One of the things I love about this time of year are all the spicy scented and flavored products that have infiltrated the market place.
Until recently, I had no idea that all of these spices had added health benefits!
Nutmeg: Adding a Little Spice to Your Love Life!
Nutmeg has long been grown as an aphrodisiac, though the evidence is largely anecdotal. Scientists at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada have reviewed the research showing nutmeg increasing sexual activity in animals, but they say that further study is needed. In the meantime, why don't you grate a little extra nutmeg on top of your eggnog at your holiday parties this year?
Cardamom: Monthly Pain and Moodiness Be Gone!
A U.S. study found that women who ate high amounts of manganese each day had fewer cramps and mood swings than those who consumed less. Adding a generous sprinkling of cardamom when you brew your morning coffee or make a cup of hot chocolate can be a creative way of supplementing your diet. One teaspoon has up to 32% of your daily manganese need.
Cloves: Reduce Free Radicals, Swelling, Stinky Breath, and Gas!
Cloves are just PACKED with beneficial nutrients! Native to eastern Indonesia, cloves could probably be considered the first breath fresheners. During the Han Dynasty in China, courtiers would chew on cloves to sweeten their breath before addressing the emperor.
Not only do they freshen breath, they are one of the best sources of antioxidants, the compounds that help fight off disease-causing and skin aging free radicals. Among the thousands of foods studied at the University of Oslo, cloves were proven to contain the most antioxidants per gram, with as little as one gram (roughly 1/2 of a teaspoon) that's about the same amount of antioxidants as half a cup of berries! Not only that, but a recent study on animal cells, published in the Journal of Lipid Research showed that the oil from cloves can inhibit COX-2, a protein that sparks inflammation. Stewing some fruit with a pinch or two of cloves is not only a tasty and healthy treat, but it can also calm your digestive system.
Cinnamon: Clear Your Lungs, Reduce Your Risk of Deadly Disease, and Perk Up Your Brain!
Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices. It was used in the embalming process in ancient Egypt, over 2500 years ago. Most spices tend to come from a plant's seeds, but cinnamon comes from the inner layer of bark from a variety of trees in the Cinnamomum genus which is dried and rolled. Traditionally, cinnamon is regarded as a warming expectorant, used to gently reduce congestion and phlegm in the lungs as well as dry up runny noses.
A recent study showed that cinnamon may contribute to the alleviation and prevention of insulin resistance and other signs of metabolic syndrome. These conditions increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. After consuming cinnamon and/or its water-soluble extracts, participants in the study who have these conditions showed beneficial effects on glucose, insulin levels/sensitivity, lipids, and blood pressure, among others.
Cinnamon's aroma doesn't just warm your kitchen, it can also perk up your brain. A study in the North American Journal of Psychology showed that a whiff of cinnamon, or chewing cinnamon gum, stimulated the cognitive process and improved scores in working memory and visual-motor response speed.
Try adding a cinnamon stick to your tea or adding some ground cinnamon to your morning oatmeal or cereal!
Ginger: Calm an Upset Tummy!
Medicinally, ginger is a multi-tasker. Ginger is commonly used to soothe upset stomachs and combat motion sickness. Researchers in Toronto have reviewed the key studies for treating nausea and vomiting due to pregnancy, and recommend ginger as a "safe, effective, and inexpensive solution."
Anise: Relieve Bloat and Gas!
In ancient Rome, at the end of an indulgent feast, hosts would serve cakes make with anise to calm their guests' digestion and freshen their breath. In then 1930s, Margaret Grieve's book,
A Modern Herbal said the "stimulant and carminative properties of anise make it useful in flatulency and colic".
Anise is still used as an aromatic digestive, a group of remedies that calm digestive problems, and reduces nausea, gas, and bloating. Anise can also be used as an expectorant, helpful in relieving coughing and congestion when you have a cold.
Thanks to Canada's
Best Health magazine for all of this interesting information!
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