The saying says two sides to a coin. The same is with what is in your spice cabinet. Spices are for flavoring foods, not just main dish meals but including desserts. Spices give your palate a bang with each bit you take.
According to Wikipedia – “Spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetable substance primarily used for flavoring, coloring or preserving food. Sometimes a spice is used to hide other flavors.
Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are parts of leafy green plants also used for flavoring or as a garnish. Many spices have antimicrobial properties. This may explain why spices are more commonly used in warmer climates, which have more infectious disease, and why use of spices is especially prominent in meat, which is particularly susceptible to spoiling.
A spice may have other uses, including medicinal, religious ritual, cosmetics or perfume production, or as a vegetable. For example, turmeric roots are consumed as a vegetableand garlic as an antibiotic”.
The theme of this article is “Know the Other side of the Spice”, and that is just what we are going to do. So we know the use of spices is principle for flavoring foods as Wikipedia explains. But is goes on to explain the medicinal side of the spice its antimicrobial properties.
Ginger
Gingerol is an active ingredient in ginger that can relax blood vessels, stimulate blood flow and relieve pain. It is also good for helping in lowering high blood pressure. Its common use as a medicinal herb is a digestive aid and can help relive bloating. It also contains a compound that can ease nausea and inhibit vomiting. It is also helpful woman who have morning sickness due to pregnancy or for people suffering from the side effects of chemotherapy.
Most of what were mentioned in the prior paragraph were documented over 2000 years ago, therefore making it an age old medicinal that one can use with 100% confidence. You can eat ginger – fresh, ground, dried, candied, infused and still reap the health benefits.
Oregano
The potent antibacterial properties of this spice are thymol and carvacrol. A study on oregano was found to be more effective against amoeba, which is a parasite of other organisms. This parasite also invades are bodies and the most common prescription drug used is Tinidazole. Note the side effects of this drug:
The most common side effects reported with tinidazole are upset stomach, bitter taste, diarrhea and itchiness. Other side effects which occur are headache, physical fatigue, and dizziness. Anecdotally, people who have taken both metronidazole and tinidazole report toxicity is much the same except the side effects don’t last as long with the latter.
Also drinking alcohol while taking tinidazole, causes an unpleasant disulfiram-like reaction, which includes nausea, vomiting, headache, increased blood pressure, flushing and shortness of breath.
What are the toxic side effects of using oregano against the infection caused by this invading parasite? None have been reported to date.
Oregano is also documented a potent antioxidant, rich in phytonutrients. One gram or 0.0352 ounces of fresh oregano has:
- 42 times more antioxidant activity than apples
- 30 times more than potatoes
- 12 times more than oranges
- 4 times more than blueberries
Cinnamon
This spice is just more than adding to your apple cider juice or an apple pie. It can prohibit growth of bacteria, fungi and yeast. Cinnamon is also anti-clotting and anti-inflammatory. It prevents clumping of blood platelets. It is also able to boost brain function.
A study reported in the February 2004 Hormone Metabolism Research found that cinnamon appears to prevent insulin resistance even in animals eating a high-fructose diet. But we are not encouraging a high-fructose diet with our mention of this study.
Cinnamon has also shown to be an aide in relaxation and sleep.
Turmeric
It’s a potent anti-inflammatory that studies have found is just as effective as drugs like hydrocortisone, phenylbutazone and Motrin. This spice has been found to be helpful in fighting inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis, cancer, Alzheimer’s and Lyme’s disease. It’s also shown to be an aid in protecting the liver and cardiovascular system.
Turmeric is yellow in color and is one spice of a few that makes Yellow Curry spice in most Asian foods that use it.
Sage
This spice is also an anti-inflammatory and has antioxidant abilities. Sage has flavonoids, phenolic acids and oxygen-handling enzymes. All of these put together give sage its unique ability to prevent oxidized damage to cells. Sage can be used in fighting rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions like bronchial asthma and atherosclerosis.
A scientific study done (Pharmacological Biochemical Behavior) in June of 2003 found that people given sage oil extracts had improved memory abilities compared to those given a placebo. Therefore, sage can promote better brain function.
Cayenne Chili Peppers
This pepper contains capsaicin which is known for its anti-inflammatory ability. This pepper can do many things such as that help with pain relief, releases excess mucus when the breathing passages are congested. It kills bacteria, boosts your metabolism, making it useful for possible weight loss.
It is also an aid to the cardiovascular system as it widens and strengthens blood vessels and arteries, making for better blood flow and reducing plaque buildup. It has shown to be an aid to preventing stomach cancers as well.
Parsley
In animal studies parsley was shown to inhibit tumor formation in the lungs. Parsley has also shown to neutralize carcinogens, such as those found in cigarette smoke and BBQ smoke if using charcoal when grilling. Parsley is also a rich source of antioxidants and heart-protective nutrients including vitamin C, beta-carotene and folic acid.
For more articles about food and how it correlates to a healthy you visit: Savor the Food and Your Health
Article sources:
Wikipedia
The Worlds Healthiest Foods
Photo credit
C Jay Tea
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