Health Benefits Of Different Spices

Thursday, June 6, 2013, 19:39 [IST]

Spices add a different flavour and taste to any dish. Red chilli powder, turmeric, clove, cinnamon etc are some of the commonly used spices in the Indian cuisine. But did you know these spices have numerous health and beauty benefits also? Apart from adding a flavour and taste to the food, these spices are also good for the health. For example, spicy foods aid weight loss. Capsaicin found in red chilli burns fat deposits in the body. These spices increases body metabolism and also cures digestive problems.

Spices have several health benefits and can be easily added to your diet. Ginger for example is an easily available spice that can cure morning sickness among pregnant women, and calms nausea too. Cumin seeds, a commonly used spice in Indian cuisine is also available in every household. These small miniature seeds prevents cancer. It purifies the blood, cleans arteries and prevents blockages. Garlic is another spice which is considered very healthy for the heart. Thus, there are numerous spices that serve different health benefits. Take a look at the spices and their different health benefits.

Health benefits of spices:

Ginger

This Indian spice is very good for aiding weight loss and improving digestion. However, ginger is widely known for fighting nausea and morning sickness among pregnant women. Even travelling sickness can be cured by eating ginger.

Garlic

There are many health benefits of this spice. Ginger is good for the heart and is known for preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Cumin

This spice is known for its anti-cancer health benefits. Curcumin in cumin inhibits the enzymes that helps cancer cells enter the tissues. This healthy spice also prevents the formation of tumours in the blood vessels.

Basil

We often have a cup of hot basil tea to cure cold and cough. This herbal tea is antimicrobial and rich in antioxidants which fights cold and kills viruses in the body. Basil also helps boost up body's metabolism.

Cinnamon

Diabetics especially with Type 2 diabetes finds it difficult to process insulin. This results in the decrease of blood sugar level. This spice has this specific health benefit of responding to insulin and fight diabetes.

Nutmeg

Blood pressure is a common health condition these days. Nutmeg is considered as a warming spice that improves blood circulation in the overall body and stabilises blood pressure.

Turmeric

It is one of the Indian spices that has numerous health and beauty benefits. Curcumin found in turmeric improves digestion, lowers bad cholesterol levels, aids weight loss and flushes out toxins from the body.

Mustard

This spice is the natural energy booster. It increases body's metabolism, improves digestion and burns fat deposits in the body.

Clove

If you suffer from arthritis, then this spice is ideal for you. Clove contains phytochemicals that treats inflammatory diseases like arthritis. It is also effective for curing sore throat.