Herbs & Spices - overflow of goodness

 HELLO! I am very excited to welcome you to “Rejuvenated Life by a She”. According to Henry Cloud, “we change our behaviour when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing and that the consequences of the pain is what motivates us to change.” I really hope you will not wait for pain as a motivation to live well. 😏

There are many misconceptions about healthy eating. A lot of people assume that eating healthy means eating bland and boring foods. The solution to that is herbs and spices, they add flavour to food and make healthy meals delicious and interesting. One of the biggest benefits of using herbs and spices is that they are a healthy way to get you into eating right. Enjoying your food is very key to maintaining healthy habits for the long haul.

Herbs are leaves which can be used fresh or dried, e.g. thyme, rosemary, parsley etc. Spices on the other hand, are usually dried and ground from barks and roots of plants and trees. The use of herbs and spices as seasonings ought to result in reduction of salt intake which should invariably lower the risk of heart disease. The most effective herbs and spices to replace salt include onion, ginger, coriander, black pepper, garlic powder, basil and cumin. For sweetness, use cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg etc.

Herbs and spices can wake up just about any food and do a lot to keep our bodies healthy.  There is no other group of food that has as many antioxidants as herbs and spices. Everyone should cook with them and if possible use several at a time. The secret is knowing when to use them but you can have an adventure with them through trial. It’s better to eat them than take them as supplement pills (too many pills out there).

For long cooking, spices are better for flavour than herbs. Dry herbs are stronger than fresh herbs because the flavour is more concentrated.

Keep your spices in a cool, dark place and away from your cooker. Humidity, light and heat will cause them to lose flavour. Also, as much as possible do not add your spices whilst cooking to avoid opening your containers of spices over the heat. It’s better to add spice before cooking so you don’t inadvertently expose your spices to heat.

Below are some of the well known ones (I suppose it depends on what part of the world you are) and some of the benefits they are claimed to offer:

Garlic:   

•   Combats several illnesses.
•   Lowers blood pressure and improves heart health.
•   Reduces bad cholesterol.
•   Boosts immunity.

Ginger:

•   Treats nausea.
•   Helps with pain management
•   Anti-inflammatory

It can be boiled to make tea and drank with lemon and honey.

Cayenne Pepper:

•   Reduces appetite
•   Increases fat burning
•   Reduces cravings for salt and fat.

Turmeric:

•   Fights oxidative damages (the cause of many diseases and ageing)
•   Improves brain function
•   Treats depression
•   Reduces the risks of heart diseases.

It can be added to milk, smoothies, rice and curry.

Black Pepper:

•   Stimulates the digestive enzymes of the pancreas which enhances      food absorption.
•   Protects against oxidative damage.

Black Pepper is necessary to absorb the key antioxidants in most spices and food. It’s a good idea to have it on the table and use in every meal. It is better to buy whole seeds and ground when needed.

Cinnamon:

•   Fights inflammation
•   Lowers cholesterol
•   Lowers blood sugar and improves sensitivity to insulin (powerful anti-    diabetic effect.
•   It can be sprinkled on coffee and used in bread and other baked foods.

Oregano:

•   Fights infection
•   Boosts heart health
•   In respect to antioxidants nutrients, it is sky high.

Rosemary:

•     Improves brain function
•     Improves mood
•     Promotes hair growth

Thyme:

•       Relieves cough and sore throat
•       Simulates appetite
•       A good diuretic

There are so many herbs and spices all around the world and it’s a good idea to be open minded, you will be amazed by a lot of them. I am in love with Middle Eastern and North African spices. I find them truly amazing. If you’ve never tried Sumac, Baharat, Ras el Hanout, Zaatar, Harissa, the next time you are at a spice corner, look for them and give at least one a try.

“My Daily Routine is to make every day the best day.” David Wolfe

Till next week, do take care and Live Well! 😊