2. 9 Powerful Healing Herbs and Spices We
Need To Talk More About ….
Red Pepper or Cayenne — Great for
adding heat and color to just about any
dish, cayenne pepper or red pepper
(different peppers but same family) taste
great on everything. Try them on sauteed
veggies or give your hot chocolate a
Mexican makeover by adding a dash of
either. Use them sparingly though
because they are HOT.
4. Ginger – When it comes to quelling the
queasiness of motion sickness, ginger has no
equal say herbalists. In fact, researchers
have demonstrated that ginger beats
dimenhydrate, the main ingredient in
motion sickness drugs such as Dramamine,
for controlling symptoms of seasickness and
motion sickness. Ginger stimulates saliva
flow and digestive activity, settles the
stomach, relieves vomiting, eases pain from
gas and diarrhea, and is effective as an antinausea remedy. This aromatic herb also
helps lower cholesterol. Herbalists have also
found it to be useful as a pain reliever.
5. Basil – Now here’s an herbal
carminative, that is, it can relieve gas and
soothe stomach upsets. One possible
explanation for its calming effect is a
compound called eugenol, which has been
shown to help ease muscle spasms.
Research is still preliminary, but laboratory
studies also suggest that compounds found
in basil may help disrupt the dangerous
chain of events that can lead to the
development of cancer.
6. Black Pepper — One of the reasons black
pepper is effective for weight loss, is due to
its ability to increase the metabolic rate.
This means that the body burns calories
faster, which results in weight loss. There is
only 1 calorie in a 1/4 teaspoon of Black
Pepper with 11% fat, 81% carbs and 8%
protein.
7. Rosemary -- While traditionally associated with Mediterranean food, this
woody spice can also be used in barbecuing.
Oregano -- An indispensible spice in
Turkish, Greek, Portuguese, Spanish, Latin American and Italian
cuisine, oregano is the must-have ingredient in tomato sauces and pairs well
with capers and olives. Oregano contains at least four compounds that soothe
coughs and 19 chemicals with antibacterial action that may help reduce body
odor. The ingredients in oregano that soothe coughs may also help un-knot
muscles in the digestive tract, making oregano a digestive aid. This familiar
spice also contains compounds that can lower blood pressure too.
8. Cumin – An aromatic spice with a
unique, bitter flavor, cumin goes best
with
beans, chicken, couscous, curry, fish, le
ntils, peas, pork, potatoes, soups and
stews
9. Garlic — While technically not a
spice, always keep fresh garlic on hand
to liven up just about any dish you
make. Rub it on baked bread, saute it
with vegetables, add some to your
pizza, use it to create a variety of
sauces and aiolis.
