Who knew that adding a little extra flavor to your meals could also have health benefits?
Many of the well known herbs and spices have known medicinal properties. As I have been explaining in my posts this week, some foods can actually combat inflammation, which in turn can reduce pain.
There are numerous references to this on the internet, in books, magazines, and the like. Just to give you some idea, here are some of the most potent anti-inflammatory herbs and spices as per a post from Reader's Digest:
Cayenne: Capsaicin, if applied in the form of cream or ointment, short-circuits pain by depleting nerve cells of a chemical called substance P, which helps transfer pain signals along nerve endings to the brain It is used for treating shingles pain and diabetes-related nerve pain.
For a cold remedy, sprinkle some on your dinner plate. Cayenne shrinks blood vessels in your nose and throat, relieving congestion.
Cinnamon : As is true of many other spices, cinnamon has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It's been shown to combat E. coli, among other types of bacteria. It is also rich in antioxidants called polyphenols - another reason it's good for your heart. It's also high in fiber (after all, it comes from the bark of a tree) and can reduce heartburn in some people.
Cloves: Cloves contain an anti-inflammatory chemical called eugenol. In recent studies on animals, this chemical inhibited COX-2, a protein that spurs inflammation (the same protein that so-called COX-2 inhibitor drugs such as Celebrex quash). Cloves also ranked very high in antioxidant properties in another study. The combination of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties yields heaps of health benefits, from enhancing protection from heart disease and helping thwart cancer, as well as slowing the cartilage and bone damage caused by arthritis. Compounds in cloves, like those found in cinnamon, also seem to improve insulin function.
If you have a toothatche, try this: Put a couple of whole cloves in your mouth. Allow them soften a bit, chew slightly with good molars to release their oil. Move the chewed cloves next to the painful tooth and keep them there for up to half an hour. Clove oil has an anesthetic effect and bacteria-fighting powers. In test tubes studies, cloves also killed certain bacteria that were resistant to antibiotics.
Coriander: Making a strong tea from crushed seeds can be helpful for some people with irritable bowel syndrome, as it calms intestinal spasms that can lead to diarrhea. Coriander also seems to have antibacterial effects against E. coli and salmonella, and has been shown to lower cholesterol in animals. Coriander also has antioxidant properties, especially cilantro, its leafy variation.
Ginger: This familiar gnarled root has the ability to combat inflammation. Multiple studies have demonstrated that ginger (and turmeric) reduces pain and swelling in people with arthritis. It may combat migraines by blocking inflammatory substances called prostaglandins. And since ginger reduces inflammation, it might possibly play a role in preventing and slowing the growth of cancer.
Mustard: Since mustard packs enough heat to break up congestion, it was traditionally used in chest plasters. In similar fashion to cayenne pepper, it has the ability to deplete nerve cells of substance P, a chemical that transmits pain signals to the brain, when used externally. A mustard compress also increases blood flow to the fingers of people with Raynaud's phenomenon, a circulatory problem that causes frigid fingers.
Sage: As with many other herbs and spices, sage has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well as anticancer actions. One of its phytochemicals is thujone, known as a chemical in the liquor absinthe that is said (falsely) to have hallucinatory effects.
Turmeric : Turmeric, the spice that gives curry powder its yellow hue, is used in Indian medicine to stimulate the appetite and as a digestive aid. Of late, it's gaining some serious attention as a potentially powerful cancer fighter. The chemical responsible for turmeric's golden color, called curcumin, is thought to be a top anticancer agent, helping to quiet the inflammation that promotes tumor growth. It appears to work in much the same way as broccoli and cauliflower to clear carcinogens away before they can damage cellular DNA and to repair already damaged DNA. Lab studies show turmeric helps halt the growth and spread of cancer cells that do form. Research suggests that turmeric may protect against colon cancer as well as melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey are studying a combination of curcumin and phenethyl isothiocyanate (the anticancer compound in cruciferous vegetables) as a possible treatment for prostate cancer.
Studies have also suggested that turmeric reduces inflammation in a number of conditions, including psoriasis. In animal studies, curcumin decreased the formation of amyloid, the substance that makes up the brain deposits characteristic in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Source: Reader's Digest
Many of the well known herbs and spices have known medicinal properties. As I have been explaining in my posts this week, some foods can actually combat inflammation, which in turn can reduce pain.
There are numerous references to this on the internet, in books, magazines, and the like. Just to give you some idea, here are some of the most potent anti-inflammatory herbs and spices as per a post from Reader's Digest:
Cayenne: Capsaicin, if applied in the form of cream or ointment, short-circuits pain by depleting nerve cells of a chemical called substance P, which helps transfer pain signals along nerve endings to the brain It is used for treating shingles pain and diabetes-related nerve pain.
For a cold remedy, sprinkle some on your dinner plate. Cayenne shrinks blood vessels in your nose and throat, relieving congestion.
Cinnamon : As is true of many other spices, cinnamon has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It's been shown to combat E. coli, among other types of bacteria. It is also rich in antioxidants called polyphenols - another reason it's good for your heart. It's also high in fiber (after all, it comes from the bark of a tree) and can reduce heartburn in some people.
Cloves: Cloves contain an anti-inflammatory chemical called eugenol. In recent studies on animals, this chemical inhibited COX-2, a protein that spurs inflammation (the same protein that so-called COX-2 inhibitor drugs such as Celebrex quash). Cloves also ranked very high in antioxidant properties in another study. The combination of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties yields heaps of health benefits, from enhancing protection from heart disease and helping thwart cancer, as well as slowing the cartilage and bone damage caused by arthritis. Compounds in cloves, like those found in cinnamon, also seem to improve insulin function.
If you have a toothatche, try this: Put a couple of whole cloves in your mouth. Allow them soften a bit, chew slightly with good molars to release their oil. Move the chewed cloves next to the painful tooth and keep them there for up to half an hour. Clove oil has an anesthetic effect and bacteria-fighting powers. In test tubes studies, cloves also killed certain bacteria that were resistant to antibiotics.
Coriander: Making a strong tea from crushed seeds can be helpful for some people with irritable bowel syndrome, as it calms intestinal spasms that can lead to diarrhea. Coriander also seems to have antibacterial effects against E. coli and salmonella, and has been shown to lower cholesterol in animals. Coriander also has antioxidant properties, especially cilantro, its leafy variation.
Ginger: This familiar gnarled root has the ability to combat inflammation. Multiple studies have demonstrated that ginger (and turmeric) reduces pain and swelling in people with arthritis. It may combat migraines by blocking inflammatory substances called prostaglandins. And since ginger reduces inflammation, it might possibly play a role in preventing and slowing the growth of cancer.
Mustard: Since mustard packs enough heat to break up congestion, it was traditionally used in chest plasters. In similar fashion to cayenne pepper, it has the ability to deplete nerve cells of substance P, a chemical that transmits pain signals to the brain, when used externally. A mustard compress also increases blood flow to the fingers of people with Raynaud's phenomenon, a circulatory problem that causes frigid fingers.
Sage: As with many other herbs and spices, sage has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well as anticancer actions. One of its phytochemicals is thujone, known as a chemical in the liquor absinthe that is said (falsely) to have hallucinatory effects.
Turmeric : Turmeric, the spice that gives curry powder its yellow hue, is used in Indian medicine to stimulate the appetite and as a digestive aid. Of late, it's gaining some serious attention as a potentially powerful cancer fighter. The chemical responsible for turmeric's golden color, called curcumin, is thought to be a top anticancer agent, helping to quiet the inflammation that promotes tumor growth. It appears to work in much the same way as broccoli and cauliflower to clear carcinogens away before they can damage cellular DNA and to repair already damaged DNA. Lab studies show turmeric helps halt the growth and spread of cancer cells that do form. Research suggests that turmeric may protect against colon cancer as well as melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey are studying a combination of curcumin and phenethyl isothiocyanate (the anticancer compound in cruciferous vegetables) as a possible treatment for prostate cancer.
Studies have also suggested that turmeric reduces inflammation in a number of conditions, including psoriasis. In animal studies, curcumin decreased the formation of amyloid, the substance that makes up the brain deposits characteristic in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Source: Reader's Digest
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