For centuries, people have cooked with spices for the sole purpose of making food taste good.
In recent years, scientists have taken a closer look at spices to uncover the health benefits of using them in food dishes.
It’s no surprise that science has uncovered many spices that naturally improve your health. The best part? You already consume most of these spices in your daily diet.
Keep reading to discover how the following 5 common kitchen spices may help keep you healthy.
Turmeric
Turmeric comes from southwest India, and is the main spice in curry.
You can also find this spice in many Asian dishes. It has a warm, bitter taste, and is known for its bright yellow/orange color.
It’s been used for many years for relief from the common cold.
The next time you’re sick, add some ground turmeric into a glass of warm milk.
This spice will quickly open up your nasal passages and will also help relieve any respiratory issues you’re dealing with.
Turmeric is also useful outside of the body.
This spice can be ground and used as a paste to heal wounds.
When is applied to a wound, this paste helps stimulate blood flow, reduces pain, and prevents infection in the injured area.
Find the recipe to make turmeric paste here.
Chili Pepper
The use of chili peppers as a spice stems from central-east Mexico. They are often found in popular Mexican food dishes.
Not only does chili pepper spice taste delicious, but it also contains capsaicin—a natural chemical that increases metabolism.
Because of this chemical, chili pepper spice aids in natural weight loss.
You can find chili pepper, or chili spice, at your local grocery store.
Grill the peppers, sauté them in a pan, or sprinkle some spice into any dish you prepare that needs a little extra heat.
Cinnamon
The majority of the world’s cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka. Thankfully, it’s made its way into the majority of American kitchens.
If you have diabetes, this is a spice you’ll want to incorporate into your daily diet.
The reason—an active ingredient in cinnamon has a glucose-lowering effect.
You cannot use cinnamon as a replacement to any diabetes medications as of now; however, it is proven to help control blood sugar spikes.
Cinnamon is also great for digestive health. It contains an agent that helps break down intestinal gas.
Throughout history, it’s been used to fight unpleasant digestive issues.
Add more cinnamon into your diet by drinking cinnamon tea, or sprinkle the spice on desserts such as pie or ice cream.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg comes to us from Indonesia.
Commonly, it’s used as a fragrance to make your home smell good, or as a spice to heighten the flavor of food.
Nutmeg is unique, as it is a spice used to protect your mouth from cavities. Macelignan, a chemical that is naturally present in nutmeg, fights bacteria that causes cavities.
Incorporate nutmeg into your diet on a regular basis, and you can reduce the amount of plaque on your teeth by 50%.
Add nutmeg into your diet by sprinkling the spice over foods like sweet potatoes or yams.
Get the maximum dental benefits of nutmeg by creating an all-natural nutmeg toothpaste.
Check out the nutmeg toothpaste recipe here.
Cumin
The spice cumin originated in the east Mediterranean. It is the dried seed of the herb Cuminum cyminum.
Cumin is important because it’s rich in iron and has a considerable amount of Vitamin-C. Both of these nutrients are essential for a healthy immune system.
This natural immune system booster is used all over the world to defend against illness and infection.
Cumin has a nutty, peppery taste. Add more of it into your diet by using it to season meats, vegetables, or guacamole.
