Saturday, 17 March 2007

Health benefits of Spices




MUSTARD SEEDS - Protects against cancer. They also are a very good source of omega-3 fatty acids, iron, calcium, zinc, manganese, magnesium, protein, niacin and fiber.



CLOVES - Prevents toxicity from environmental pollutants like carbon tetrachloride, digestive tract cancers, and joint inflammation. They have been used in dentistry in the US as a mild anaesthetic as well as an anti-bacterial agent.Cloves are anti-inflammatory and an excellent source of manganese, dietary fiber, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and magnesium.



CINNAMON - May help control blood sugars and help people with diabetes. It has antimicrobial properties that can fight fungal bacteria and also has preserving properties. Even smelling Cinnamon can boost your brain activity! A source of maganese, fibre, calcium and iron.






CORIANDER SEEDS - Have anti-inflammatory properties and are a good source of fibre, iron, magnesium and maganses.






CUMIN SEEDS - Are a good source of iron, are good for digestion and are also known to be cancer fighting.



TURMERIC - Researchers have found that a substance known as curcumin is found in turmeric and has anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin has also been shown to shrink pre-cancerous colon polyps. This spice has been found to be helpful in fighting inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. It's also shown promise in cardiovascular and liver protection.


GINGER - Sooths your stomach. Substances called gingerols in ginger can help control nausea. Ginger is also known to help aid digestion and help control nausea.



RED CHILI PEPPERS - These peppers, which include the popular cayenne pepper, contain capsaicin, an anti-inflammatory compound that helps with pain relief. Chili peppers have been found to
Clear congestion by clearing mucus from the lungs and nose
Boost immunity, prevent stomach ulcers by killing bacteria, help with weight loss, reduce blood cholesterol, triglyceride levels and platelet aggregation
Prevent cancers, including stomach cancer and relieve pain.










5 comments:

Sheela said...

HI Jeena, thanks for stopping by... I couldn't surf away without letting you know about your spices post. My mom uses turmeric, ginger and garlic on a regular basis pointing out their health benefits. And chilies when used in moderation supposedly boosts metabolism. Your post has inspired me to start recording the benefits of spices i use in my cooking...

Chef Jeena said...

Hi there thanks for your post, I'm glad you liked my spices post! I bet your mum knows some good recipes then. :)

Unknown said...

i use spices religously in everything. sprinkle your apple slices with cinammon, use cumin in chicken salad to make it a bit curry like. Cayenne is the best though. can use in EVERYTHING.
i love reading about the health benefits too. thanks for your great website. helped me with recipes for dairy and wheat free, since i am both!!!

tracyq said...

I am searching for a kind of plant or spice which is sometimes used in curry and in Thai salad or even use for barbecue seasoning. In Indonesian language they call it 'serai' or our chinese interprete as fragrant plant. I need to know how we call it in English

Anonymous said...

Your SERAI is lemon grass......