Herbs and spices are some of the most crucial ingredients that you can find in every household, they are used in almost every dish or recipe, without these ingredients, there’s no flavor or taste to the dish you’re cooking, but did you know that, besides making your food tastier, they also help in making it healthier? Many experts in the field recommend cooking with herbs and spices, as they contain healthy compounds, which have several health benefits, in fact before these ingredients were used for cooking, they were known for their medicinal properties, in this article, we will look at certain spice and herbs and their health benefits.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a common spice, which is used in many different cuisines, sweets, and snacks to add flavor and aroma to the food, it contains a compound called cinnamaldehyde which is extremely good for your health, Cinnamon is also full of antioxidants, which help in fighting against inflammation and can lower bad cholesterol levels. On top of that, Cinnamon is mainly known for lowering blood sugar levels, as it slows down the breakdown of carbs in the digestive tract and improves insulin sensitivity.
Chili Peppers
Chili peppers are well known for adding new life to your food and spice things up, but they have several health benefits too, They can boost your metabolism and help keep blood vessels healthy, they can also help in improving your digestive health and may also reduce some risks of cancer, this is because of the high antioxidants present in chilies which are known to soothe upset stomachs.
Cardamom
Yes, the spice which we all hate in biryani is quite useful, not only does it add a sweet and savory taste to your dishes, it is good for your body too. Cardamom is loaded with minerals like magnesium and zinc and is known for soothing an upset stomach, studies have also shown that it can help in fighting inflammation too, it also has diuretic properties which may help in lowering blood pressure.
Cumin
Cumin is a key ingredient that is used in almost all Indian dishes, as it adds a nutty and spicy flavor to the dish, cumin has long been used for its medicinal properties. One of the most common uses of cumin is to treat indigestion, this is because cumin helps in increasing the activity of digestive enzymes, thus speeding up digestion, it also helps your liver in releasing a compound called bile, which helps the body in digesting fats better.
Peppermint
Peppermint has been long known for its medicinal properties and is a popular traditional remedy for several conditions. It is used for calming stomach muscles and improving the flow of bile, thus helping with indigestion. peppermint also acts as a muscle relaxant and pain reliever and may help diminish certain types of headaches. It also has antibacterial properties that can help kill the germs in the mouth that cause dental plaque and can also help in improving your breath.
