SPICES .... FULL OF TASTE AND HEALTH - PART 1

Hi Friends,

My mother used to give me honey and ginger when I suffered cold. I remember once I had some problem in my nails and she tied a piece of cloth on my thumb with salt , turmeric and warm oil in it and it gave me big relief. There are numerous other examples of using spices as medicine. We will not discuss about how to get relief from different problems by using spices but we will discuss the health benefits of some common spices.

Today we are going to talk about the most important part of the Indian Cuisine - 'SPICES'. Spices doesn't only make our food tasty but they are healthy too .They not only add an extra zing to our food but provide an extra dose of health to our body. I am going to tell you the importance of some spices . Play around different flavors and add taste and health in your life .

Cinnamon:

Cinnamon or 'Dalchini' is a well known spice in our Indian cuisine. It is not only famous in India but worldwide not only for it's taste but medicinal properties also. Here are some facts about it

- Cinnamon is full of antioxidants. 1 tsp of cinnamon contains the same amount of antioxidants as 1 cup pomegranate juice or 1/2 cup blueberries

- Cinnamon also contains polyphenols, which act like insulin and thus regulate blood sugar levels (diabetics, rejoice!)

- It's anti-inflammatory properties to prevent blood clots.

- Boosts metabolism and aids digestion

- Protects against fungi diseases and can help with the healing process when you have the flu

- Cinnamon is an excellent source of calcium and fiber.

How we can use cinnamon -

Indian food is full of spices and there are lot of varieties where cinnamon is already there. We can take extra cinnamon by adding a pinch (not more than a pinch otherwise it will deliver a very strong taste) to your regular tea or green tea. You can also replace your nutmeg powder by adding extra cinnamon to your recipe. Add cinnamon to your muffin for an extra dose of cinnamon in your diet. If you are suffering from indigestion try cinnamon tea after a meal . It stimulates digestion. Smell cinnamon for boosted brain function

A study published in 2009 suggests that taking/eating cinnamon twice a day for 90 consecutive days can improve blood sugar levels.

Cumin:

Cumin or 'Zeera' not only add taste to the food but has numerous health benefits.

- It is a very good source of iron so very beneficial for anaemics as well as pregnant women .

- Has antiseptic ptoperties so aid in curing common cold.

- Drink 'Jeera Pani' (Boil a handful of cumin seeds along with water) to aid to ward off common cold and keep digestive system on track.

-It boost the power of the liver to flush out toxins from the body.

- Helps with digestion and insomnia

- Boosts immune system

- Detoxifies and prevents against cancer

- Improves health of skin and skin disorders

- Combats respiratory disorders

How can we add more cumin in our cuisine ?

Indian food has always the 'cumin tadka' in it. We can increase it's quantity by adding it to curd and buttermilk and other drinks. We can also add cumin powder to different batters. Increase cumin intake by drinking cumin water .

Black Pepper -

Often referred as 'King Of Spice ' , black pepper offers many health benefits.

- It encourages our bodies to sweat and get rid of harmful toxins, anti-inflammatory, carminative, anti-flatulent properties.

- increase absorption of selenium, B-complex vitamins, beta-carotene as well as other nutrients from the food.

- helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.

- used therapeutically in dentistry as an antiseptic for tooth-decay and gum swellings.

- excellent source of many vital B-complex groups of vitamins such as Pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamin and niacin.

- Peppercorns are a good source of many anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin-C and vitamin-A. They are also rich in flavonoid polyphenolic anti-oxidants like carotenes, cryptoxanthin, zea-xanthin and lycopene. These compounds help the body remove harmful free radicals and help protect from cancers and diseases.

How To Use Black Peppers

- Use it as a part of ingredients to marinate chicken, fish, and meat.

- Sprinkle over vegetable/fruit salads, chats, lemonades, in soups, etc. Lassi (churned yogurt) is often flavored with this spice-salt mixture in the Punjab province.

- Add it to sweet preparations like fruitcakes, breads, pies to add a spicy note.

- Can be used in the preparation of soups, barbecue sauces, pickling and as a main ingredient in variety of curry powders.

Red Chillies

Red chili peppers have been shown to help decrease blood cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels,

- Besides adding flavor red chili is a powerhouse of nutrition.

- It contains vitamin C and carotene in high amount.

- Besides reducing pain, red chilies’ peppery heat stimulates secretions that help to clear out nasal and sinus congestion by clearing the mucus from stuffed nose or congested lungs.

- Red chilies have immunity boosting vitamins like vitamin A, B and C; all of which help to protect against certain pathogens that is responsible for disease.

- Red chili peppers help to accelerate digestion and metabolism.

-It fights inflammation, it is used to treat some disorders like arthritis, psoriasis, and diabetic neuropathy. Ointments or creams containing capsaicin are utilized to treat arthritic pain.

How To Use Red Chillies

Add small amount of red chilli in your cuisine and avail health benefits of red chilli.

GARAM MASALA

Garam masala is the mixture of different spices and hence provides the combined benefits of different spices altogether.

- Cinnamon is anti-microbial as well as anti-inflammatory ingredient. It promotes brain functionality and ideal in controlling blood sugar.

- Cumin is enriched with iron. It is good for food digestion and act as a property to fight against cancer.

- Coriander is an ingredient used traditionally to help diabetic patients to control sugar level in their blood. Many believe it is good in lowering the cholesterol in our bodies.

These are some spices used in our cuisine and their health benefits. There are so many other flavors available that we decided to cover in parts . We will cover more spices in second part. So till then do enjoy these benefits and flavors.