Weekly Wellness tips: Spices

This was part of our Weekly Wellness newsletter that Ali puts together for us weekly with great tips to stay healthy through exercise, and nutrition. check it out:

Spices have played a role in everything from cooking, to cosmetics, to global exploration, but it’s often forgotten that for thousands of years spices have been used for healing purposes as well. Did you know that spices are being studied for their positive affects on a long list of diseases including cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s? Spices are easy to use and a treat to your tongue, so sort through your pantry and start using those spices! Your health will thank you later.

To help guide you through the hundreds of spices used in cooking, I have chosen a representative group that are great to cook with on a regular basis to reap the many health benefits spices have to offer. Whoever said, “variety is the spice of life” was right… try to include as many of these spices in your diet as possible!

Cinnamon:
Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have long used it to fight colds and flu, and the list of possible health benefits of cinnamon is quickly growing! Cinnamon may help relieve intestinal gas, aid digestion, decrease inflammation, and perhaps even help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. In addition, cinnamon possesses potent antioxidant potential.

In the kitchen:
Cinnamon comes ground and in sticks, and can be used in all types of recipes – not just baked goods. Middle Eastern and Latin American dishes, as well as curries often include cinnamon. Add a cinnamon stick to steeping hot tea for an extra kick.

Garlic:
The health benefits of garlic are widely known and well-documented. Part of the Allium plant family (onions belong as well), garlic is best known for it’s possible cardiovascular benefits, particularly its mildly positive effects on blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides. It is also believed to help relax blood vessels, potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, and through its antioxidant activity may help lower the risk of some forms of cancer.

In the kitchen:
It is best to use fresh garlic instead of garlic powder or garlic salt. Crush or chop garlic and cook lightly in olive oil for maximum health benefits.

Chili Peppers:
Capsaicin appears to be the active ingredient in chili peppers that makes them both hot and healthy. Chili peppers come in many different varieties and when eating them for health, the hotter the better. Scotch bonnets and habaneros are the hottest type and have the most capsaicin. Chili peppers may reduce inflammation in the body and even help lower blood pressure. When prescription capsaicin is applied to the skin directly overlying an arthritic joint it may help relieve pain.

In the kitchen:
It’s important to be careful when handling chili peppers, as the juice can burn skin and eyes. Wearing thin gloves is a smart protective measure. If you do feel the fire of the chili pepper, applying cold milk will counteract some of the burn.

Turmeric:
Turmeric is
probably most known as one of the spices used in curry that gives many Indian foods their distinct flavor. Curcumin, the compound that gives turmeric is yellow color, is thought to be the active ingredient in this spice. Turmeric provides a boost of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, and is being studied as a therapeutic aid in a variety of clinical settings including cancer, autoimmune disease and Alzheimer’s.

In the kitchen:
Turmeric is delicious when added to beans, rice, curries, sauces, egg or chicken salad and salad dressings. It is often paired in recipes with dried fruits and nuts.