We love using spices to add flavour to our cooking – but did you know that many can also help to boost our health? Here are five spices with remarkable benefits.
Cinnamon
A popular spice often used in baking, cinnamon also has numerous health benefits. It’s packed with antioxidants such as polyphenols, has anti-inflammatory properties, and has been linked to a reduced risk of heart attack. It’s also been shown to have a powerful effect on blood sugar levels – improving insulin resistance and decreasing the amount of glucose that enters your bloodstream after a meal by slowing the breakdown of carbohydrates in the digestive tract.
Turmeric
This bright yellow spice is having its moment in the sun, with loads of people realising its health benefits. Turmeric’s main active ingredient is curcumin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant. Multiple studies have shown that curcumin can help treat symptoms of arthritis; and it may also prevent heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Ginger
Ginger has long been used in alternative medicine, and with good reason. Studies have consistently shown that ginger can help alleviate nausea, and it has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce muscle pain after exercise. It can also help regulate blood sugar levels – and thanks to its anti-fungal and antimicrobial compounds, it might even help you fight off a cold or an infection. For more information on the benefits of ginger, visit this article.
Cumin
Often used in Indian and Mexican cuisine, research has revealed that cumin can pack a powerful punch when it comes to our health. It promotes digestion, and is a carminative – meaning it relieves you from issues with gas. It is also an excellent source of iron, and contains a high dose of antioxidants such as flavonoids, which reduce free-radical damage to the body.
Chilli
Chilli is well-known to help increase your metabolism and promote your weight-loss efforts, but it actually has many more great benefits. It’s full of vitamin C, which can strengthen the immune system and heal injuries and infections. The capsaicin in chilli can also act as an anti-inflammatory agent, and may reduce pain in individuals with symptoms from sensory nerve fibre disorders such as arthritis.
