This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
Basic staples like grilled chicken and veggies might be good for your diet, but they’re also kind of boring. Luckily, research shows that spicing up food can be positive for your taste buds and your health!
While spice benefits run the gamut from combating nausea to boosting metabolic rate, they can also help reduce inflammation. And according to Trista Best, a registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements,“reducing inflammation in the body has an almost direct impact on preventing or reducing obesity and overall body weight. By cutting down on inflammation, your metabolism is better able to burn calories at an efficient rate.”
Time to make reaching into the spice drawer a regular occurrence! Keep reading to learn about some of the top anti-inflammatory spices.
Turmeric
You may recognize it for its use in Indian curry dishes – but turmeric is quickly becoming a trendy superfood. This is thanks to a compound known as curcumin, which provides the bulk of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, a Johns Hopkins study found that a combination of curcumin and a chemotherapy drug was more effective at shrinking drug-resistant tumors than using chemotherapy alone.
While turmeric is great when drunk as a tea or sprinkled over roasted veggie dishes, double up on its health benefits by pairing it with black pepper. Studies show that doing so can enhance the bioavailability of curcumin by up to 2000%!
Garlic
A tasty addition to any dish, garlic contains organosulfur compounds, which lower the production of substances in the blood that boost inflammation. Garlic may even help prevent cartilage damage from arthritis.
For the greatest benefits, eat garlic raw, or let chopped cloves stand for a few minutes before cooking. The spice has a way of bringing out the best in chicken and seafood dishes, in particular.
Ginger
Ginger is loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds. Gingerol, its main component, is known to ease inflammation and pain – as a result, the Arthritis Foundation recommends ginger as a top spice for those with arthritis.
The warm, refreshing root also boasts savory benefits in cuisines worldwide. Not only is it delicious in holiday cooking (gingersnap, anyone?), but it can be stewed with chickpeas, infused in oils or simmered into syrups to make ginger beer and cocktails.
Cinnamon
Another spice commonly used in baking, cinnamon is quickly becoming an all-purpose food topper. In looking at cinnamon’s anti-inflammatory effects, research suggests the spice may help lower blood sugar and cholesterol, while managing neuro-degenerative diseases.
Skip the sugar (which is pro-inflammatory) and dust breakfast foods like oatmeal and yogurt with some cinnamon for a healthy, sweet burst of flavor.
What are some of your favorite ways to use ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and garlic? Let us know in the comments below!
