There are so many healthy herbs and spices in the culinary world that fill our palates. But why not opt for the ones that not only pack a punch of flavor and aroma but are also beneficial to your body? Some can even treat a number of ailments without being eaten for dinner.
Listed below are just a select few healthy herbs and spices that have powerful medicinal properties.
Turmeric Is the Healthiest Spice
Turmeric has grown in popularity over the last decade, but many people are not sure how to ingest or cook with it. This root comes from the ginger family. It is ground into a bright orange powder, which you can sprinkle into virtually any dish while cooking. People use turmeric not only for its vibrant color, but its anti-inflammatory properties that are equivalent in potency to over-the-counter painkillers. You can also eat it to help with digestion, liver ailments, depression, and even to help prevent cancer.
Turmeric is being investigated in the US today for its importance in treating rheumatoid arthritis. The powder also has Vitamin A, which can have a significant effect on treating colds and coughs. Another way to take turmeric is by adding a teaspoon of it (up to 3 times a day) diluted in warm milk. Add honey for flavor.
Sweet Basil & Holy Basil
Basil is chock full of aroma and flavor and is a member of the mint family. This herb is extremely popular in Italian cuisine and almost all over the world. There are two popular types though, that have different properties: sweet basil and holy basil, also known as “tulsi.”
Sweet Basil
Try making a tea with the herb or use it to season your dishes when sauteing. You can also eat sweet basil to alleviate digestive ailments, gas, bloating, stomachaches, and diarrhea. Some people simply steep the herbs in boiling water and enjoy a tea that promotes relaxation. When boiled, basil can act as a powerful expectorant, removing phlegm from the body. Because of this, it is excellent for colds, coughs, and sore throat. Basil can also act as a blood purifier to help in reducing cholesterol levels.
Holy Basil (Tulsi)
Holy basil is in the same family but is not used for cooking. Those who suffer from bronchitis can make tea from the fresh flowers. For diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, any part of the plant can be brewed in tea. Some use basil essential oil to alleviate insect bites.
Aloe Vera
The aloe vera plant is known as the “healer” of all plants. Its leaves can be eaten, applied on the skin, ground, made into lotions and gels, or consumed as a beverage. Aloe vera contains water, vitamins, minerals, and proteins.
It can help to aid in arthritis, insomnia, infections, stomachaches and indigestion, constipation, and heartburn.
Apply the gel directly on your skin to cure pains burns, sunburns, blemishes, bruises, and sore muscles.
Oregano – a Powerfully Healthy Herb
Oregano, like basil, is an herb you can use in cooking, or you can boil the herbs and drink the tea. It also works to cure indigestion and stomachaches, gas, and bloating.
It also eases coughs, headaches, fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. Grind the oregano into a paste and apply it directly to sore muscles and bruises. It can also help to relieve itching. You can also use oregano essential oil and apply it to a toothache.
More importantly, oregano is known to play a role in preventing heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Cumin
The cumin seed is a spice that you can grind into a powder, roast, or boil in water. You can use cumin to cure ailments affecting the bladder, urinary tract, and kidneys. Try eating cumin as a painkiller or for insomnia.
If boiled in tea, cumin can help alleviate the symptoms of colds, coughs, and sore throats. It helps to remove phlegm from the body. Lastly, use cumin can help to aid the digestion system and cure upset stomachs.
Chili Powder
You can also create a chili powder paste and apply it to your skin for pain – apply with caution for sensitive skin. It can help to relieve arthritis and headaches. Chili powder is currently being tested to kill cancer cells in rats. It also aids in weight loss, as it is an active thermogenic (where hot foods speed up metabolism). Chili powder also contains phytochemicals that can act as powerful antioxidants for the body.
Mustard Seeds
The mustard plant is a powerfully healthy plant for the body. The seeds that come from mustard have a multitude of phytochemicals, which act as antioxidants. You can use mustard oil to treat rheumatoid arthritis, colds, coughs, and bronchitis.
It can also help to treat the common stomachache. Grind mustard seeds into a wet paste and apply it on the chest to help relieve chest congestion, the tooth to relieve toothaches, and on the back for pain.
Fenugreek Leaves
Fenugreek is an herb that can help aid in both weight loss and indigestion. It is also full of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, B Vitamins, Vitamin C, iron, and phosphorous. And it has an excellent flavor.
It also helps with liver function and treats ailments such as jaundice.
The leaves of Fenugreek can help clean out the digestive tract, removing toxins from the body. Boil the herbs into soup or simply saute the leaves and add it to potatoes or other vegetables. You can also simply eat the dry leaves. Fenugreek is an overall body cleanser.
Rosemary
Rosemary is another herb that is excellent for the digestive system; however, rosemary has a number of other beneficial properties. Rosemary can help to kill bacteria and also act as an anti-inflammatory agent. When eaten, it can also help to improve circulation.
Rosemary can also help to alleviate rheumatoid arthritis. Eat this herb as dry leaves, boiled, or cooked in foods. Try using rosemary oil to relax the mind and improve sinus ailments and congestion.
This herb is also good for the skin and scalp. Lastly, this herb has powerful antioxidants that can help aid in cognitive decline.
Celery Seeds
Though celery is mostly made of water and is extremely healthy, its seeds contain medicinal properties as well. Celery seeds have a large amount of calcium in them.
They can also help to reduce bad levels of cholesterol and if eaten regularly, can lower risks of heart attacks.
Celery seeds can also aid with rheumatoid arthritis, insomnia, and anxiety. Because celery seeds have a slightly salty taste to them, try substituting them for salt. This makes a meal much healthier because it cuts out sodium without removing flavor.
Toss celery seeds into a salad or baked bread, roast them and sprinkle them onto your dishes for flavor.
Use Healthy Herbs and Spices
Try sprinkling herbs on your everyday dishes and adding a little spice when cooking. When added in small amounts to your routine foods, these elements can make a difference in your health and well-being.
After all, real medicine is putting the right foods into our bodies. Start with incorporating healthy herbs and spices into meals. For information on additional healthy herbs and spices, check out this article by EatingWell.
