Spice Your Way to a Healthier Life

The nutritional benefits of spices are beginning to be so well known that many spices are popping up in the vitamin aisles in larger stores and can be found in capsule form. Doctors recommend taking a multi vitamin, as maintaining a balanced diet is becoming increasingly difficult. Organically grown fruits and vegetables, while healthier, are out of the price range for many consumers. These consumers are left with a product which has been over processed and chemically treated for a variety of reasons. How can we improve our odds in the war of eating healthy?

One way would be to enlist the aid of your common household spices. Not only do they make your food taste better, but ounce for ounce some spices are worth their weight in gold.

Cinnamon

Take cinnamon for instance. What would pumpkin or apple pie be without cinnamon? Cinnamon can be used in the treatment of athlete’s foot, body odor, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, fever, heart burn, diarrhea, and nausea. Cinnamon is now found in capsule form and can be taken as a daily supplement.

There are a number of herbs, teas, and spices containing fungicides including cinnamon, fennel, basil, black currant, dill, lemon, orange, sage, thyme, tarragon, spearmint, and red clover.

Brewing up any combination of these can provide an anti-fungal boost to your every day consumption because each of these listed contain ten or more anti-fungal properties a piece. If preferred a cotton ball soaked in the tea could be applied directly to the skin.

Cinnamon is not the only spice known to help the body use insulin more efficiently. According to research bay leaves, cloves and turmeric can also be beneficial. A pinch or two of these steeped in black tea (camellia sinensis) for ten minutes provides a blood-sugar-lowering drink.

Cinnamon, an aphrodisiac? In studies performed on medical students measurement devices were attached to the student’s penises to test their reactions to a variety of aromas. Maybe there is some truth to the saying “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” in that the aroma of pumpkin pie, and even more so hot cinnamon buns was shown to improve the blood flow and increase erections in the participants. The best results were achieved with nutmeg, cinnamon, and lavender aromas.

Sprinkling some cinnamon or cardamom on toast can aid in treatment of acid indigestion and heartburn. This spice has a strong anti-microbial action which can settle the stomach.

Anti-microbial properties are those which are capable of killing or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms or bacteria, fungi and viruses. This also makes cinnamon a good choice in the treatment of some fevers. A drop of cinnamon oil on an insect bite helps to relieve the itch.

Basil

Another common spice found in thousands of kitchens would be basil. Basil is a wonderful addition to many of our favorite Italian dishes, but it is also an excellent choice as an insect repellent, and for the treatment of bad breath, warts, emphysema, head aches, and high blood pressure.

Rubbing basil leaves directly on the skin wards off mosquitoes. In the country of India this is quite common practice. If you do not have the luxury of planting outside, this plant will grow quite nicely in a sunny window planter.

There are six compounds found in basil that are useful as expectorants, which make basil beneficial in ridding the body of mucus and congestion. Basil and black pepper each contain six compounds known to lower blood pressure.

Fresh crushed basil leaves can be applied directly to a wart and covered over with a bandage, as basil carries many antiviral compounds. Fresh leaves should be applied and the bandaging changed daily for five to seven days.

Black Pepper

Black pepper, in addition to improving blood pressure contains four compounds known to impede osteoporosis. The addition of black pepper to food also aids in digestion, probably due to the manner in which it stimulates the taste buds thereby notifying the stomach to increase secretion of hydrochloric acid. Insufficient production of hydrochloric acid leads to heart burn, indigestion and other stomach problems such as intestinal gas. Black pepper is also known to have significant antioxidant and antibacterial properties, aiding in overall good health and disease resistance.

Sage

Sage, a common ingredient in our Thanksgiving turkey stuffing has a long list of medical uses including Alzheimer’s, asthma, bad breath, baldness, body odor, canker sores, carpal tunnel, gingivitis, tonsillitis, wrinkles, and yeast infections. Like its sister herb, Rosemary, it contains a number of volatile oils, flavonoids and phenolic acids. Sage contains agents which are anti-inflammatory providing relief for rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and atherosclerosis. It has been used in testing for memory enhancement and treatment of Alzheimer’s. It is good to remember that sage should be used in moderation though as large amounts contain thujone which in high doses can cause convulsions.

Sage has been used to introduce menstruation. Studies have shown that Sage stimulates uterine contractions, and pregnant women would be advised against taking highly concentrated forms of sage, while the ordinary use of the spice has not been shown to cause any harmful side effects. In fact it has been shown to be useful in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, helping to relax muscles found in the digestive system. Commission E, a group in Germany, that evaluates the safety and effectiveness of herbs has approved this use.

A study conducted in Germany shows that a sage infusion taken on an empty stomach has reduced blood sugar levels in diabetics. The tannins in sage help to kill bacteria, which is why sage is used in many natural mouthwashes. It is also used to aid in the treatment of sore throats and canker sores. The Germans have also done testing to prove its usefulness as a natural deodorant, and it has proved quite effective in treating excessive perspiration, reducing perspiration by as much as 50%.

Sage along with rosemary and thyme help guard against the depletion of acetycholine in the brain, which leads to Alzheimer’s. Acetycholine is neurotransmitter that is vital for proper brain function.

Rosemary

Rosemary, also called the remembrance herb has a long history of culinary and medical use. It is used to season meats and treat or prevent depression, indigestion, headache, muscle aches, cataracts, baldness, fainting, pain, wrinkles, arthritis, amenorrhea, and body odor.

Long ago meats were often wrapped in rosemary leaves to keep them from growing rancid. The antioxidants in rosemary may offer some level of cancer protection. Rosemary also contains antiseptic properties, which is why it was used in France during World War II to not only treat wounds but to help keep the hospital germ-free.

The fragrance of rosemary is used to help relieve congestions from colds and allergies along with respiratory infections. It has been used in oil form for massages to ease muscle spasms and improve circulation. Legend has it that in the 11th century a hermit was said to have cured the Queen of Hungary of paralysis by rubbing her arms and legs with a strong rosemary wine.

Rosemary is used in teas, extracts and essentials oils. The body can receive healing properties from consumption or through the skin, however the oil should not be consumed, nor should pregnant women use highly concentrated forms of the herb.

Anise

Anise is another spice that has been used as breath freshener. It is also known as aniseed, pimpinel seed, and sweet cumin. Its seeds are used in both herbal medicine and aromatherapy.

Its sweet smell and flavor is used to flavor foods and liqueurs. It is used as an ingredient in cough medicines and lozenges proving effective as an expectorant and providing relief from colds, pneumonia, influenza, bronchitis, and asthma.

Because of its expectorant qualities it has also proved helpful in encouraging the secretion of excess fluids from the digestive system and aid in flatulence and colic in children and adults. Anise should be used in moderation as large doses have caused allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Fennel

Fennel has a sweet licorice taste, and provides us with leaves, bulb, stalk, and seeds, which are all edible. It resembles celery in appearance, with a stalk of white, and was used by the ancient Egyptians to treat digestive ailments. Studies have shown fennel to relieve intestinal spasms and cramping. It has been endorsed by Commission E for its use in the treatment of digestive upsets and shown as effective as Mylanta, Maalox and Gaviscon.

The antispasmodic agent in fennel has also been found to be effective in relaxing other smooth muscles of the body and acting as a phytosestrogen, in that it stimulates estrogen, menstruation, and mother’s milk in nursing mothers.

Turmeric

One of nature’s most potent anti-inflammatories and antioxidants is turmeric. Turmeric gives mustard its characteristic shade of yellow. Just 2 teaspoons provides one with nearly 20% of the daily value of manganese followed with 10% iron, 5% vitamin B6, fiber, and potassium. Curcumin is thought to be the primary agent in turmeric. This agent provides a potent but safe anti-inflammatory which when compared with over the counter medications such as Motrin far outweigh the competitors in benefits. Motrin, being associated with toxic effects such as ulcers, decreased white blood cell counts, intestinal bleeding, and liver damage cannot match the benefits of turmeric, which produces no toxicity.

Research studies have shown curcumin to provide treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cystic fibrosis. The antioxidant actions have been shown to assist the body defenses in fighting cancer cells and preventing tumor growth. It has shown amazing success in ridding the body of LDL cholesterol and slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s.

People taking blood thinners should use caution in taking this herb medicinally. Although no toxic side effects have been linked to its use, large doses may cause upset stomachs and those taking blood thinners would have an increased action from their medication.

Turmeric is also a natural antioxidant, shown to inhibit the development of cancers cells, cataracts, cholesterol, and lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots.

Saffron

Genuine saffron is only grown in India and an ounce can run between $200 and $300 dollars. Not 2 to 3, but 2 hundred to 3 hundred. The findings are not all in yet. It is thought to be an aphrodisiac, and a cure for many ailments. A minute amount is all that is needed to flavor food. Saffron is produced from the ground powder of the flower stigmas (the tiny point inside the flower bloom, which receives the pollen). It takes 14,000 stigmas to create one ounce, and the work has to be done by hand.

Cloves

Cloves are also popular at Thanksgiving, for those who like their ham with cloves, brown sugar, and pineapple. They are rich in manganese, and also contain omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin K, fiber, vitamin c, and magnesium. An active ingredient in cloves is eugenol which has been shown to aid in the prevention of digestive tract cancers, joint inflammation and various environmental toxins. Clove oil has been used as an oral anesthetic and antiseptic, and is an ingredient in various oral hygiene products.

Thyme

Thyme is also an excellent source of vitamin K, iron, and manganese and also provides calcium and fiber. Thymol is the primary volatile oil found in thyme. It is beneficial in protecting and increasing the number of healthy fats found in cell structures such as the brain, kidney, and heart. Its flavonoids act as antioxidant in fighting contaminants. In research done with thyme, it was shown to decontaminate food injected with shigellosis.

Cardamom

Cardamom is another spice that we import from the Far East. It is used as a breath freshener and an expectorant. It also provides a calming night time drink when mixed with warm milk and a little ginger.

Ginger

Fresh ginger root has been found to more effective than Dramamine in its use in preventing motion sickness. It has also been known to freshen breath, aid in digestion and fight depression. Who has not tried Vernors ginger ale for an upset stomach?

The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used fenugreek to treat everything from allergies to low libido. It has been used to aid women in reproductive disorders, and to treat many other ailments, including sore throats, stomach ailments, arthritis and various inflammations, diabetes, hormone induced mood disorders, gastritis and the list goes on…

Fenugreek

Fenugreek has been included in breast enlargement supplements, capsules, tinctures, and powders. It has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels in testing.

Dill Weed

Dill weed, a source of iron, manganese, and calcium contains two healing compounds.

These compounds oxidize molecules within the body which could do harm and they neutralize certain carcinogens. Dill weed has the ability to prevent bacterial overgrowth while soothing the stomach, providing insomniac relief and aiding in the reduction of bone loss.

Coriander

Cilantro/coriander seeds have strong anti-diabetic properties along with cholesterol lowering abilities. One of the components, when tested proved effective at fighting Salmonella.

While the spices shown here are only a few of the many that are available to use in our daily consumption, I hope that the information provided here will serve as a handy reference to some of the medicinal and nutritional tools nature has provided us with. Please do your own research and only use mine as an introduction. George Mateljan has created a non-profit organization known as The World’s Healthiest Foods and information is available at his site online. Here more extensive information can be found on any number of foods, spices, and herbs along with recipes. There are many benefits to be gained from proper nutrition and I hope that you are able to enjoy some of them.