Discover More About The Use Of Healthy Spices

By Terrie Joyner


History books show that healthy spices have been in use for many centuries. There is historical evidence to support the belief that spices were used for their medicinal and health promoting properties. Spices are often added to drinks or ground down to a powder and used for cooking. The medicinal properties were used primarily to manage and treat a variety of ailments.

Spices are often combined with herbs and added at the end of the cooking process to ensure the ultimate flavor experience. Ready to use combinations of herbs and spices intended for use in cooking, are available on the shelves in most food stores. They enhance the flavors of the dish and some can also add color to the food.

In addition to enhancing the flavor, cardamom adds an enticing aroma to curry, rice, puddings and vegetable dishes. The cardamom seed is mainly sourced from India and is frequently an ingredient in Indian and Asian dishes. Crushed cardamom seeds, a small piece of ginger root, simmered in milk and honey can be used to relieve tummy upsets and excess wind.

Ginger is another store cupboard staple, which is a common ingredient for use in Asian and Indian cuisines. Ginger is frequently used to add flavor to cakes, biscuits and other sweet products. It has antioxidant properties that help to fight disease and have a calming effect on the digestive system. A small piece of ginger root may be chewed to calm digestive upset, or added to hot water to provide a tea.

Cinnamon spice is usually sold in small stick shapes taken from the inside bark, or it can be ground down in powder form. It has its own unique flavor and aroma and is frequently used in making cakes, biscuits, sweets and savoury dishes. The pleasant taste associated with this spice and the sedative effect it produces make it popular for use in mouth washes, chewing gum and other dental hygiene products. It also helps to thin the blood and relieve pain.

Evergreen trees provide cloves which are used for pickling, poaching fruit and are used in the production of mulled wine. Cloves are commonly used as a remedy for toothache, because of the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties contained in the spice. Arthritis sufferers often use cloves to help ease their pain and stiffness. Steeping a teaspoon of cloves in boiling water for approximately 10 minutes, provides a warm and therapeutic cup of tea.

Cumin is also a popular spice used in Asian and Middle Eastern dishes such as curries, stews and breads. It can be used to produce a tea by adding a teaspoon of seeds to a pint of boiling water. It is known to provide iron and manganese which help with digestion and bloating problems.

These are only a few of the known healthy spices that are commonly used in a variety of international cuisines. They are commonly used in prepared herbal and natural remedies to promote health and well-being. Further information on the properties, health benefits and uses can usually be found on the product packaging.




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