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Not only are spices useful for adding diverse flavor to your meals, but they can also act as natural anti inflammatories to soothe bloating and inflammation that may be otherwise difficult to treat. Your body can hold onto water weight, causing you to appear bloated which can be frustrating when you’re eating healthy and living a well rounded lifestyle. Treating inflammation is key for achieving success in your weight loss ventures, so this spring these are the four spices you need to be incorporating into your diet to feel your best in your body and your clothes.
Turmeric
Turmeric is well known as one of the most powerful anti inflammatory spices, and for good reason. The primary antioxidant in turmeric, curcumin, is effective in cutting through bloat and inflammation due to arthritis, leaving you feeling lighter and ready to take on the day. According to EatingWell, “Combining turmeric with black pepper increases curcumin's bioavailability by 2000%,” so this duo is the perfect combination in eliminating water weight before spring.
Ginger
Ginger can be helpful for when you’re suffering from an upset stomach, but it can also have some great anti inflammatory benefits as well. Hiranya Govardhanam, an Ayurvedic counselor at YO1 Luxury Nature Cure explains to Byrdie, “ginger is regarded as the universal medicine. It attacks inflammation and pain, can fight fatigue, and soothe sore muscles and sore throats. It also increases the digestive power.” Brew up a cup of ginger tea and reap the benefits of this soothing anti inflammatory.
Cinnamon
Not only is cinnamon a great flavor to add to your oatmeal or to sprinkle on top of apples, but it can also ease inflammation and discomfort in the body, improving your overall health. According to Healthline, “An analysis of 12 studies in over 690 participants found that taking 1,500–4,000 mg of cinnamon daily for 10–110 days significantly reduced the inflammatory markers CRP and MDA, compared with a placebo. Also, cinnamon raised the body’s antioxidant levels.” Sprinkle a teaspoon on top of your coffee and you’ll feel better in no time!
Black Pepper
While in tandem with turmeric, black pepper can provide even more anti inflammatory benefits, on its own it is also a great addition to your diet. Healthline explains, “Research suggests that black pepper and its main active compound piperine may play a role in reducing inflammation in the body,” While the research in humans is limited, black pepper has been shown to reduce inflammation in animals suffering from arthritis.
