Afterthoughts: More than just flavor
I love cooking with herbs and spices; and, I’m very interested in the health benefits many of these flavorful edibles provide. So, when I spotted an article about the benefits of ginger, it piqued my curiosity. I like the punch that ginger gives to many of my favorite Chinese dishes. And, I knew that ginger was good for treating upset stomach (including nausea, morning, and motion sickness). It has been used for centuries as a treatment for sea sickness. But, ginger is a super spice.
There is plenty of evidence that ginger helps your body fight off germs. Some of the chemicals in this spicey herb fight off bacteria – including those that cause E.coli and Shigella and many viral infections. It, also, prevents bacteria from forming in the mouth and causing periodontal disease.
It’s antioxidant properties help ward off stress and boost your immune system to fight chronic diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, and some lung diseases. It can help lower cholesterol and help control blood sugar levels, as well. Researchers hope to determine if regular ginger consumption can help slow the growth of some cancers.
If you exercise and pay for it the next day, you may find that ingesting ginger regularly re;ieves sore muscles. Those who suffer from rheumatoid or osteoarthritis may want to try taking it internally or use a ginger patch to ease their pain, It is said to be effective in relieving menstrual pain, too.
However, just because it’s a natural product doesn’t mean it is entirely safe. Whether you want to include more ginger in your diet or you decide to try any of the other spices or herbs in this article, check with your doctor or dietician first.
Cinnamon and turmeric (main ingredient: curcumin) are two more spices that are more than just tasty. They share most of the benefits of ginger including fighting chronic inflammation associated with arthritis. Several studies have confirmed that cinnamon helps the body better utilize insulin and is, therefore, beneficial in treating Type 2 diabetes. It may, also, be useful in preventing a diagnosis of pre-diabetes from progressing.
Curcumin – the main component in turmeric – has been shown to treat and/or prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Scientists believe it may help delay the aging process and help stave off the chronic diseases associated with growing older. I’m all for that!
There is a caveat associated with cinnamon and turmeric. You would have to consume quite a large amount of both spices to achieve therapeutic effects. Many people opt for capsules; however, we still have to be careful not to take too much. If your doctor isn’t into homeopathic medicine, consult a trusted herbologist or licensed homeopathic practitioner.
If you want to try cinnamon to help control blood sugar and you take other medication to control it, be vigilant that you don’t become hypoglycemic. It isn’t a common occurrence; but, it could happen. In trials involving Type 2 diabetics,
participants who consumed ½ to 2 teaspoons of cinnamon per day lowered their blood sugar levels by 10-29 percent.
Sage is another herb/spice that has been used medicinally since the middle ages. Back then, it was considered a healing herb; and, it was even believed to help prevent the plague. It was one of the aromatics Native Americans used in their sweat lodges.
Perhaps, they knew what science is just recently learning – that sage can improve brain function and memory. They, also, believed the smoke from burning sage could cleanse the air and banish “evil spirits”- that may have been their euphemism for germs.
Sage is easy to grow in our gardening zone and forms a lovely shrub with lavender flowers during the summer. Its leaves are great for seasoning more than your Thanksgiving dinner. It is on my list of perennials to plant this summer.
These are just a few of the many herbs and spices that have been used for flavor and healing for centuries. Look for more in future articles.
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“…Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; They toil hot, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Matthew 6:28-29 KJV
This article originally appeared on Evening World: Afterthoughts: More than just flavor
