For centuries, herbs & spices have been used in different recipes to add flavours and make the dish tastier. However, apart from adding a delectable flavour to the dishes, herbs have various health benefits. It is therefore highly beneficial for you to add healthy herbs to your diet.
While certain herbs and spices work as cognitive boosters, others have anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, some herbs also have the potential to fight cancer cells. Such wonderful herbs & spices may include turmeric, ginger, peppermint, rosemary, etc.
However, there is no scientific evidence whether these herbs and spices truly cure the diseases from within or not but certainly they can help relieve symptoms associated with the disease. In this post, we will discuss the top 10 most commonly used herbs and medicines in our daily household that have amazing health benefits for different body parts.
Top 10 Healthy Herbs and Spices
While the list of herbs for health is long and some of them are even unknown to many, here are some herbs that you will get in your kitchen easily.
1. Turmeric
The king of all healthy spices is Turmeric! Topping the list, turmeric which is also known as curcumin in certain countries is one spice that has some anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antioxidant, antiviral & antiparasitic properties. Among all its benefits, laboratory studies have shown that turmeric is mostly effective for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The spice is best known for reducing oxidative stress and also has the ability to search for toxic free radicals inside the human body. As we all know, free radicals damage the tissues in the body which further acts as a catalyst for chronic diseases like heart diseases or even cancer. Therefore intake of turmeric regularly reduces stress effects on the body and reduces free radical formation in the body. Additionally, turmeric is also applied on the skin as it has multiple skin benefits as well.
2. Cumin
Cumin is another Asian spice that is used in recipes for its aromatic properties. As per different studies, it has been found that cumin promotes weight loss, reduces bad cholesterol, helps in stress management, improves metabolism rate, and so on. It further has antioxidant properties.
In another study, it was found that cumin also has anti-diabetic properties. In the study, a group of eighty people consumed a formulation which has cumin in it for a period of twenty-four weeks. Surprisingly their blood sugar reduced significantly.
3. Ginger
Ginger is a spice that is used by people for gastrointestinal issues & cough and cold issues for decades. Ginger is used in different recipes and drinks not only for flavour and aroma but also to treat several health issues, mainly to aid digestion. Similar to turmeric, ginger too has anti-inflammatory & antioxidant properties. Also, several studies have concluded that ginger Is also antiemetic. Therefore it can be used for motion sickness, seasickness, or morning sickness.
Additionally, ginger is also associated with treating cancer. How? Well, its high antioxidant property slows down the reproduction of cancer cells and it also stops the cancer cells from dividing. However, these studies were conducted in the laboratory and the role of ginger to treat cancer is still debatable and needs further clinical trials.
4. Peppermint
Popular in European and Asian countries, peppermint is a refreshing herb that is used as a flavouring agent. The cooling effects are the major reason why it is used in several recipes and drinks. Peppermint also improves digestion and has anti-bacterial properties as well. According to certain research, it was also concluded that peppermint is effective in improving lung and heart health as it acts as a bronchodilator.
The Bronchodilator is responsible for widening the air passages in the lungs, thereby improving lung health. Also, individuals experiencing clogged nasal passages can inhale peppermint and get some instant relief.
Peppermint is used in many creams and ointments due to its cooling menthol compound. It works as a muscle relaxer.
5. Cinnamon
Cinnamon has been used for anointing, treating, and embalming alignments for many years. It has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic & anti-carcinogenic properties. Cinnamon has also proved to reduce blood sugar levels in the body. Though the role of cinnamon to regulate glucose in the human body is not fully established it still improves the health of diabetic patients. This fragrant spice which is used in not only savoury dishes but also in desserts also helps to improve cognitive disorders. In a study, it was found that the extract found in the bark of cinnamon actually helps to prevent Alzheimer’s symptoms to some extent.
6. Chili Powder
A 2015 research has suggested that capsaicin found in chilli powder helps to improve heart condition & metabolism in the body. Further, the spice also triggers beneficial protein in the body that enables weight loss. However, the mechanism of how chilli powder works for weight loss is still not fully understood. The American Heart Association has concluded that intake of chilli powder might reduce developing heart disease-related mortality by about 26%.
7. Echinacea
Echinacea is a popular herb used in America to target the immune system & help prevent cough and cold. This particular herb is used in several formulations to treat the common cold, respiratory infections, influenza, bronchitis, inflammation, vaginitis, ear infections, and yeast infections. Many people drink Echinacea herbal tea to reduce symptoms related to cough and cold and improve their immune system.
8. Oregano
Oregano which is popularly used in Mediterranean cuisine is often used as a flavour enhancer, especially in pasta and pizzas. But it has more to offer than just adding taste & smell to food. Due to the herb’s rich antioxidant properties, it is used to prevent infections, regulate blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, improve insulin resistance, reduce menstrual cramps and even fight cancer. However, the herb singlehandedly cannot treat these conditions but when added to the diet with other beneficiary foods, it can give significant results.
9. Cardamom
Cardamom is a spice that is used in teas, coffees, desserts, and spicy dishes for added flavour. Belonging to the ginger family, this particular spice shows significant results in treating constipation, diarrhoea, colic, nausea, headache, epilepsy & cardiovascular disease.
10. Parsley
Originating from the Mediterranean regions, Parsley is a herb that has been used for decades for both flavouring and therapeutic reasons. It helps to treat a condition like high blood pressure levels & allergies.
Conclusion
Hence we can conclude that healthy herbs are not only used for adding flavours and aroma to dishes but also can promote several health benefits to our bodies. Now that you know about the different benefits of herbs and spices, you should religiously start adding some of them to your daily diet and achieve good results over time.
