Image Source: Lifehacker

Ever seen the herbs and spices in your kitchen cabinet somewhere which often get haphazardly added to recipes and culinary creations? Interestingly, there are many health benefits of herbs and spices, not to mention they improve the taste of many foods. Herbs and Spices have antibacterial and antiviral properties and many are high in B-vitamins and trace minerals. The use of herbs and spices has been incredibly important throughout history. Many were celebrated for their medicinal properties, well before culinary use. Modern science has now shown that many of them do indeed carry remarkable health benefits.

Here is a breakdown of the health benefits of a few herbs and spices:

• Cinnamon
  Cinnamon is a popular spice, found in all sorts of recipes and baked goods. It contains a compound called cinnamaldehyde, which is responsible for cinnamon’s medicinal properties. It lowers blood sugar levels and has a powerful anti-diabetic effect.

• Basil
  Basil has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties and can help prevent osteoarthritis. It has been used in digestive disorders and is being studied for its anti-cancer properties.
• Turmeric
  Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow color. It is also strongly anti-inflammatory, to the point where it matches the effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs.

• Garlic
  Garlic is something that goes into everything. Studies have shown that it has anti-cancer benefits.
• Mint
  It has traditionally been used to calm digestive troubles and alleviate nausea. This herb is easiest to consume in beverage form, though an adventurous cook could add it to meat dishes or dessert recipes.
• Rosemary
  It has a high concentration of the antioxidant carnosol and research shows it may have benefits in cancer treatment and healthy digestion and reduction of cholesterol.Water boiled with Rosemary can be used as an antiseptic.
• Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a type of chili pepper used to prepare spicy dishes.The active ingredient in it is called capsaicin, which has been shown to reduce appetite and increase fat burning in many studies.

• Ginger
  Ginger is a popular spice used in several forms of alternative medicine. Studies have consistently shown that 1 gram or more of ginger can successfully treat nausea. Ginger also appears to have strong anti-inflammatory properties, and can help with pain management.
• Sage

It had a strong reputation for its healing properties during the middle ages, and was even used to help prevent the plague. Current research indicates that sage may be able to improve brain function and memory, especially in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

• Arrowroot

It has an amazing thickening ability similar to cornstarch, and it can be added to soups, dips, baked dishes etc. Arrowroot can be used in place of flour for a roux or as the main baking ingredient in a gluten-free teething biscuit for kids. It is soothing and highly digestible so it is often used in treatment of conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

This is a list of just a few spices used in our kitchen. The list when prepared properly will stand out to be endless. So let’s start using the other side of these common spices other than the fact that they add good taste to the food. Visit JBN for more info.