Herbs and spices perk up our dishes with extra flavor. They make our otherwise ordinary meals seem like exotic and exquisite cuisine by lending a full, robust flavor and aroma. But they do more than just flavor our food, they often have therapeutic uses as well.
Research has shown that herbs and spices are even more nutritionally dense than fruits and vegetables. Some are loaded with antioxidants and some come armed with antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Therefore, for the sake of our palate and our health, we need to use more herbs and spices.
To get the most out of herbs and spices, three things should be kept in mind—variety, quantity and judicious use. Firstly, we need to vary the herbs we use since different herbs have different therapeutic uses. Secondly, we should increase the amount of spices we use to load up on the healing substances they contain. Thirdly, we should learn the judicious use of different herbs in order to enhance, and not ruin, our dishes.
The following are the common herbs and spices along with their culinary and therapeutic uses.
Garlic is a versatile spice which can be used in almost all dishes. This aromatic spice has the powerful antioxidant allicin which lowers bad cholesterol, regulates blood pressure, prevents heart ailments and possesses antifungal and antibacterial properties.
Rosemary is one of the most commonly used herbs and spices. It also has been shown to decrease capillary fragility and is thus used in insect repellents. It also has antimicrobial actions against many bacteria, fungi and viruses.
Sage leaf when dried is used as a culinary spice and as a source of sage oil used for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Research is also underway for its use in memory enhancement and as treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
Ginger is the perfect herb for stews and soups and has anti-inflammatory properties as well. Traditionally, it is used to treat problems of the digestive system such as bloating, colic, indigestion and dyspepsia.
Jalapeno pepper is one of the popular herbs and spices used for chili-based dishes. This hot spice is actually an anti-cancer agent and boosts metabolism to burn more fats and calories and keep weight in check.
Turmeric is the intense yellow ginger-like root from which we get cumin powder used for curried dishes. It is one of the subjects of recent research because of its anti-inflammatory effects and is thus used to treat arthritis and prevent Alzheimer’s disease. It also exhibits anti-cancer, anti-HIV and cholesterol-lowering properties.
Cinnamon is one of the few herbs and spices which goes well with sweet beverages, breads and pastries. This fragrant herb regulates sugar metabolism and stabilizes insulin levels to prevent and treat diabetes. Its therapeutic properties and flavorful taste make it one of man’s favorite herbs and spices.
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