Healthy Spices: Flavours for Your Health

Do you buy your herbs and spices online? If you do, when you buy spices do you think about their nutritional qualities? Some have great health benefits; you could even call them miracle flavours!

Here are 5 herbs and spices that have great health benefits:

Cinnamon  

  

Okay, so we don’t suggest eating this raw (we’ve all seen the YouTube videos) but cinnamon tastes lovely in desserts or on toast. And while you are enjoying the strong spicy taste you may be improving your health. 

Cinnamon will:

• ·         Help fight fungal and bacterial infections
• ·         Improve glucose and lipid levels in diabetics
• ·         Help prevent Alzheimer’s
• ·         Possibly be effective against HIV
• ·         Help to stop the destructive process of multiple sclerosis (MS)
• ·         Reduce the effect on the body from high fat meals   

Oregano  

  

Oregano is a perennial herb that belongs to the mint family. It can be served fresh or dried and has a warm but slightly bitter taste. Oregano is a favourite in Mediterranean cuisine and is commonly sprinkled on pasta or pizza dishes. It tastes great on cheese on toast too!

This herb is somewhat of a superfood, as in one teaspoon it has the same antioxidant power as three cups of broccoli.

 Oregano can also be used in the treatment of:  

• Cold                                     •Allergies
• Muscle pain                          •Intestinal parasites
• Acne                                    •Earache
• Dandruff                               •Fatigue
• Toothache                             •Repelling insects
• Bronchitis                              •Menstrual cramps
• Bloating
• Headaches
• Heart conditions 

Rosemary  

    

Rosemary has long been used alongside meats for its woody flavour, but we like to use it when we steam bass. It tastes amazing! It is also pleasant in desserts.

Rosemary’s health benefits include:

•      Rosemary contains carnosol, a strong anti-cancer compound
•      Protection against Alzheimer’s and improved memory
•      Improved mood
•      Migraine treatment
•      Pain relief
•      Anti-inflammatory properties
•      Immune booster
•      Antibacterial properties
•      Improve digestive health
•      Stimulated hair growth
•      Better circulation
•       Many more…   

Turmeric 

  

Turmeric is the spice of choice for many curry chefs, thanks to its bright colour and strong flavour. Thanks to this bright colouring, turmeric is also used in natural dye for clothing and body paint.

Of course there are medical benefits to eating turmeric too. Some believe that turmeric is a great herbal remedy to relieve the itching caused by skin cancer, and a chemical in turmeric (curcumin) may also help reduce the effects of rheumatoid arthritis.

As well as this turmeric may also be used to treat:

•      Jaundice
•      Hepatitis
•      Diarrhoea
•      Fibromyalgia
•      Ringworm
•      And many others  

Thyme

  

  

Rosemary and thyme belong together, so it is no surprise that this herb also appears on this list. Thyme, like rosemary, is often used to flavour meat, but it also tastes delicious on roast vegetables or fish. It’s a pleasant addition to a stir fry too!

Thyme offers significant anti-oxidant protection and is also commonly used in the treatment of acne. It can even be more effective than some acne creams! It has also been linked to reduced blood pressure and the treatment of colon and breast cancers.

So next time you buy your herbs and spices online, stop and think: Can you fit these into your diet more? You could improve your health if you do.

Just Ingredients seek out the best herbs and spices from the top producers around the world and promise to deliver them straight to your doors. With over 100 spices and herbs to choose from, whether you are looking for rosemary, thyme or any other herb or spice, take a look at the wide variety of spices and herbs at Just Ingredients.