Indian Spice and Everything Nice

  • Category: Food
  • April 30, 2017

New, innovative cooking techniques along with good-for-you spices are transforming traditional Indian cuisine into a healthier and much lighter option. Here are some key health-boosting spices.

Cardamom
Cardamom is good for the digestive system as these aromatic seeds contain oil that helps to stimulate digestion and also helps in cleansing the body as it has detoxifying properties.   

Cinnamon
Cinnamon contains eugenol, which is used to relieve pain and cinnamaldehyde, which has sedative properties. One study found that smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and is also a great source of manganese, fiber, and calcium.

Coriander
A sprinkling of fresh coriander leaves makes any dish smell fragrant, but it also helps in treating nausea and is also a good source of dietary fiber.

Black Pepper
High in antioxidants, black pepper has diaphoretic (promotes sweating) and diuretic (promotes urination) properties and it’s believed that the outer layer of peppercorn stimulates the breakdown of fat cells.

Turmeric
Turmeric has pain suppressing ability and aids in treating digestive disorders and treatment of osteoarthritis, which is a reduction of swelling in joints and pain.

Chili pepper
Capsaicinis is the component that makes hot chili hot and foods with hot chilies have been shown to cut the recovery time of colds and flus in half when taken liberally in the early stages of these illnesses.  

Fenugreek
Fenugreek seeds are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and also delay gastric emptying and stimulate insulin secretion; hence are beneficial in diabetics.

Mustard seeds
Mustard seeds contain calcium, dietary fiber, iron, manganese, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, protein, selenium and zinc. Selenium is a nutrient that has been shown to help reduce asthma, arthritis, and certain cancers.