Top 5 Culinary Herbs and Spices
For Your Health and For Your Palate
CAYENNE PEPPER
. . . has copious amounts of vitamin C and carotene.
Capsaicin heats up cayenne and has many documented medicinal properties including the ability to reduce pain and aid digestion.
Hot capsaicin stimulates effective circulation, making it an excellent food and spice for heart health.
Cayenne also has fibrinolytic activity, which prevents blood clots from forming.
Cayenne breaks up phlegm, and burns off:
1). toxins by cleansing the body, and
2). fats by increasing metabolism.
Cayenne’s ability to reduce pain actually helps ulcers feel better (by killing bacteria associated with ulcers and stimulating growth of the cells that line the stomach and intestinal walls), especially when paired with turmeric (see below).
TIP: enjoy cayenne pepper in your morning glass of water with fresh lemon juice to promote circulation.
. . . has copious amounts of vitamin C and carotene.
Capsaicin heats up cayenne and has many documented medicinal properties including the ability to reduce pain and aid digestion.
Hot capsaicin stimulates effective circulation, making it an excellent food and spice for heart health.
Cayenne also has fibrinolytic activity, which prevents blood clots from forming.
Cayenne breaks up phlegm, and burns off:
1). toxins by cleansing the body, and
2). fats by increasing metabolism.
Cayenne’s ability to reduce pain actually helps ulcers feel better (by killing bacteria associated with ulcers and stimulating growth of the cells that line the stomach and intestinal walls), especially when paired with turmeric (see below).
TIP: enjoy cayenne pepper in your morning glass of water with fresh lemon juice to promote circulation.
CINNAMON
. . . comes from the bark of a tree native to Sri Lanka
that, once peeled off the tree, curls into quills we now call cinnamon sticks
(that’s kind of neat, huh?).
Cinnamon is a carminative spice that reduces bloating and gas.
Cinnamon has been credited for reducing blood sugar (add ground cinnamon to your daily menu and you may reduce fasting blood sugar levels by up to 25%).
Are you ready to hear the plethora of other medicinal benefits of cinnamon? Here we go:
Cinnamon is a carminative spice that reduces bloating and gas.
Cinnamon has been credited for reducing blood sugar (add ground cinnamon to your daily menu and you may reduce fasting blood sugar levels by up to 25%).
Are you ready to hear the plethora of other medicinal benefits of cinnamon? Here we go:
treats arthritis, asthma, cancer, diabetes, diarrhea, heart
problems, insomnia, PMS and muscle cramps.
Cinnamon is a powerful: digestive aid, antibiotic and anti-ulcer food.
TIP: adding a cinnamon stick to your purified bottle of water will not only serve as a delicious flavor enhancer but will allow you to receive the healing properties as an added benefit.
Cinnamon is a powerful: digestive aid, antibiotic and anti-ulcer food.
TIP: adding a cinnamon stick to your purified bottle of water will not only serve as a delicious flavor enhancer but will allow you to receive the healing properties as an added benefit.
GARLIC
. . . 5,000 years of proven effectiveness, garlic has been
documented in Sanskrit writings and used by Egyptian, Chinese and Greek
cultures as both a popular flavoring agent and a wonderful medicinal aid, often
referred to as “Mother Nature’s Medicine”.
An excellent source of vitamin B6, manganese, selenium and vitamin C, as well as a good source of phosphorus, calcium potassium, iron and copper, garlic ahs been credited with anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial properties – with an added ability to fight yeast infections as well!
Garlic has been shown to help lower blood pressure, keep blood sugar levels steady, and manage blood cholesterol levels (regular consumption decreases unhealthy cholesterol levels by 10%).
TIP: mix fresh chopped garlic into salad dressing and dips – their oil content will help to mitigate the pungency. If you feel a sore throat coming on – and if you dare – chew on a raw garlic clove!
An excellent source of vitamin B6, manganese, selenium and vitamin C, as well as a good source of phosphorus, calcium potassium, iron and copper, garlic ahs been credited with anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial properties – with an added ability to fight yeast infections as well!
Garlic has been shown to help lower blood pressure, keep blood sugar levels steady, and manage blood cholesterol levels (regular consumption decreases unhealthy cholesterol levels by 10%).
TIP: mix fresh chopped garlic into salad dressing and dips – their oil content will help to mitigate the pungency. If you feel a sore throat coming on – and if you dare – chew on a raw garlic clove!
GINGER
. . . Ayurveda calls ginger a “universal healer” for its many benefits and it is believed to be balancing to all constitutions.
Traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal problems ginger aids in digestion, reduces inflammation and rheumatic pain, arthritis.
Gingerols may explain its dramatic ability to reduce pain and inflammation as they act as natural blood thinners by preventing blood cells and platelets from clogging.
Ginger prevents cholesterol production in the liver.
For motion sickness, airsickness and nausea, including pregnancy-related nausea, ginger effectively eliminates all symptoms.
TIP: drink freshly sliced ginger as tea in hot water, add to your freshly juiced drinks, and grate over grains or fresh fruits and vegetables.
. . . Ayurveda calls ginger a “universal healer” for its many benefits and it is believed to be balancing to all constitutions.
Traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal problems ginger aids in digestion, reduces inflammation and rheumatic pain, arthritis.
Gingerols may explain its dramatic ability to reduce pain and inflammation as they act as natural blood thinners by preventing blood cells and platelets from clogging.
Ginger prevents cholesterol production in the liver.
For motion sickness, airsickness and nausea, including pregnancy-related nausea, ginger effectively eliminates all symptoms.
TIP: drink freshly sliced ginger as tea in hot water, add to your freshly juiced drinks, and grate over grains or fresh fruits and vegetables.
TURMERIC
. . . yes – I saved the best for last (plus, it just so happen
to fall that way alphabetically!).
My favorite, daily, go-to spice!
Circumin, the main active agent in turmeric, reduces the chance of stroke and is a natural inhibitor of enzymes that cause inflammation, rivaling many prescription anti-inflammatory drugs.
Studies have found that a combination of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) were more powerful at fighting prostate cancer when combined than when taken separately.
Turmeric has been known to aid in the treatment of IBD, intestinal cell function, Alzheimer’s, liver detoxification, heart disease, and atherosclerosis.
TIP: use everywhere – a little sprinkle every day will serve to go a very long way!
My favorite, daily, go-to spice!
Circumin, the main active agent in turmeric, reduces the chance of stroke and is a natural inhibitor of enzymes that cause inflammation, rivaling many prescription anti-inflammatory drugs.
Studies have found that a combination of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) were more powerful at fighting prostate cancer when combined than when taken separately.
Turmeric has been known to aid in the treatment of IBD, intestinal cell function, Alzheimer’s, liver detoxification, heart disease, and atherosclerosis.
TIP: use everywhere – a little sprinkle every day will serve to go a very long way!
~ Adapted from "An A-Z Guide to Healing Foods", Elise Marie Collins ~
