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Instant Replay! The Joy of Herbs and Oils

By May 17, 2017March 29th, 2018Instant Replay

Welcome to our new category- Instant Replay!

Anytime I do a Health and Wellness talk for Cuisine for Healing I’m going to recap in a blog. Hopefully if you can’t attend, you can still reap the benefits of all this amazing information. You can always come by the office and check out our Facts and Research Book. This is where I put all the articles and information that I use for Cuisine for Healing Education. What we know, you now know also!

Let’s talk herbs and oils- Mother Nature’s Medicine Cabinet.

Turmeric:

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a culinary spice that spans cultures- it is a major ingredient in Indian curries, and makes American mustard yellow. This spice is actually a root but I wanted to include it because of its amazing healing properties. But evidence is accumulating that this brightly colored relative of ginger is a promising disease-preventive agent as well, probably due largely to its anti inflammatory action. In addition, ayurvedic and Chinese medicines utilize turmeric to clear infections and inflammations on the inside and outside of the body. But beyond the holistic health community, Western medical practitioners have only recently come on board in recognizing the health benefits of turmeric. Doctors at UCLA found that curcumin, the main component in turmeric, appeared to block an enzyme that promotes the growth of head and neck cancer. Turmeric may also be helpful with another type of arthritis. Some research has shown that taking turmeric extract can ease the pain of osteoarthritis. In one study, WebMD reports, turmeric worked about as well as ibuprofen for relieving osteoarthritis pain. This amazing little root can also help decrease plaque buildup in the heart, aid with indigestion and IBS and balance blood sugars decreasing prediabetes from turning into diabetes.

Cinnamon:

Cinnamon is a popular spice, found in all sorts of recipes and baked goods. It contains a compound called cinnamaldehyde, which is responsible for cinnamon’s medicinal properties. Cinnamon has potent antioxidant activity, helps fight inflammation and has been shown to lower cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. But where cinnamon really shines is in its effects on blood sugar levels. Cinnamon can lower blood sugar by several mechanisms, including by slowing the breakdown of carbs in the digestive tract and improving insulin sensitivity. Studies have shown that cinnamon can lower fasting blood sugars by 10-29% in diabetic patients, which is a significant amount. The effective dose is typically 0.5-2 teaspoons of cinnamon per day, or 1-6 grams.

Sage:

Sage gets its name from the Latin word Salvere, which means to save.  It had a strong reputation for its healing properties during the middle ages, and was even used to help prevent the plague. Current research indicates that sage may be able to improve brain function and memory, especially in people with Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s disease is accompanied by a drop in the level of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger in the brain. Sage inhibits the breakdown of acetylcholine. In a 4-month study of 42 individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, sage extract was shown to produce significant improvements in brain function. Other studies have also shown that sage can improve memory function in healthy people, both young and old.

Ginger:

Studies have consistently shown that 1 gram or more of ginger can successfully treat nausea. This includes nausea caused by morning sickness, chemotherapy and sea sickness. Ginger also appears to have strong anti-inflammatory properties, and can help with pain management. One study in subjects at risk for colon cancer found that 2 grams of ginger extract per day decreased markers for colon inflammation in the same way as aspirin. Other research found that a mixture of ginger, cinnamon, mastic, and sesame oil decreased pain and stiffness experienced by those with osteoarthritis. It had a similar effectiveness as treatment with aspirin or ibuprofen.

Garlic:

Throughout ancient history, the main use of garlic was for its medicinal properties. We now know that most of these health effects are due to a compound called allicin, which is also responsible for garlic’s distinct smell. Garlic supplementation is well known for combatting sickness, including the common cold. If you often get colds, then adding more garlic to your diet could be incredibly helpful. There is also convincing evidence for beneficial effects on heart health. For those with high cholesterol, garlic supplementation appears to reduce total and/or LDL cholesterol by about 10-15%. Human studies have also found garlic supplementation to cause significant reductions in blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.

These are just a few of the wonderful herbs and spices you can use everyday.

Fresh is always best, but if you choose to use dried – remember to only keep them in the cabinet for 6 months. After that they lose their healing goodness.

At Cuisine for Healing we have a wonderful packet of organic spices you can purchase right in our office. Hurry over- they go fast!

Tune in next week for an overview of healthy oils.

Happy Healthy Eating!

Dana

Source URL: https://authoritynutrition.com/10-healthy-herbs-and-spices/ 10 Delicious Herbs and Spices With Powerful Health Benefits

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