Saturday, September 14, 2013

Some Healthy Spices And Their Benefits

By Kate McMahon


Any cuisine is almost insipid without the addition of some flavor or spice to it. When these additives also bring along them with them a host of benefits, the result is nothing short of a culinary enchantment. As a matter of fact, many dishes that are cooked either in specific countries or worldwide are known to have arrived at their stature of popularity due to the ingredients they contain. Taste, aroma and wellbeing could all get packed in one if healthy spices are carefully chosen in and as the foods we consume.

One of the first in the list of such foods is cinnamon. Its rich fragrance and irresistible taste leave no room for complaint in the coffee it is added to. Used in baking cakes, it further adds to the finger licking quality of the dish. However, its use is not limited to beverages and sweetmeats only. It is used in cooking meats and vegetables as well. Rich in antioxidants, cinnamon is also known to contain healthy doses of calcium, manganese and iron. For those suffering from diabetes, cinnamon is an essential part of the diet.

Cumin is also known to lessen the levels of blood sugar in the human body. It is quite popular in cooking vegetables and forms a common part of many cuisines around the world. Rice made with cumin is a popular dish in India. The spice is known to fight stomach ulcers as well as lower inflammation related to arthritis.

Turmeric is the yellow powder used extremely commonly in Indian cooking. However, its qualities are such that consumed with a glass of milk, it can help fight a cold and sore throat too. Moreover, it is also characterized as food that helps fight the risk of cancer.

Ginger is a food that has a range of health benefits. Its anti inflammatory properties are quite popular. It proves effective in curing a sore throat. Ginger tea is a popular concoction the world over. Also used in cooking, ginger is a known accompaniment of its cousin, garlic.

A rather well known and used herb is sage. It goes extremely well with a lot of vegetable dishes. It can also be added to Italian, European and Indian cuisines. Sprinkled lightly over cooked vegetables, it is best savored in moderate quantities. Some of the known benefits of this food include the sharpening of memory and its qualities of boosting capabilities academically.

Saffron is often deemed the food of the kings. This is because it is both expensive and used in exotically prepared dishes. Used in rice, shellfish as well as herbal tea, saffron cures depression, anxiety and premenstrual angst.

Not a very popular spice, rosemary gels well with both meats and vegetables. Its goodness extends beyond imagination. It is known to reduce the risk of cancer. Moreover, it is replete in antioxidants, the oxygen for the human body. Not only does it come with healthy benefits, it adds a rich taste and fragrance to any food too.

Eating good food is indeed necessary. When it also comes with health benefits, you are up for a bonus package of sorts. This is what makes healthy spices so full of advantages. They not only add good taste to foods, but also raise the wellbeing quotient by multiple levels.




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