Six Healthy Spices
In this article, I would like to comment on how spices can contribute to our health. Each culture adds a variety of healthy spices to their cooking. In Spain we use many in our dishes and hot pots, thanks to the different cultures that have passed by the peninsula.
Your kitchen can be the most important room of your house.
Your spice cabinet can become your medicine cabinet.
Spices can be used for cooking, drinking as a tea, or used as a compress.
Most spices have components with natural healing abilities.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has been shown to lower glucose levels in your body. We use it in sauces and desserts and tastes great with herbal teas.
Ginger
Ginger is an anti-inflammatory. Use as a compress for in inflamed joints and sprains. It is also good applied to the chest for bronchitis, colds, allergies, on the abdomen for menstrual cramps. Helps with nausea, the flu, colds, bronchitis and it promotes circulation. Never missing from Asian kitchens. It gives that special flavor to any herbal tea.
Turmeric
Turmeric is another anti inflammatory – is used both externally to heal wounds, relieve pain, and as a compress to break up chest congestion and internally as a strong anti-inflammatory. It is one of the best spices to use for inflammations in joints and multiple sclerosis. Used in the treatment of hepatitis as a blood purifier is. It also helps with yeast infections and inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcers, colic. It gives that special coloring to all our dishes, rices, and sauces.
Black Pepper
Preventative medicine for many diseases. East Indians take a mixture of black pepper and honey every morning as a preventative for many common illnesses. When treating acute illnesses is taken several times a day. It has been known to decrease the formation of intestinal gas, good to asthma, boils, colic, cough, diarrhea, fever, gas, hemorrhoids, indigestion, chronic rheumatism, obesity, phlegm, sinus congestion, skin diseases, sore throat, and worms. Wow! It enhances the taste of sandwiches, any dish whether hot or cold.
Cardamom
Cardamom is an Indian spice used also in the middle east in coffee as digestive and used for its warming effects of on the body. It is good for indigestion, colic, and gas.
Clove
Clove is ideal for dental pain. Apply oil of clove to the gum when you have a toothache. Good for arthritis and insect bites. It is an anti-fungal so add it to a foot bath for athlete’s foot. It is also an anti-microbial. It helps with digestive problems and is good for nausea. It gives a great taste to any stew or dessert.
Next time I will highlight another few spices and herbs and their use in our kitchens TO SPICE UP YOUR LIFE
