Indian cuisine is known to be flavourful, made with different spices. Multiple spices are used in every Indian dish and spices are refilled often in Indian pantries. They are indeed revered for their taste, but these are not added just for the aromatic appeal. Indian spices are known for their health benefits, too. Ayurveda celebrates food as medicine, mainly due to the potency of herbs and spices used in regular cooking. In this blog, we explore the best Indian spices for health benefits that you must include in your diet, too.
8 Famous Spices of India that are Good for Your Health
Every Indian kitchen is filled with a variety of spices, each having its own medicinal properties and benefits to the human body. This makes Indian cuisine not only exotic but nourishing as well. Not just Ayurveda but modern science, too, has understood the benefits of Indian spices. In fact, pharmaceutical companies are spending thousands of dollars on extracting potent components and converting them into pills. The beauty of Indian cooking is that it uses a mixture of spices in each dish to complement and elevate the health benefits.
Here is a list of the most popular and commonly used best Indian spices fo health benefits:
Turmeric
The golden yellow turmeric is the quintessential spice that is used in almost every Indian dish. The humble haldi doodh that Indian mothers offer to their kids is now hailed as golden milk with miraculous healing properties. The antioxidant curcumin and anti-inflammatory compounds protect you against several diseases, boost your immunity, and act as a natural arthritis remedy. This famous spice of India is also known to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and boost neuron development in the brain thereby enhances memory and learning power.
Ginger
Ginger is known as one of the best spice of India known for its digestive properties. From briyanis to heavy curries, ginger has its place in improving gut health in a tasty way. This spice is used in both sweet and spicy dishes, and it adds a unique flavour in its own way. Ginger candies are often used as a home remedy to relieve nausea. The anti-inflammatory properties reduce muscle pain. The combination of ginger and turmeric tea is now known as a metabolism-boosting drink that can aid in weight management.
Cinnamon
Another spice of India, which is used in both sweet and savoury dishes is cinnamon. The high antioxidants reduce inflammation, improve heart health, and maintain blood sugar levels. Special occasions in Indian families are never complete without kheer, which is spiced with cinnamon. People with type 2 diabetes can sprinkle cinnamon in their breakfast cereals to reduce glucose spikes.
Cardamom
Cardamom flavourful spice adds a floral flavour to various dishes from spicy briyani to sweet kheer. The well-known Indian masala chai is not complete without cardamom and ginger. Indians drink this during all weather conditions to soothe the soul and also get rid of bad breath, digestive issues, and many respiratory conditions. This spice is known to have some anti-cancer properties and helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. You can get the benefits of Indian spices by taking them in small quantities daily.
Mustard Seeds
Wherever you go in India, you will find dishes tempered with mustard seeds. Available in beautiful colours of black, brown, and yellow, these taste slightly bitter but add a wonderful flavour to curries and chutneys as they release their natural oils during tempering. The renowned spice blend panch phoron containing mustard seeds is heavily used in north Indian cuisine. Even though only a small quantity is added to the food, mustard seeds can reduce the risk of various chronic diseases like cardiovascular problems and cancer. It is also known to help reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Cumin
Cumin is famed for being one of the best Indian spices for health benefits. The warm and earthy flavour of cumin makes curries, lentils, and soups taste delicious. They are well known for their digestive benefits and known to relieve bloating. Cumin is also a rich source of iron that prevents anaemia. According to Ayurveda, cumin has cooling properties, and it is crucial for Indians living in hot weather conditions.
Coriander
Coriander is used in two ways in Indian cooking – as seeds (for spice blends such as garam masala) and as fresh green leaves. Every Indian dish has coriander dressing that imparts a beautiful flavour and also supports digestion. Many aromatherapy oils include coriander seed oil to alleviate anxiety and stress.
Fennel
One of the versatile spices in Indian cuisine which has also been said to be one of the best Indian spices for health benefits, fennel has a sweet flavour that reminds of liquorice. Fennel incorporates many health benefits due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects. Some of the possible benefits of fennel include- it may improve digestive health, regulate blood pressure, augment skin appearance, combat bad breath; also it has anti-aging effect and cancer preventive properties.
Conclusion
The spices are not just used to add a zest to the meals. Every Indian household knows the best Indian spices for health benefits, and that is why they introduce these spices to kids from a very young age. Remember, the magic of healing lies not just in the individual spices but in their harmonious blend. The best part is you just need a pinch of these spices to spruce your dishes and health.
