When it comes to healthy cooking, the importance of spices is often overlooked. Yes, they significantly change the taste, aroma and appearance of meals. But did you know that some can help your body digest food? Or that they are major sources of vital nutrients? There is so much goodness to take advantage of, and we want to make sure you do just that.
Read on to learn more about some of our favourite spices:
- Turmeric:
You may have heard of Turmeric before. It’s an ancient, traditional spice even used to make healthy drinks. According to Authoritynutrition.com, it contains an active ingredient called curcumin with powerful anti-inflammatory effects for stiffness and rheumatoid arthritis relief. Add it to your rice dishes, soups and tea for a delicious experience.
- Ginger:
Ginger is a zesty cooking spice that can serve as a quick-fix digestive aid. It is also known to relieve symptoms such as nausea, heartburn and bloating. According to Eatingwell.com, the spice can even help you feel fuller and burn more calories; great news for fit-fam enthusiasts.
- Garlic:
Realfoodoutlaws.com refers to garlic as one of the world’s tastiest health foods. This wonderful seasoning can be used both in powdered form or as a fresh bulb, and helps to make meals taste absolutely delicious. Nutritionauthority.com states that some people also traditionally use it to recover from illnesses including the common cold.
- Rosemary:
Rosemary has a wonderful taste, charming aroma and also comes with a great load of health benefits. Worth mentioning is how it significantly improves memory and alertness, as cited by Reset.me.com. You can use this unique ingredient to spicen your poultry, soups and nutritious Greek yoghurt.
- Cinnamon:
Cinnamon is also highly regarded for its strong anti-oxidants which has the ability to reduce inflammation in sore muscles. In addition, Realfoodoutlaws.com states that cinnamon may actually reduce the amount of sugar in foods that enters the blood-stream. It does this by interacting with enzymes that break down carbohydrates into sugar. If you’re a sweet-tooth, this is great news for you! It means you can enjoy your sweet treats with little to no guilt. Add cinnamon to your cookies, biscuits and also your bread.
So guys, if you have any of these spices lying around unused in your kitchen cabinet, we hope this post reminds you of how important they are.
In the spirit of Global Handwashing Day, we would like to remind you that great hygienic practices like washing your hands before handling food help to maintain healthy living. Do share this post with friends and don’t forget to let us know how you introduced any of these spices to your regular recipes.