Spices and Herbs that Keep you Healthy

Herbs and spices make food tastier while boosting your health. In Nigeria, we have a vast number of herbs, some of which we haven’t figured out the benefits yet. The beauty of herbs and spices is when we make do with more than one at a time. But, be very careful not to mix what you’re not very familiar with. Because these herbs and spices can add a lot of flavour to our dishes, they make it easier to cut back on less healthy ingredients like salt, sugar and added fat. Let’s look at a few herbs and spices that are very nutritious to our health and will also make a very good addition to our everyday meals. Chili peppers Can be fresh, dried, or powdered. They can also boost your metabolism and help keep blood vessels healthy. One possible reason is capsaicin the compound that makes them spicy. Garlic This plant has a powerful compound called allicin. Lab studies have shown that it may lower your chances of getting heart disease, and it may even help stop the growth of cancer cells. And other research shows that eating garlic regularly may help with high cholesterol and high blood pressure. But to get the benefits, you have to chop or crush the clove: Allicin is formed only after the cells in the garlic have been cut or crushed. Ginger This plant has a calming effect on the lining of your digestive system and can ease nausea too and is very good for your stomach. (Moreno) Lab studies also show that ginger has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and may play a role in preventing diseases like cancer. Says WebMD. Turmeric This yellow spice which is also a major ingredient in turmeric rice is a good source of curcumin, an antioxidant that eases inflammation. Research suggests that curcumin may help ease pain and lower the chances of heart attacks. Cocoa Cocoa is the key ingredient in chocolate, but it’s a spice with many health perks. The cocoa bean is chock-full of flavonoids, which are antioxidants that have been shown to boost heart health. Flavonoids do this by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and helping keep your coronary (heart) arteries healthy, among other things. Says WebMD. Cinnamon This is very cheap, easy to find and can be added to almost anything including coffee and tea. Cinnamon has the capability to fight off bacteria and can help with inflammations too.     Feature image credit: rd.com

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This article was first published on 15th December 2017

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