Finest Spices For A Healthy Diet

Spices are an important ingredient in our cooking. They infuse pleasing flavours to our food but also provide us myriads health benefits. Some spices and herbs are so potent that adding them a dash to …

Spices are an important ingredient in our cooking. They infuse pleasing flavours to our food but also provide us myriads health benefits. Some spices and herbs are so potent that adding them a dash to your diet can help you live a healthier life.

For this reason, many households buy bulk wholesale spices to store for a year to get an unending supply throughout the year. However, as almost every spice has health benefits, buying and using all of them would not be feasible. But here are some spices that you should use in your everyday cooking to make your diet healthier.

Black pepper

Black pepper is one of the basic spices we have used in our food for centuries. Being a heat-producing spice, black pepper can fight many ailments, from normal cold to severe cardiovascular diseases. It also lowers cholesterol, regulates blood sugar levels, promotes gut health, offers pain relief, and may fight cancer.

Cloves

Cloves are rich in antioxidants, which help your body fight free radicals that damage your cells and lead to disease. The spice is also effective in healing ulcers and improving liver health. Moreover, it contains high amounts of manganese which help improve brain and bone health.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is among the most flavourful spices that are also packed with many health-lifting properties. It has antimicrobial, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, which help fight any infection. It also has probiotic properties, balances gut bacteria, and reduces digestive issues. Cloves also regulate blood sugar levels and aid in type-2 diabetes.

Cardamom

Like black pepper and cinnamon, cardamom also has diuretic properties that help reduce blood pressure. Cardamom has compounds that activate certain enzymes that fight cancer cells. Furthermore, this spice has anti-inflammatory properties that prevent chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. This makes cardamom the finest spice for a healthy diet.

Star anise

Star Anise has shikimic acid, which has strong antiviral properties. It is also a rich source of flavonoid anethole, which offers powerful antifungal effects. Star anise has been traditionally used to treat viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. It also helps improve skin health, immune system, digestion, and sleep issues.

Cumin

Like other spices, cumin has also been used in traditional medicinal practices. Recent studies have also revealed its potent medicinal value. It is good for digestion and may help diabetes as well. It is a rich source of iron, which makes it a great food for people with iron deficiency.

Ginger

This rhizome spice has many health-related benefits. Fresh ginger has some sort of chemical compounds that ward off germs. Ginger also fights bacteria out of your mouth, giving you a healthier smile. Besides this, it also helps in indigestion, arthritis, nausea, menstrual pain, sore muscles, and high blood sugar level.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a medicine praised in traditional Indian Ayurvedic and Chinese healing practices. It contains a compound called curcumin, which gives turmeric all the health benefits. This curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties. It can also boost antioxidant levels in your body, lower heart risk, benefit from depression, and may even prevent cancer.

Coriander

Coriander seeds are rich in immune-boosting antioxidants. Its nutty and lemony flavour does not only make your food more delicious, but it can also make your body healthy. Adding a teaspoon or two of coriander powder into your diet can aid your digestive system, diabetes, heart, brain, skin and more.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is the most potent spice. Adding a hint of it gives a lot of flavour to our food. For a long time, the spice has been used as a stimulating medicine in traditional healing practices. It has a pleasing flavour that lifts the mood, and due to this, it can be used as an antidepressant.

Mustard

Mustard is a staple spice in our kitchen, and it also offers myriads of benefits. It is packed with beneficial antioxidants and compounds like glucosinolates and myrosinase. These two compounds particularly prevent the growth of cancerous cells. However, mustard also relieves general health issues like headaches, indigestion, ageing and other skin problems.

Fennel

Fennel is a common spice and the potent one as well. It fights off many ailments and aids in our overall health. Fennel has many health-benefiting properties that keep many ailments at bay. This spice can reduce inflammation, benefit mental health, improve heart health, benefit breastfeeding women, and also aids in menopausal symptoms.

Bottom Line

Besides flavouring our food, spices have healing uses as well. Therefore, adding a variety of spices can help improve our overall health. This is why many buy wholesale spices and herbs from bulk spice suppliers in South Africa. This allows you to have unlimited spices to add to your diet.