Today, many of the spices that we use in cooking are commonly available in health food stores Spices provide flavour and aroma to food, as well as have medicinal value. They can do much to help us live healthy lives.
A touch of spice
Taste is an important factor in both diet and digestion. Use spices to give subtle or strong accents to soups, sauces, raitas, dals, stews, vegetables, cereals and desserts.
Cinnamon
Properties
Warming stimulant
Anti-septic
Anti-viral
Parts used
Inner bark and twigs
Benefits
Used as flavouring in food, cinnamon is now one of the worlds most important spices with a plethora of healing properties. Stimulating and warming, cinnamon is a traditional remedy for digestive problems such as nausea, as well as for symptoms of viral conditions such as colds and fever.
Ginger
Properties
Anti-nausea
Circulatory stimulant
Boosts immunity
Parts used
The root
Benefits
Ginger contains an active constituent gingerol, which is responsible for its hot, pungent taste, as well as its stimulating and healing properties. Ginger is often used as a therapeutic spice, working on the digestive system by encouraging secretion of digestive enzymes. Due to its warming and soothing properties, it is also a favourite home remedy for relieving colds and coughs.
Tip
As ginger has heating qualities, consume small quantities in the summer months when the outside temperature is hot, or else, if you are sensitive to the spice your may develop acne.
Turmeric
Properties
Stimulates secretion of bile
Analgesic
May lower cholesterol
Parts used
The root
Benefits
Turmeric is known to have effective anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It is high in antioxidants and due to its active ingredient, curcumin, it is believed to have anti-bacterial and even cancer-fighting potential. It is a useful remedy that can help treat premenstrual discomfort and skin conditions.
Anise
Properties
Stimulant
May relieve muscle spasm
Parts used
Seed and fruit
Benefits
Used for centuries as traditional medicine as well as a spice, anise seed and its fruit, star anise, have similar therapeutic properties. Anise seed is often used as a remedy for griping, intestinal colic and flatulence. With mild oestrogenic effects, anise seed can be used to increase milk secretion in lactating women. The fruit, star anise, has similar effects, and additionally has the ability to soothe muscle spasms and aches.
Cayenne pepper
Properties
Stimulant
Improves metabolism
Treats wind and colic
Parts used
Fresh and dried pepper
Benefits
Cayenne pepper is a fiery spice. It is a finely ground variety of chilli. Cayenne, with the active constituent capsaicin, is a warming stimulant and a remedy for poor circulation. It is often consumed to help relieve wind and colic and to stimulate secretion of digestive juices, as well as to aid metabolism.
Tip
Winter months or during monsoons is the best time to consume hot spices such as cayenne pepper. Avoid too much consumption of cayenne pepper in summer as it has heating properties.
Nutmeg
Properties
Anti-nausea
Reduces nausea
Promotes healthy skin
Parts used
The seed
Benefits
Nutmeg has a natural anaesthetic effect on the stomach and intestines, and may help reduce nausea. It can be a helpful remedy for gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and relieve abdominal pain. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is sometimes used as a remedy for insomnia, and it is believed to promote healthy skin.
The writer is a certified Clinical Exercise Specialist, Lifestyle and Weight Management Specialist.
