Aside from imparting flavor, adding herbs and spices to your meals comes with a host of nutritional benefits. Here’s a look at some of the most powerful ones, all of which have been shown to help boost metabolism, lower cholesterol and/or fight disease.
Turmeric
Known as a pain reliever as it fights inflammation with an ingredient called curcumin. It also has been shown to help fight the proliferation of cancer cells.
Oregano
Antioxidant packed, oregano has more than 20 times the level of the average herb, which explains the large body of studies showing its cancer-fighting properties.
Cinnamon
A number of studies have shown that cinnamon can help lower blood sugar levels and other cardiovascular disease risk factors (like cholesterol, triglycerides and blood fats), via compounds that activate enzymes, which in turn stimulate insulin receptors.
Ginger
High in antioxidants, ginger helps increase blood circulation, which is why it’s often used to help fend off colds/flus. It’s also known to soothe stomach aches, nausea and to help decrease blood pressure.
Cayenne
Used by athletes to help fight sore muscles, cayenne acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and it’s been shown to help inhibit pain transmitters.
Parsley
Parsley has been shown to help with bone health because of its high level of vitamin K.
Rosemary
Experts have recommended cooking meats with rosemary as some studies have shown that it can reduce the carcinogenic compounds that form when cooking over high heat.
Sage
The herb has been shown to help fight a host of ailments including sore throats and fertility problems, while also improving mental performance.
Cloves
Antioxidant-rich, it has been shown to reduce the negative effects of high fat meals.
Coriander
Aside from having cell-protecting antioxidants, coriander has been shown to help ease digestion.
Not into spicing your food? Check-out Manjoor Estate, a new beverage line that adds spices and herbes to juices, coconut water, tea and even beer.
