Some say spices are good for health, while some says that say has some adverse side effects, so to bust all these misconceptions, we’ll have a look at some common spices and their health benefits. Read on to learn whether spices are good or bad for your health
Have you ever wondered what your food will taste like without the spices in there to enhance the taste of every ingredient?? Indian dishes are incomplete without the authentic Indian spices that we sprinkle into every dish.
Not only Indian, but Mexican and Chinese cuisine is also incomplete with its spices. Every spice has a unique flavour and aroma to it, and when integrated into a dish, it only intensifies the flavour of the overall dish.
Spices are derived from the bark, flowering buds or seeds of plants or trees. Now people are gaining more and more popularity and so more and more people are getting curious about their properties, so we’ll now see the benefits of some common spices.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in!!
Ginger- Easing Nausea
Ginger is my go-to-spices to cure queasiness and nausea, and it has been a home remedy for that for centuries. How ginger manages to cure nausea is not known yet, but it is believed that the compound gingerol may play a major role in that. Gingerol is a potent antioxidant and has many anti-inflammatory properties that may help ease symptoms. Ginger tea is given to pregnant women as well when they experience morning sickness. You can incorporate dry ginger powder in your cooking or use raw ginger in making ginger tea.
Turmeric- Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Turmeric has been used for centuries in traditional ayurvedic medicines, and is now gaining popularity as the trend of kadha and turmeric lattes is increasing. This bright yellow spice has many benefits, but the one is its impact on inflammation. Due to lifestyle choices, inflammation has become a huge problem in our society. It can cause some serious problems, like IBS and arthritis, but even low-grade inflammation can cause mood problems and digestive upsets. Drinking turmeric milk and integration turmeric powder into your daily diet may reduce IBS symptoms.
Red Chilli Pepper- Increasing Satiation
Red Chilli Pepper adds a bit of heat to the dishes, and when it comes to health benefits, some interesting studies indicate that it may help to reduce your appetite and increase feelings of satiation. An active compound called capsaicin is believed to reduce the production of the hunger hormone ghrelin. You can include red chilli powder in your daily diet, but make sure to remember that this spice doesn’t agree with everyone.
Cumin- Aids Digestion
Cumin is often used in flavouring soups and curries and is a popular spice. Research has found that cumin may help to ease symptoms of indigestion. Cumin contains an active compound named thymol, which can help to stimulate your digestive enzymes and production of bile. If you want to avoid symptoms such as bloating or bouts of constipation, these digestive enzymes are very important as they help to contribute to the breakdown of certain foods.
As you can see, spices are not bad for our health, but you have to conscious about the fact that these spices may not sit well with everyone. These spices may increase your temperature and may worsen acid reflux or heartburn.
To avoid these symptoms, make sure the spices are unadulterated and fresh, like that of Vasant Masala.
