You Won’t Believe the Benefits of These Common Spices

You Won’t Believe the Benefits of These Common Spices

by | Aug 21, 2021 | Health & Wellness, Food & Kitchen

The use of herbs and spices dates back to our ancestors. It’s always amazing how they were able to feed brilliantly back in times when civilization wasn’t fully in existence. They gain such mastery over plants and herbs, so much so that their health is always apt for their flourishing. It is said that garlic and onions were in use 4,500 years ago, and specified spices were used in preserving foods before technology came into place.

Herbs and spices are plant-sourced substances used for their fragrance, flavor, or medical attributes. In a botanical sense, a “herb” is an herbaceous plant that doesn’t have a woody stem and has a low lifespan, especially during the winter. There are, however, very common spices with great health benefits.

Below are a few of them and more ways they could be used in response to their health properties:

Common Spices and Their Health Benefits

1. Turmeric

Turmeric is a very common spice with vast, unthinkable health benefits. This spice is an Indian plant from the ginger family. It contains a color pigment called curcumin, which is vastly responsible for its bright hue and health benefits. The health benefits include the prevention of type 2 diabetes and helping fight inflammation in the body.

More benefits of this common spice have been in use for thousands of years as a medical procedure for treating a variety of ailments.

Some examples of such are joint pain, diabetes, arthritis, digestive mishaps, and cancer.

More Ways to Use Turmeric

This vibrant spice can be used in coloring curry powders, butter, mustards, sauces, cheese, grains, or smoothies. It can also be used in the preparation of teas and golden milk. In addition to their anti-inflammatory properties, they also contain strong antioxidant substances that are good for the skin. Turmeric gives the skin an extra glow and can be used as a face mask.

Large consumption of turmeric supplements is, however, not advisable as they can notably spike the level of urinary oxalate, leading to a high chance of kidney stone formation. Also, when being used as face masks, due to the high color pigment in turmeric, they are most likely to leave a stain on the skin if applied overnight. This could be easily taken care of by washing the face with milk.

2. Black Pepper

Black pepper is especially my favorite. It has an intense spicy flavor and leaves your meal surprisingly aromatic.

One of the benefits of this common spice is that it helps the digestive system secrete more nutrients from foods eaten. Even more, it has been discovered that black pepper has anti-tumor and anti-mutagenic properties. This means that it helps fight against genetic mutations. How interesting!

It also has a protective antitoxin that protects the body against cell damage. Not only that, it hastens the absorption of specific drugs.

More Ways to Use Black Pepper

This grounded spice can be used in the supreme garnishing of soups, spiking of salads, and flavoring of meats, fish, pasta, vegetables, and more.

Don’t be scared to add a little sprinkle to your sauce dips, eggs, porridge, pepper soups, of course, and fruits (avocado, pumpkins, etc.). It’s, in fact, a very good mix with turmeric.

3. Nutmeg

Nutmeg is also a very common spice with interesting health benefits. It’s a seed-derived spice known for its intriguing scent and warm taste. It’s mostly used to add flavor to various varieties of baked foods, puddings, meats, sausages, vegetables, beverages, and sauces.

One of the benefits of this common spice is that it helps a great deal in fighting germs and cavities with its antibacterial properties. In addition to these great facts, nutmegs also contain anti-inflammatory components that can stop the growth of cancer tumours.

Nutmeg is indeed very interesting, but an overdose of it could become a hallucinogen, and for this very reason, it’s currently banned in Saudi Arabia.

More Ways to Use Nutmeg

Nutmeg sure does make coffee taste great—just a tint of it, too, in the teas, hot cocoa, and warm milk. They could also serve well in seasoned beverages, with just a little sprinkling over oats and cereals, and sure in baked goods too.

4. Paprika

Do not fret! It’s the common powdered pepper. Paprika is of the capsicum family of peppers. It includes a vast variety of peppers, such as red hot peppers, bell peppers, green peppers, etc.

One of the benefits of this common spice is that it’s recognized as an antioxidant agent which is very good for the body. Although it comes with a spiking punch, just a teaspoon contains 37% of the daily recommended intake of Vitamin A and Iron.

Other health benefits include improved immunity, improved cholesterol levels, reduced blood sugars, reduced cancer risks, improved eye health, and also serving as a stimulant against depression.

More Ways to Use Paprika

Roses are red; paprika(s) are redder. All I’m saying is that it’s not that bad. I understand a lot of people don’t really like this particular spice, but really, it’s a healthy one. It doesn’t have to be consumed at high spike levels. Just a tint, at least once in a while, is highly recommended and would be much appreciated by your body.

It’s most enjoyed in soups, stews, and the garnishing of foods. It is also used in making marinades and spicy sauces.

5. Curry Powder

This is the most common spice that’s both healthy and handy in several ways. It’s made from a dashing mix of selected herbs and spices, including the well-known turmeric.

One of the benefits of this common spice is that it contains a very powerful anti-inflammatory compound and it’s at least 50 times much more effective than Vitamin C and E.

It also has the potency to restrain specific breast cancer cells, fight against stomach cancers and Alzheimer’s disease (a mental disorder), strengthen the bones, and aid digestion.

More Ways to Use Curry Powder

Curry is a very good mix for marinating meats and fish, especially before roasting. It also adds a great flavor to stews, vegetables, spinach, sauce, porridges, and coconut milk too.

6. Ginger

Ginger is a rhizome herb from the Zingiberaceae family. It is very common and known for its express medical assistance. One of the benefits of this common spice is its richness in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Also, it serves as a great aid in the treatment of various ailments.

These include bloating, nausea, chronic indigestions, weight reduction, morning sickness, coughing, cold congestion, post-surgery nausea, and workout-induced soreness.

Ginger is highly rich in Gingerol – a chemical that is known to treat inflammation and restrict nerve pathways that process pain. Traditionally, ginger is used as a remedy for general pain relievers, which include menstrual aches.

More Ways to Use Ginger

There’s a vastness attributed to the use of ginger, diced, dried, or extracts, surprisingly even in cosmetics. This particular herb could be used in whatever quantity and almost in every dish. This includes a wide variety of teas, sauces, beverages, baked goods, and dishes.

For stomach upsets, pains, and weight reduction, a good mix in warm water would work fine. For cough and cold congestion, a tint of lemon and honey could go a long way.

7. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is another very common spice with amazing health benefits. This spice is a dried aromatic bark that comes in stick rolls or powder. Similarly to Nutmeg, they are fragrance sticks used for the flavoring of dishes and baked goods.

One of the benefits of this common spice includes a range of digestive challenges and diabetic issues. They’re used in the management of blood sugar and cholesterol levels. They also reduce tummy fat (when added to food daily) and improve glucose cell metabolism.

It also has antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial properties that make it a handy treatment for the skin.

More Ways to Use Cinnamon

For skin treatment, cinnamon could be used for face masking when mixed with honey or yogurt. This healthy spice goes well with most dishes.

A little sprinkling of cinnamon over plain yogurt, oatmeal, beverages, and coffee (while brewing) gives it a unique tint of awesomeness.

Conclusion

There are a vast variety of great herbs and spices that are in use both for medical purposes and as amazing additions to dishes. These are only a few common spices with extreme health properties and unique flavorings for you.

I hope you have fun trying them out. Tell me in the comments section when you do.

12 Foods That Improve Metabolism

12 Foods That Improve Metabolism

by | Jul 27, 2021 | Food & Kitchen

Humans eat. We one way or another depend on foods to increase our metabolism, get the required nutritional requirements, and get the energy we need for our day-to-day activities.

What Is Metabolism?

Our bodies undergo chemical reactions that change the food we eat into the energy we use to get through our activities, from moving to thinking to working to feeling to growing, and that is metabolism.

Having a high metabolism in the body can give you energy and make you feel better. In this article, you’ll discover foods that increase metabolism in the body and that are mostly found in protein.

12 Foods That Increase Metabolism

1. Avocado

Avocado provides the body with necessary nutritional benefits as it contains fat and mono-saturated fats—these are the good fats that lower bad cholesterol. It also contains nine essential amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids.

Eating avocado has been proven to be a food that increases metabolism and keeps us healthy.

2. Milk

Whole milk does the body good as it is a good source of protein. More so, it is a bone-building food that increases our metabolism as it has calcium in it. Add this to your diet or drink it as a whole. You will still get the same benefits.

3. Beans

In addition, there are varieties of beans based on their color – black, white, red, and brown beans. Research suggests all varieties do good to the body but black bean does the most.

This food increases metabolism in the body as it is a complete protein meal.

4. Leafy vegetables

This is also one of the foods that increase metabolism. Leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, asparagus, green peas, and broccoli help increase metabolism as they have a high content in protein, iron, and magnesium. Iron is required to accelerate the metabolic rate in the body. It also helps in the growth and development of the body.

5. Soy-bean

This is a versatile protein food that increases metabolism, as it could be consumed either as tofu or soy-bean milk. Make sure to make tofu with a healthy oil such as sesame seed oil, coconut oil, grapefruit oil, or hempseed oil.

6. Eggs

Eggs are low in carbohydrates, an excellent source of protein, and contain vitamin B. Eat your eggs in any way you desire—cooked or fried—but make sure you use a good source of healthy oil.

7. Spicy Foods

Chilli pepper! Studies show that spicy foods have natural chemicals that boost metabolism in the body. Add chilli pepper or chilli flakes to enjoy that pasta as it is guaranteed to increase metabolism in the body.

8. Ginger

This root spice is also versatile as you could grate/mince them to your meal or use them in their dried form. Add this to a meal or the dried form to your tea as breakfast to get that energy and boost you require.

9. Fish

This is also one of the foods that increase our metabolism. Our bodies burn calories when we eat protein; replace those carbohydrates with protein to boost metabolism in our body. In addition, fish is a great source of protein, be it salmon or tuna.

10. Seeds

Good foods that increase metabolism in the body are found in these seeds: hemp seed, flaxseed, and lentils. Another is chickpea, as it has a high protein content. Chickpeas are cooked, eaten, and sometimes topped with these varieties of seeds.

11. Green Tea

Furthermore, green tea is one of the foods that increase our body’s metabolism. Studies show that drinking 2–4 cups of green tea a day pushes the body to burn 17% of its calories. They are also anti-inflammatory.

12. Coffee

Coffee increases body metabolism due to its high caffeine content.

Other Ways of Increasing Metabolism in the Body

1. Water: Drink enough water before and after every meal, as this keeps you hydrated and fills you up.

2. Adequate Sleep: Have a good night’s rest for at least 8 hours. This helps keep you sane, active, and well-rested.

3. Exercise: Sitting too much is bad for you, and even doing nothing, in particular, makes your body burn calories. So, walk, run, and stand more often if you can. Have a routine you do at home to activate those core, glutes, and muscles.

Protein is the most effective for increasing metabolism because the body needs to use more energy to digest it than it does carbohydrates.

Eat a balanced diet if you can, stay hydrated, get adequate sleep, and exercise too; you’re on your way to increasing the metabolic rate in your body. I hope this article helped you by telling you about foods that increase metabolism in the body. Add them to your meal when you can, thank you!