Spices are not just for flavouring your food, they have several other benefits too for our Health. Lets see how these spices can spice up our health with their amazing alternate Health Benefits.

Turmeric

Turmeric (Curcuma longa), once called a poor man’s saffron, is a powerful natural medicine that has been used by the Chinese and Indian as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of problems like flatulence, jaundice, menstrual difficulties, bloody urine, hemorrhage, toothache, bruises, chest pain, and colic.

Turmeric is rich in an antioxidant called, curcumin that is powerful anti-inflammatory. Curcumin has powerful antioxidant effects. It scavenges the free radicals in the body, and stimulates the body’s own antioxidant enzymes.

Turmeric is used to reduce swelling and healing wounds by either directly applying it’s paste on the wound or drinking turmeric milk for internal/muscular wounds.

Garlic

Garlic is not just a simple spice, it contains a compound called Allicin, which gives it Medicinal Properties.

It is used for preventing and even curing several health issues like high blood pressure, can reduce rheumatoid arthritis pain, boosts immune system, lowers cholesterol, has anti fungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties, can treat hair loss, can improve your bone health, reduces toxicity in body, can reduce your blood pressure, can prevent Alzheimer’s Disease high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, heart attack, hardening of the arteries, etc.

It is also used to prevent colon cancer, rectal cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer.

Ginger

Ginger has medicinal, therapeutic and culinary properties which makes it a great alternative home remedy for various problems.

Ginger is commonly used to treat various types of “stomach problems,” like motion sickness, morning sickness, colic, upset stomach, gas, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nausea, nausea caused by cancer treatment, nausea caused by HIV/AIDS treatment, nausea and vomiting after surgery, as well as loss of appetite.

It is also used for getting pain relief from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, relief from menstrual pain, upper respiratory tract infections, cough, respiratory problems, migraine headache, bronchitis, and diabetes, etc.

Cardamom

Cardamom (or Elaichi) is one of the most commonly found spice in an Indian household. It is not only used as a natural mouth freshener or as a unique flavour in foods but also provides several health benefits to us.

Elaichi is carminative in nature and is good in improving digestion, it reduces the inflammation in stomach lining and helps fighting heartburn and nausea.

Taking 1-2 pods of cardamom, a small piece of ginger, 2 – 3 cloves and some coriander seeds, grinding them well and then consuming it with warm water provides instant relief from indigestion, bloating and gas.

Asafoetida (Hing)

Asafoetida or H, is a latex gum which is extracted from several species of a perennial herb called Ferula. It is sold in the market in the form of a solid brick or smaller pieces, as well as in tablet or powdered form.

This potent-smelling spice is a common spice of Persian and Indian household. Used  for flavoring, food preservation and fragrance generally. It is also called Devil’s dung just because of its strong odor. From a nutritional point of view, it provides protein, fiber, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, niacin, carotene and riboflavin.

Along with its culinary uses, it has a prominent place in traditional medicine. Its health benefits come from its carminative, antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antispasmodic, expectorant, sedative, diuretic, vermifuge, emmenagogue, aphrodisiac and anti-carcinogenic properties.

Don’t forget now onwards to keep reminding yourself the health benefits of these spices before you use them in your food. Indian cooks/chefs not only spice up the food when they use these spices but they also spice up your good health with the help of these healthy spices.