3 Spices That Do Amazing Things

When you spice up your cooking, you can also spice up your health. There are a few tried and true delicious ways to take both your dishes and your wellness to the next level. In fact, Indian Ayurvedic medicine has utilized spices, including cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger, for their health benefits for centuries. Want great flavor and feel fantastic, too? You can tickle your taste buds with these 3 spices and cook your way to better health.

Turmeric

Is there anything turmeric can’t do? Thanks to its main ingredient, curcumin, turmeric is a powerful antioxidant. Ingesting turmeric increases brain function which many experts believe can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, too. Studies show that turmeric also improves heart health because curcumin improves the lining of blood vessels. It can also help with arthritis pain, as it is a powerful anti-inflammatory.

• Daily dose: 1 teaspoon / 3x a week
• Easy ways to get turmeric: Although best known for its role in Indian dishes, turmeric can easily be made into a tea by steeping freshly chopped turmeric root in hot water. It also goes great in smoothies, tossed on roasted veggies, and more. Capsules are available at your local healthfood store, too.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon, especially the type labeled as Ceylon cinnamon, is a healing spice with a warm, slightly snappy flavor known for improving cardiovascular health. As an antioxidant, cinnamon helps the body fight free radicals. Cinnamon can also help diabetics lower their blood sugar by imitating the effects of insulin and increasing the body's ability to remove sugar from the blood and transport it into the cells of the body.

• Daily dose: Aim for 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per day.
• Surprising ways to use cinnamon: While many people associate cinnamon with sweets or sugar (e.g., cinnamon rolls), cinnamon can be delicious in a savory meal. Rub cinnamon and cumin on a lamb chop before roasting, or rub on pork ribs before putting them in your slow cooker.

Ginger

Ginger is commonly used to soothe stomach issues including motion sickness and nausea (even morning sickness). Studies also reveal that ginger can help relieve mild pain associated with menstrual cramps or migraines.  

• Daily dose: Ginger can be consumed daily in a capsule or through cooking
• Tasty ways to use ginger:  Grate fresh ginger into a mug of hot black tea; add cinnamon and milk until creamy. Try adding ginger to zucchini bread for an extra zing.

These spices are delightful, calorie-free ways to infuse big flavor into your meals just by incorporating them into your cooking. Not only can using them result in more flavorful and delicious food, but you get incredible health benefits with them, too.