Perhaps the greatest, most underused resource for creating a truly healthy body is found right in your kitchen, specifically, in your spice cabinet. Research is showing us everyday that some common spices are loaded with health benefits ranging from control of blood sugar levels to potent anti-cancer effects. Here are few great spices that we use nearly everyday for our health.
1. Cinnamon - If we bake (cookies, muffins, breads, etc.) cinnamon goes in it. Cinnamon helps limit blood sugar spikes by having some properties that help carry sugar directly into cells where it is used more efficiently. We've also noticed that by using cinnamon, the added flavor allows us to cut down on the amount of sugar we use. Instead of using a full cup of sugar, we can cut that down by adding plenty of cinnamon to boost the flavor.
2. Garlic - Just as cinnamon goes in every baked good, garlic goes in just about everything else. Stir fry, scrambled eggs, Spanish rice, spaghetti sauce and more all get a nice healthy dose of garlic. You'll certainly notice the flavor more if you use whole cloves that you have to cut yourself, but the powder stuff does fine when the idea of dicing just seems too much of a hassle or will take too much time. Garlic is anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, good for cardiovascular health, and has some potent anti-oxidant properties as well. Similar to using cinnamon, by adding a little more garlic we typically cut down our salt consumption as well.
3. Turmeric - There have been a number of studies showing how potent turmeric is for a variety of conditions. Some reports (that you'll see on facebook) are saying that turmeric has been shown to be as effective as 14 different prescription medications. While we can't confirm that information, it is true that turmeric is pure awesomeness. Relatively tasteless, the only thing you'll really notice about it is that turns your food yellowish. Our favorite place for it is in stir fry. Among the benefits of turmeric, it's most noted for it's high anti-oxidant levels which makes it a potent cancer fighter and inflammation depressor.
4. Pepper - While mostly we use black, red pepper has a big place in our pantry as well. And as long as it's not something sweet, pepper is going in it at our house. In fact, it typically as a salt reducer if not a salt replacement. Grinding some fresh black pepper into our dishes and on salads adds flavor and some healthy punch as well. Pepper has been shown to improve circulation by dilating blood vessels, reduces inflammation, and has properties that have been shown to be capable of reducing pain.
5. Basil, Oregano, Cilantro: The little green stuff - Yes, these are all potent antioxidants and loaded with great healthy phytochemicals, but what we like even more is there chelating effect. These little green flakes are able to bind up nasty chemicals that may float around the blood and harm the body. Then they take them to their proper area for packaging and disposal. Eliminating these heavy metals is needed because of our exposure to such high levels of pollutants in just about every aspect of our environment, air and water included.
The options and availability of adding these simple, yet powerful spices to your daily routine is simple. You'll find added benefit from the fact that your food will be far more delicious and satisfying as well. Experiment, play, and have fun trying out different combinations in different foods. Soon, you'll be finding your own creations come out far better than anything you could have gotten at the drive-thru.
Written by Dr. Kevin Morford, a chiropractic physician and co-director of Simple Health Coaching who has studied health and well-being for over 12 years identifying the best ways of creating health instead of simply reacting to negative health situations. He is also a professor of anatomy at Oklahoma State University- Oklahoma City and a certified chiropractic clinical neurologist.
1. Cinnamon - If we bake (cookies, muffins, breads, etc.) cinnamon goes in it. Cinnamon helps limit blood sugar spikes by having some properties that help carry sugar directly into cells where it is used more efficiently. We've also noticed that by using cinnamon, the added flavor allows us to cut down on the amount of sugar we use. Instead of using a full cup of sugar, we can cut that down by adding plenty of cinnamon to boost the flavor.
2. Garlic - Just as cinnamon goes in every baked good, garlic goes in just about everything else. Stir fry, scrambled eggs, Spanish rice, spaghetti sauce and more all get a nice healthy dose of garlic. You'll certainly notice the flavor more if you use whole cloves that you have to cut yourself, but the powder stuff does fine when the idea of dicing just seems too much of a hassle or will take too much time. Garlic is anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, good for cardiovascular health, and has some potent anti-oxidant properties as well. Similar to using cinnamon, by adding a little more garlic we typically cut down our salt consumption as well.
3. Turmeric - There have been a number of studies showing how potent turmeric is for a variety of conditions. Some reports (that you'll see on facebook) are saying that turmeric has been shown to be as effective as 14 different prescription medications. While we can't confirm that information, it is true that turmeric is pure awesomeness. Relatively tasteless, the only thing you'll really notice about it is that turns your food yellowish. Our favorite place for it is in stir fry. Among the benefits of turmeric, it's most noted for it's high anti-oxidant levels which makes it a potent cancer fighter and inflammation depressor.
4. Pepper - While mostly we use black, red pepper has a big place in our pantry as well. And as long as it's not something sweet, pepper is going in it at our house. In fact, it typically as a salt reducer if not a salt replacement. Grinding some fresh black pepper into our dishes and on salads adds flavor and some healthy punch as well. Pepper has been shown to improve circulation by dilating blood vessels, reduces inflammation, and has properties that have been shown to be capable of reducing pain.
5. Basil, Oregano, Cilantro: The little green stuff - Yes, these are all potent antioxidants and loaded with great healthy phytochemicals, but what we like even more is there chelating effect. These little green flakes are able to bind up nasty chemicals that may float around the blood and harm the body. Then they take them to their proper area for packaging and disposal. Eliminating these heavy metals is needed because of our exposure to such high levels of pollutants in just about every aspect of our environment, air and water included.
The options and availability of adding these simple, yet powerful spices to your daily routine is simple. You'll find added benefit from the fact that your food will be far more delicious and satisfying as well. Experiment, play, and have fun trying out different combinations in different foods. Soon, you'll be finding your own creations come out far better than anything you could have gotten at the drive-thru.
Written by Dr. Kevin Morford, a chiropractic physician and co-director of Simple Health Coaching who has studied health and well-being for over 12 years identifying the best ways of creating health instead of simply reacting to negative health situations. He is also a professor of anatomy at Oklahoma State University- Oklahoma City and a certified chiropractic clinical neurologist.
