Currently, one out of every three Americans is obese, and six out of every 10 Americans suffers from a chronic disease.
Do you fall into either of these categories? Have you started to clean up your diet in an effort to lose weight and improve your health?
Healthy eating is great for us, of course, but it can also be a little bland, especially if you’re new to preparing your own food and don’t know how to season it properly.
Adding the right spices to your food won’t just improve the taste. It can also make that food healthier!
Read on to learn about some of the healthiest spices you ought to be adding to all of your meals.
Spice Up Your Life with These Healthy Spices
Most people think of spices as merely something that adds extra flavor to their food. While this is true, there are a lot of herbs and spices out there that have powerful health benefits.
The following are some of the best and healthiest spices you may want to start including in your diet:
Turmeric
Turmeric is a bright orange spice that gives curry its distinctive color and flavor.
Turmeric contains a compound known as curcumin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
Many people have found relief from joint pain and chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis after adding turmeric to their diets on a regular basis.
Some research also indicates that turmeric can be beneficial in improving cognitive function and reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, too.
Ginger
Like turmeric, ginger also does a great job of minimizing inflammation.
This is due to the plant compounds known as gingerols that are found in it. Gingerols help to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and ease sore muscles.
In addition to being a potent pain-reliever, ginger also helps to minimize feelings of nausea.
It’s great for those who struggle with motion sickness, and many people dealing with nausea after receiving chemotherapy report that it improves after they consume ginger.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has actually been shown to help reduce blood sugar levels and prevent blood sugar spikes in individuals who suffer from type 2 diabetes.
It’s not a replacement for diabetes medications of course, but it does appear to be a helpful supplement.
The great thing about cinnamon is that it can be a good stand-in for sugar and other sweeteners.
This helps people to reduce the amount of sugar in their diets, which helps them to lose weight and reduces their risk of various chronic illnesses.
Garlic
Garlic is loaded with bioactive compounds and a variety of other nutrients.
Garlic has been shown, in some studies, to reduce blood pressure in a dramatic way. Some research even indicates that garlic can function as effectively as a beta-blocker for those with hypertension.
Many people also swear by garlic for warding off colds and speeding up the recovery process for those who are already suffering from one.
Oregano
Oregano, a popular spice used in Italian dishes, is actually a nutrient powerhouse.
Oregano is loaded with vitamin K, vitamin E, calcium, fiber, manganese, and iron.
Oregano is rich in antioxidants, too. It contains more antioxidants than apples, blueberries, and a variety of other antioxidant-rich fruits.
Antioxidants help to prevent cellular damage caused by free radicals. This damage has been linked to a variety of inflammatory and chronic health conditions.
Rosemary
If you need help concentrating and focusing during the day, you might want to eat a little more rosemary.
Rosemary, an herb that’s a member of the mint family, has been shown to help improve concentration and even boost one’s mood.
It may even help to reduce the risk of cognitive decline in older adults.
Sage
Sage is another herb that’s great for your memory and cognitive abilities.
Sage, which was used in the Middle Ages to prevent the plague, helps to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine.
Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter associated with memory formation. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by a drop in this important neurotransmitter.
Holy Basil
With a name like Holy Basil, how could this spice not have some powerful health benefits?
Holy basil — a sacred Indian herb — helps to prevent the growth of yeast, mold, and bacteria.
It also helps to strengthen the immune system and increases the levels of certain immune cells in the blood.
Holy basil can also help to minimize blood sugar levels and has shown promise for treating mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
Ways to Add The Healthiest Spices to Your Diet
Clearly, there are lots of healthy spices that you might want to add to your diet. How do you incorporate these spices into your favorite recipes, though?
Here are some ideas to help you get started:
- Mix turmeric with coconut milk, honey, and a little black pepper (this increases your body’s ability to absorb curcumin) to make a delicious latte
- Add garlic, rosemary, and oregano to your favorite Italian dishes or sprinkle them on top of your avocado toast
- Use cinnamon instead of sugar in your coffee
- You can steep Holy basil leaves and make a delicious tea, or you can add it to your favorite chicken dishes
- Sage tastes great with chicken, turkey, and pork; you can also steep sage leaves to make tea
See, there are tons of ways to incorporate these spices into your diet. Which method are you going to try first?
Looking for More Health Tips?
Wow, who knew spices could do so much? Are you ready to start incorporating the healthiest spices into your favorite meals?
Keep these tips in mind and you’ll have no trouble finding ways to add extra flavor and extra nutrition to everything you eat!
Are you interested in learning about other ways to improve your diet and add more nutrients to your meals?
If so, be sure to check out the Organic Foods section of our site today.
You’ll find a wide range of articles here that address everything from superfoods everyone should be eating to the lowdown on low-carb diets.