Common spices in your kitchen that have health benefits

You will be surprised to know that the spices in your kitchen rack not only add flavor to your food but is also good for your health. Your lip-smacking food prepared with the right kind of spices will also give you a boost of antioxidants that would protect the cells from damage.

1. Cinnamon helps in lowering blood sugar level

Studies have proved that cinnamon does help in lowering blood sugar levels. It is a spice that is obtained from the bark of a cinnamon tree. It adds a sweet taste to the food without adding sugar and helps in lowering blood sugar levels in people suffering from type 2 diabetes. However, it must be noted that it is not a substitute for diabetes medication, rather it would be a healthy addition that would aid in controlling the blood sugar level.

Diabetes patients are at a higher risk of developing heart diseases; cinnamon also helps in controlling high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels that are responsible for heart-related diseases.

2. Turmeric is a superfood that can reduce inflammation

The active ingredient of turmeric is curcumin and research has suggested that it helps in reducing inflammation. Its anti-inflammatory properties help in reducing pain and swelling in people suffering from arthritis.

Turmeric also has anti-cancer properties. It has been proved through research studies that a combination of curcumin and drugs used in chemotherapy has a synergistic effect in shrinking the drug-resistant tumors than chemotherapy alone.

 

3. Ginger helps in preventing nausea

Ginger is a very common spice in Asian culture and has been used for ages to treat upset stomach, nausea, and diarrhea. It is a highly effective remedy for morning sickness and pregnancy-related nausea. The active ingredients present in Ginger prevent chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting when taken along with anti-nausea medications.

4.  Garlic is your heart’s friend

Garlic prevents heart-related diseases. As we age hardening of arteries is very normal. This happens because of the deposits of fats in the inner wall of the arteries. Smoking, high cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure accentuate this condition. Medically, this condition is termed atherosclerosis.

Studies suggest that garlic helps in keeping the arteries flexible for a longer period and also helps in reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.

5. Cayenne can provide pain relief

Cayenne is a chili pepper, its active ingredient Capsaicin will not only spice up your food but will also provide pain relief. Pain is experienced because of the pain signals that are sent to your brain, capsaicin helps in reducing the number of pain signals that are sent to the brain as a result of which less pain is experienced.

Though spicy food is always associated with stomach ulcers research suggests that Capsaicin helps in reducing stomach ulcers by preventing the growth of ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori which in turn reduces the excessive secretion of acid in the stomach.