When it comes to healthy breakfasts, it doesn’t get much better than protein-packed eggs. Eggs offer so many benefits to your health, from increased satisfaction that prevents overeating for weight loss to improved cognitive health thanks to the choline content. But as it turns out, there are a few ways to get even more out of an egg-forward breakfast.
When you add the right ingredients to your morning eggs, you could take the health benefits of your meal to the next level. There are plenty of healthy mix-ins to sprinkle into a delicious scramble, and some of the best choices are also the simplest. Spices are among the easiest ways to kick up the health and flavor of a meal. According to experts, turmeric and cayenne are two superior choices if you’re looking to improve your overall wellbeing. Learn more about the benefits of each below.
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1. Turmeric
If you’re looking to keep inflammation at bay, adding turmeric to your food is always a great option. Lisa Richards, nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet explains that this spice is “a natural and effective anti-inflammatory compound primarily because of its antioxidant properties,” which “makes it an effective addition to a chronic pain regimen to lower inflammation in the body and to remove free radicals that lead to other chronic conditions.”
Joanna Wen, health coach and founder of Spices & Green says that the anti-inflammatory properties are largely thanks to its curcumin content. “[Turmeric] contains a high concentration of curcumin, which helps reduce both chronic and acute inflammation in the body,” she says, reiterating that “curcumin has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help protect our cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals.” This is great news for both your body and your brain!
Luckily, turmeric also a delicious, flavorful spice that tastes great in so many different recipes–and there’s no shortage of ways to work it into your eggs every morning.
2. Cayenne
Add some heat to the mix! Cayenne pepper is a fantastic addition to any diet, especially for those seeking to rev up their metabolism. Nutritionist and personal trainer Josh Schlottman notes, "Adding cayenne pepper to eggs is the way to go if you're trying to lose weight. Cayenne pepper is one of the best natural ingredients out there because it can help boost metabolism and increase fat burning by up to 20%."
Dr. Amy Lee, board certified doctor in internal medicine, medical nutrition, and obesity medicine and partner of Nucific agrees. "Chili sauce [or cayenne peppers come with an active] ingredient of capsaicin, which is known to be thermogenic. Thermogenic foods help raise the body temperature just enough to expend more energy acquire from food." Got it!
On top of these waist-slimming properties, the antioxidants in cayenne could boost brain health. Some studies show it may even play a role in reducing Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and depression. So it's definitely worth a try—especially if you like things on the spicier side.
