Health Benefits of Spices

Spices make our food taste great, but you know what they say, "You are what you eat." Spices like all the other foods that we take in on a daily basis have an effect on our health. But because spices are more concentrated in many ways, their effect may be more intense than many of the foods we eat in greater quantity. A little bit of cilantro for example might make a great difference in the way a person feels and thinks. With this in mind it might be well to look a bit deeper into the health benefits of a few specific spices.

The number of spices available is quite large, so we have just concentrated on just a few. The spice currently creating excitement in the world of supplements is cinnamon. Just a whiff of cinnamon is reputed to "reduce drowsiness, irritability, pain, and frequent migraines". Some studies have shown that the essential oil in cinnamon provides relief to tight muscles, that it can ease painful joints, and even relieve menstrual cramps in women. Cinnamon is thought to increase the action of enzymes that break down food in the human body. Thus improving one's metabolism.

Turmeric is another spice that has long been used in Asia for its medicinal properties and is just coming to be recognized in the west for its "anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-mutagenic, anti-parasitic and anti-viral" properties. Turmeric might also be helpful for stomach problems including indigestion, ulcers, diarrhea. It is also thought to help reestablish beneficial bacteria in the digestive system after use of anti-biotics. Studies are currently underway to test turmeric's efficacy for treating nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease.

Black Pepper may be the most commonly used spice in the Western World, it is dosed onto many different dishes. It too has positive health benefits including, the fact that it can alleviate loss of appetite, it has an anti-bacterial effect, and may work as an anti-oxidant. It can also stimulate the breakdown of fat cells. But like anything else this should be used in moderation as there may be side-effects to using pepper in large quantities.

Ginger has proven itself to help fight nausea and sea-sickness. It is also an anti-inflammatory. And like many other spices and herbs it functions as an antioxidant. Ginger has long been consumed for health reasons. Its history goes back more than 4000 years. It can be consumed fresh or is sold in health food stores as a supplement.

Most dishes contain moderate amounts of herbs or spices, so consuming one thing or another will probably have no discernible effect. However, in the long run, people should be aware of what they are eating and how it affects their health. Before taking any spice as a supplement a person should consult his or her physician.

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