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Are there health benefits to eating turmeric and other spices?

Spices have been a part of our diets for thousands of years – it's second nature to sprinkle our chips with pepper, sip on ginger tea and add chillies to our meals. But recently, some spices have been unofficially promoted from everyday culinary staples to all-healing superfoods... Many researchers believe the health benefits of spices actually come from what we eat them with. For example, there's a tendency to use them to replace salt, says Lipi Roy, clinical assistant professor at the NYU Langone Health medical centre in New York. "Spices make food delicious and flavourful, and they can be a healthier alternative to salt," she says. In fact, last year, researchers proved that replacing salt…

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 5 Healthy Spices — The Healthiest Way to Add Flavor to Your Food

Every culture is defined, in part, by the spices used in its cuisine. In India, there’s cardamom and cumin. In Italy, there’s basil and oregano. In Mexico, there’s chili, garlic, and cilantro. In Thailand, there’s lemongrass, sweet basil, and galangal. And in North America, there’s a bit of everything in the culinary melting pot. But what is North America most known for adding to the mix? Salt, sugar, and fat. Not that North Americans don’t use spices. They’re just not what North American cuisine is typically known for. And speaking as a North American, I think that’s a shame.

 How Spices Have Made, and Unmade, Empires

From turmeric in Nicaragua to cardamom in Guatemala, nonnative ingredients are redefining trade routes and making unexpected connections across lands.

 The spices to add your diet to improve your health (and how to use them)

Spices are often a last minute addition to a dish when it needs that bit of extra flavour but many spices have benefits that go beyond adding a little kick to your quinoa. Here are some underrated spices and their nutritional properties, so you can find which spice is right for you.

Articles of Interest

3 Reasons You Should Eat More Spicy Food

Hot peppers add a lot of flavor to our food, but they may be doing much more than just making our eyes water. New research shows they might have tumor-fighting benefits, as well. Here are a few reasons you should consider adding some spice into your diet.

4 Healthy Reasons to Make These Spicy (but Yummy, Promise!) Smoothie Recipes

Veggie- and fruit-loaded smoothies are a quick way to get some nutrition—yummily (well, that's not a real word, but you get it). These recipes—courtesy of The Juice Shop—have a few surprising ingredients that add something extra in terms of flavor (they're a little spicy!)...as well as some pretty neat health benefits.

Heal Yourself and Avoid Chronic Disease with These 5 Powerful Inflammation-Fighting Spices

Packed with aroma, flavour, and beneficial compounds, these spices battle unwanted inflammation and elevate our food in exciting ways. Moreover, they expand the taste-buds of our kids and boost their health.

Are spices good for your health?

According to Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient belief system in Hinduism, spices can be warming or cooling and are used to affect the balance of the digestive system. "They act as a stimulus to the digestive system, relieve digestive disorders and some spices are of antiseptic value," explains Dr Krishnapura Srinivasan, a scientist at the Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysore, India. It is not surprising that spices have become associated with dieting. As far back as 2500 years ago, the Chinese teacher and philosopher Confucius recommended eating ginger at every meal to improve digestion. But there is still no scientific consensus on how spices affect our health.

Benefits of Spices And Its Side Effects

The health benefits of spices are varied. They help make up for nutritional supplements, help strengthen the immune system and help control blood sugar and blood cholesterol levels. Spices also have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and they help prevent various diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer. Spices have the capability to eliminate any nutritional deficiencies that might be present in your body, thus helping restore correct functioning of the system. Spices contain many vitamins and minerals, which provide some of the most necessary elements for leading a healthy life.

From Migraines to Morning Sickness, Ginger Is Being Called a Miracle Spice

Ginger has been shown to have some healing properties that match its powerful taste. It can reduce morning sickness in pregnant women, although it needs to be used in moderation as large amounts are said to induce miscarriages. According to a study published in The Lancet, a British medical journal, ginger is better at preventing motion sickness than most over-the-counter medicines such as Dramamine.

Ginger is the Root for Good Health

Most people don’t encounter ginger until it’s thrust upon them—usually while sick with the flu or hungover—in the form of a cloyingly sweet soft drink. But there are good reasons it’s worth seeking out the knobby root when you’re not already laid up on the couch. The spice has been used in China and India for centuries for its various healing properties and it’s a revered ingredient in the traditional healing practices of ayurveda. There’s also scientific research going back more than three decades that suggests ginger could be an ally for treating a number of common ailments.

How do spices get their flavor?

Many of the chemicals that make up spice flavors can play important roles, such as protecting the plant against pests or pathogens. Known as secondary compounds, they can also help plants adapt to changes in the world around them. And, as spices, they communicate powerfully to our taste buds.

How To Add Some More Spice To Your Life And Diet

Spices aren't just about taste. They can also be beneficial to our health. One 2019 study from the Journal of A.O.A.C. International found that certain spices can lower the risk of chronic disease and help fight inflammation.

Importance of Spices And Their Health Benefits

Beyond their culinary appeal, spices have been revered for centuries for their potential health benefits. Packed with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, and immune-boosting properties, these flavorful ingredients offer a natural path to improved well-being.

Is Black Pepper Healthy? Here’s What the Science Says

Like salt, black pepper sits on almost every kitchen table or countertop in America. But while whole books have been written about sodium consumption and human health, black pepper and its compounds have garnered little attention from experts. But pepper probably deserves more scrutiny. Some research has linked black pepper marinades to the elimination of heterocyclic amines, or HCAs, which are the cancer-causing chemicals that form when meat is charred or cooked at high temperatures. A

Spice It Up--For Your Health

Are you like me--a spice-aholic? I can't get past the condiment bar at the cafe without sprinkling a little cinnamon on top of my latte or enjoy a dinner without a dash of red pepper or maybe some oregano--mmm. It's all good, say experts. Spices have all kinds of health benefits. More after the jump ...

Spice of life

It's high in fat and can contain dangerous levels of artificial colourings. But curry, reports Clint Witchalls, could well be good for your health.

Spice rack roundup: Superpower flavors to add to your diet

“Spices are often overlooked for their nutritional properties, and it’s one of the most important things they offer,” said Gabriela Gardner...

Spice Up Your Life – Health Benefits of Herbs & Spices

Spices and herbs have been used as medicine for centuries. Some cultures with lower rates of chronic diseases use more spices than Westernized countries. Spices and herbs can replace substances that are unhealthy like salt, added sugars and even saturated fat. Most modern scientific studies of these benefits are relatively recent but their roots go back to ancient medicine.

Sweet & Hot Pepper Benefits and Uses You Need to Know About

Peppers, from sweet to wickedly hot, became staples of cuisines around the world almost as soon as they arrived from their original homes in South America. Both mild bell peppers and 5-alarm chili peppers provide significant health benefits.

The Foods That Fight Inflammation

Spices can be another inflammation fighter, though most people don’t typically consume large volumes of them.

The Health Benefits of Saffron

Saffron is generally known as a mood-booster—and not just because of the sunny, golden hue it imparts to food. Numerous clinical studies have explored the spice’s uplifting benefits and found that it does indeed have a mood-lifting effect on mild to moderate forms of depression.

The Health Benefits of Spices

Spices are an essential part of our culinary craft, not only adding bold flavors to our dishes but also delivering a wealth of health benefits.

The History of Spices

I attended a Smithsonian Resident Associates lecture this week by Fred Czarra, author of the new book, "Spices: A Global History." I can't say I came away with a clear overview of the global spice trade, but I did gain a sprinkling of loosely connected facts. I'll pass them on to you, in case it comes in handy next time you play a trivia game:

The Neuroscience of Why Spicy Foods Can Make Us Feel Great – or Terrible

Chili peppers contain a chemical compound called capsaicin that activates pain receptors in the mouth. But why do we perceive it as hot?

The Power Of Spices Ground Fresh

ENCOUNTERING spices in their native habitat is like biting into a vine-ripened tomato after years of sampling only the supermarket variety -- the culinary potential of the ingredient suddenly becomes clear.

The Spice Ingredient That Can Block Bad Memories

Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric that may have protective effects against neurodegenerative diseases, might one day help those with PTSD let go of bad memories, suggests a new rat study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.

The spice of life: unexpected health benefits hidden in your curry

We Brits love a good curry, and despite the obvious hits to your wallet and, aherm, constitution, ordering a delicious takeaway every once in a while could have some unexpected benefits. We look at how the turmeric in your tikka could help boost your memory, the chillies in your vindaloo could help with pain relief, and how saffron can spice up your sex life.

The Spices of Life

If you can, choose real spices (fresh or dried), rather than herbs and spices sold in supplement (pill or capsule) form. The exact content of these products can’t be verified, because there is a lack of government regulation of supplements. Fresh or dried herbs and spices contain an “army” of antioxidants that work together to provide multiple health benefits. It’s unknown if you get those same benefits with supplements containing a single ingredient.

The Surprising Health Benefits of Spicy Food

Several studies find that people who regularly eat spicy food have better overall health and fewer diseases. Increasingly, scientists are understanding how these foods help the body, though more research is needed...

These Spices Make You Slimmer, Smarter, Happier

Raid your spice rack and start using these. Science finds mixing them into meals adds a health boost.

What's The Difference Between A Spice And An Herb?

In broad terms both herbs and spices come from plants but herbs are the fresh part of the plant while spice is the dried root, dried stalk, seed or dried fruit of the plant and is almost always dried not fresh. Both herbs and spices add flavour to the dish, however herbs are more subtle while spices have stronger flavour. When it comes to usage during cooking, herbs are preferred to add a delicate, light flavour compared to spices. When using dried herbs, it’s best to add them towards the end of cooking to maximise flavour.

You Don’t Need Dozens of Spices in Your Kitchen. Just These 8

Why hoard spices that will only go stale before you use them? This tightly curated capsule collection offers countless flavor combinations.

Resources

3 Classic Holiday Spices That Have Serious Health Benefits

These famous holiday spices offer much more than terrific tastes and scents, they all provide health-boosting benefits...

5 Hidden Health Benefits of Spicy Foods

Spicy foods are a bit of a mystery. As an article in the week's New York Times wondered: Why is it that we find such pleasure in pain? I mean, these hot sauce bottles are plastered with words like "death"...

5 Surprising Health Benefits of Nutmeg

Keep a jar of this warm spice on hand--it's loaded with health benefits you may not have known about ...

7 Surprising Herbs and Spices You Should Add to Your Diet—And Why

“Herbs and spices are the future of healthy vegetarian cooking,” says nutritionist Mikaela Reuben, who often has cinnamon or dandelion greens in mind when she designs recipes for clients like Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, and Ben Stiller, and works backward from there. “Why serve just a carrot when I can add nutrients and flavor with a blend of spices?” she explains. “It’s a no-brainer.”

NutritionFacts.org

Spices are the most potent DNA protectors. Just one week of eating about two teaspoons of rosemary or sage a day, one and a half teaspoons of ground ginger or cumin, three-fourths of a teaspoon of paprika, or even just a tenth of a teaspoon of cooked turmeric can protect against breakage of our strands of DNA. A daily quarter teaspoon of amla—dried Indian gooseberry powder—was also found to decrease oxidative DNA damage. This is to be expected, as ounce for ounce, dried herbs and spices pack the greatest antioxidant punch.