Basil has become quite a popular ingredient for cooking in recent times.
This herb is native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia, Africa, China, and India.
But it is now found in foods worldwide.
Basil contains eugenol which ensures anti-inflammatory
action in your digestive tract leading to smoother digestion.
Studies have shown that basil contains (E)-beta-caryophyllene (BCP),
which is useful in treating arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Being rich in antioxidants, Basil also strengthens your immune system,
protects cellular structure and delays the effects of skin ageing.
You can add basil to your sandwiches and salads, make tea or pesto sauce.
Garlic
Due to its strong flavour and pungent smell, it’s hard not to already be familiar with garlic.
You can thank a compound called allicin.
Studies have shown that garlic can lower the risk of colon cancer.
Allicin also helps effectively prevent LDL or bad
cholesterol from oxidizing which leads to lower cholesterol levels.
Garlic has also been known to effectively lower blood pressure.
When exposed to high pressure itself, garlic releases nitric oxide,
which relaxes your blood vessels and causes them to dilate and lower your blood pressure.
You can add garlic to your diet in various forms.
Just mince one garlic clove and toss it into your salad or salad dressing.
You can also make garlic toast by mincing the raw garlic, then mixing it with some butter,
and spread on toast or add it to your soups, juice and other veggies.
Lemongrass
You use lemongrass to add a vibrant citrus flavor with a hint of ginger to many of your dishes.
But this herb is way more beneficial than your can imagine.
Lemongrass has antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties.
It is used traditionally to treat sore throats, fevers and infections, including thrush.
Research has also shown that lemongrass can inhibit cancer cell growth,
lower cholesterol and help control type-2 diabetes.
This healthy herb has a soothing, sedating effect on you.
This can be very useful in easing symptoms of anxiety and insomnia.
Lemongrass can also help in managing sweating,
which may explain its role in the management of fever.
You can add it to your tea, curry paste, salads and sandwiches.
Ginger
Ginger is one of the healthiest and most versatile spices.
It is refreshing, clean and energizing.
Ginger has been known to prove helpful in treating
stomach problems like motion sickness, morning sickness, diarrhea and nausea.
It is rich in potent anti-inflammatory properties which is very useful in
relieving pain caused by arthritis, osteoarthritis, and menstrual cramps.
And if all that wasn’t enough, studies have shown
that ginger is extraordinarily effective in treating migraines.
If you want to try a natural migraine remedy,
mix 1/8 teaspoon powdered ginger in water at the first sign of a migraine.
Drink it, and see if your headache lessens or goes away within half an hour.
You can also incorporate ginger in your diet by
adding fresh ginger to your favourite smoothie or juice.
It may also be good to add fresh or dried ginger to a stir-fry or homemade salad dressing.
You can also make healthy ginger tea by
steep peeled fresh ginger in boiling water for some time.
Any which way, it will be very healthy for you!
Saffron
This might be the most expensive and exotic spice on our list.
It’s often referred to as the most sought-after in the world.
Unlike most other spices, Saffron is very difficult to make.
To produce it, farmers need to carefully handpick
the stigmas (pollen catchers) from the whole flowers of the plant.
Then, these stigmas have to be correctly cut and
cured over the right amount of heat, to maximize their flavor.
This lengthy process contributes to making saffron $500 or more for a single ounce!
But there is more to this spice than just being the most expensive.
As little as one tablespoon of saffron will give
you around 0.6 mg of manganese — 28 % of the daily recommended amount.
Balanced levels of the minerals like manganese found in saffron have been
found to be essential for proper brain function and development.
Additionally, studies have found that saffron can be effectively
used as an antidepressant — with no major side effects.
Do you use any of these herbs and spices in your diet?
Let us know in the comments below.