Spices & Their Benefits
Let's be real here for a second. You can only have baked chicken breast soo many times before it becomes extremely boring and repetitive. But your diet or meal plan calls for chicken, again. Have you been cooking it the same way for months now and just completely sick of it? Well its time you spice it up and reap the full benefits this meal can be providing you. Spices are good for you, your taste buds and can make a plain boring meal enjoyable again. Add a few spices to your meat to increase its flavor and give it a boost of antioxidants. Most spices also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Here's 10 common spices found at your local grocer and their benefits:
Here's 10 common spices found at your local grocer and their benefits:
- Turmeric - Fights Inflammation & quickly becoming a superfood. Helps reduce pain and swelling. Often used in curry dishes but can also be sprinkled on vegetables and meat.
- Ginger - Helps treat an upset stomach & nausea. Great in stir-fry's, smoothies or as a tea.
- Garlic - Protects your heart & helps reduce cholesterol. Can be sprinkled into soups, salad dressings, on veggies & used in any meat rub/marinade.
- Cinnamon - Lowers blood sugar & great for people with Diabetes. Add some sweetness to your food without adding sugar. Try it on yogurt, fruit, oatmeal, stews or a meat rub.
- Cayenne Pepper - Helps to relieve pain. It contains capsaicin which is known to help reduce ulcers & increases blood flow. Can be used pretty much on anything you want to add a little spice too. Great in chili, stews & on meat.
- Star Anise - Protects the body against cellular damage caused by environmental toxins & rich in vitamin C. Great with fattier meats.
- Cumin - Aids with digestion, improves immunity, treats skin conditions, insomnia & respiratory issues. Used for meat rubs or gravy.
- Cloves - Antibacterial & anti-fungal. One of the richest sources of antioxidants and a great source of minerals. Can be used in food but also helps with sleep.
- Dill - Helps manage insomnia, cures hiccups & helps regulate menstruation. Great on salmon, vegetables & found in many dips.
- Fennel - Great source of fiber & helps remove harmful free radicals from our body. Often used as a garnish, in soups or roasted.