Hey there, viewers! Spices definitely  add flavor to your food. But can they be good for your health? Some people call spices a  powerhouse of disease fighting nutrients. Is that true? In today’s blog, we’ll be talking about  powerful spices that are good for your health. Is ginger good for you? What about oregano?  Can nutmeg offer you health boosting nutrients?  

1. Oregano:

 


If you’ve been sprinkling a lot of oregano on  your pizza, you are doing your health a great service. It’s packed with antioxidants which  can help fight free radicals in your body, and prevent oxidative stress. This way,  you can help reduce damage to your cells. Oregano also has antibacterial properties. When  compared with other spices such as sage and thyme, oregano was seen to be the most efficient when  combating bacteria that can cause infection. Oregano can also help reduce the  chances of chronic inflammation, reducing your chances of  heart disease and diabetes. 

2. Nutmeg:



Nutmeg is another popular spice used in desserts  and curries, as well as drinks like chai tea. While the main reason for using nutmeg is  flavor, it comes with added health benefits. Nutmeg is especially helpful in preventing the  buildup of plaque and cavities in your mouth. Cavities and gum diseases are usually caused  by bacteria. Test tube studies have shown that nutmeg extract has strong antibacterial  properties, and can kill off this bacteria. This spice also has strong anti-inflammatory  properties and antioxidants that protect you from diabetes and arthritis, as well as heart disease. Just make sure you don’t eat too much nutmeg. It has a compound that acts as  a psychoactive substance. When you have too much of this compound, it  can cause seizures and hallucinations. It can also cause heart arrhythmias,  nausea, as well as dizziness and pain. It’s recommended you do not have high  quantities of nutmeg in a single sitting. Any amount higher than 10 grams, and it can  become toxic. Negative effects of nutmeg can last for several hours. When a large amount  is used, it can even lead to organ failure. 

3. Cumin:



 (Q-min) Cumin is another spice known for its nutty taste. It’s mainly used for its flavor. But it also  has many added health benefits. It’s most common use is to help with digestion. Cumin helps raise  the activity of digestive enzymes in your body, which can help quicken your digestion process. Cumin can also be helpful for people suffering with irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS.  In one study of nearly 60 IBS patients, it was found that consuming concentrated  cumin for two weeks helped reduce symptoms. The spice can also help you lose weight  and improve cholesterol. Some studies have shown it can also help in the treatment of  diabetes. Cumin seeds are also packed with iron, which is particularly important  for children and young women. If you want to have cumin to lose weight,  maybe you can try cumin tea. All you need to do is add cumin seeds to a hot pan. Roast  them for a few seconds then add water. Bring it to a boil. Let it simmer for a while. Turn  off the heat, and let the tea sit for a while. Strain it, and drink. You can also add  lemon and raw honey to add more flavor. Besides cumin tea, you can eat this delicious  spice by adding it to vegetable stews, soups, and stir fried or sauteed veggies. You can even  add roasted powdered cumin seeds to buttermilk or curd. It tastes delicious. 

4. Saffron:



Saffron is one of the more expensive spices  and can be used in rice dishes. This spice is prepared from a purple flower known as the  saffron crocus (crow-cuss), which usually blooms in autumn for about one to three weeks a year. For just one gram of saffron, you will need to use 150 flowers. It’s no surprise that saffron is  expensive, considering how many flowers you need. However, the price is worth it due to  everything it does for your health. Research has shown that saffron is very  effective in improving your immune system. It can also help treat patients suffering with  insomnia. Saffron also serves as an aphrodisiac. You can include saffron in your diet by  adding it to your tea, coffee, and dessert. Saffron milk tastes delicious. All you need to  do is crush soaked saffron strands in a pan. Add milk and sugar along with chopped pistachios.  Bring them to a boil and turn off the heat. Let saffron milk sit for a while until it’s  lukewarm. For flavor, add some sugar and honey. 

5. Cinnamon:



 Cinnamon is another popular spice used in a number of recipes,  especially baked goods. The spice has a compound called cinnamaldehyde (sin-uh-malda-hide),  which gives cinnamon many health benefits. Cinnamon lowers your blood sugar levels.  It does this by slowing down the speed that carbs are broken down with. It also helps  improve your body’s insulin sensitivity. Research has shown that cinnamon can bring down  the fasting blood sugars among diabetic patients by up to 29%. You need to have around 0.5 to  1 tablespoon of cinnamon in a day just to get its benefits. This is about 2 to 4 grams  of cinnamon powder a day. Make sure you don’t go over the recommended dosage. Eating  cinnamon in large quantities can be toxic. Cinnamon has a compound called coumarin  (koo-merr-in), which can be harmful to your body in large amounts. Otherwise, you’ll  increase your likelihood of liver toxicity, and the possibility of cancer. Before you  start worrying, here’s a piece of good news... There are two types of cinnamon, ceylon  and cassia (cash-ya). Cassia has larger amounts of coumarin than ceylon. So, if  you want to include cinnamon in your diet, make sure you’re buying ceylon cinnamon. 

6. Black Pepper:



 Black pepper is a very common spice used in households. It’s sometimes referred to as the  king of spices and has been used in traditional medicine for a long time. It’s packed with  antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that prevent diseases like arthritis, diabetes and cancer. This particular spice can also help prevent degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s  and Parkinson’s. In a study of rats that had Alzheimer’s disease, it was seen that the  compound piperine, which is in black pepper, improved their memory. 

7. Cayenne:



Cayenne is a chilli pepper commonly used among  spicy dishes. This spice has a compound called capsaicin, which is known to help reduce your  appetite and increase the amount of fat that is burnt. Just 1 gram of pepper added to your  meal would be enough to get the desired results. In some studies, it’s been seen that capsaicin  can also prevent certain forms of cancer. Its effects are particularly powerful  against lung, liver and prostate cancers. 

8. Paprika:



 Paprika is a spice that can not only add flavor to your dishes, but also the bright  color, especially among dishes such as fish, chicken thighs and even tomato sauce. Paprika  comes packed with many important nutrients, including vitamin E and beta carotene,  which can help improve your eye health. This spice can also help improve your cholesterol  levels by increasing the amount of good cholesterol in your body. In one study conducted  over two weeks, it was found that rats given paprika had a significantly higher amount of good  cholesterol compared to the group that did not. 

9. Ginger:



 Ginger is another popular spice  that is used in many dishes. It’s long been a part  of traditional medicine, especially for treating nausea. Whether it’s nausea from chemotherapy,  sea sickness or morning sickness, ginger can help. Ginger also has anti-inflammatories that help  relieve pain. In one study among participants with colon cancer, it was seen that taking 2 grams  of ginger extract every day can help reduce colon inflammation at the same level as aspirin. 

10. Garlic:



Garlic is yet another spice that has been  used in traditional medicine for centuries. Most of the medicinal properties in ginger come  from a compound called allicin, which is also what gives the spice its distinctive smell. Garlic can also help reduce your cholesterol levels. Research has shown that garlic  supplementation can reduce the amount of bad cholesterol levels in your body by up  to 15%. It can also treat the common cold. Garlic supplements can also help reduce high blood  pressure. In one study, it was just as effective as drugs used to combat high blood pressure. 

11. Turmeric:



Turmeric is one of the most commonly used spices  around. It’s what gives curry its yellow color. It has curcumin, along with many other medicinal  properties. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant. This is important, as oxidative damage is one  of the main causes of aging, along with many other related diseases. Research has shown that  curcumin can also improve your brain function. It also helps fight Alzheimer’s disease,  and reduce your chances of getting cancer. Curcumin also has strong  anti-inflammatory properties, and is even as effective as some of the drugs available. You just learned about the incredible benefits of eating spices. Are you planning on adding these 11 spices to your  daily diet? Let us know in the comments below!