There are many ways to use “food as medicine”.
From eating a specific diet to following a personalized supplement protocol – it’s all beneficial when it comes to healing the body. But often overlooked is your ability to open up your kitchen cupboards to find healing spices right within your reach.
So, put your wallet away and see how these seven spices you already have in your kitchen can help you heal.
7 HEALING SPICES YOU’LL FIND IN YOUR KITCHEN
1. BLACK PEPPER
Many of the benefits of black pepper stem from its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and gastrointestinal protective properties – potentially making it an integral part of managing diabetes and cancer. It’s also known to help with weight loss, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and aiding digestion.
It’s simple to add a little freshly ground peppercorn to meals like frittatas, stir-fry’s, and meat or fish.
2. CARDAMOM
With over 80 percent of your daily manganese in just one tablespoon, plus it being a source of phytonutrients, this delicious spice is great for digestion, lowering blood pressure, fighting bad breath, reducing cavities, and helping fight diabetes and cancer.
My sister recently got me addicted to cardamom in date balls – it’s so good! Plus, making fresh cardamom tea to drink after dinner can aid digestion.
3. CAYENNE PEPPER
While its popularity has grown recently in the health world through adding it into your morning routine to improve metabolism, not everyone is convinced of the science. But this spicy pepper has shown promise in its ability to support weight loss through improving metabolism and digestion, while also promoting detoxification, relieving migraines and allergies, reducing joint and nerve pain, and preventing blood clots.
Adding a dash into your morning hot water with lemon, or when cooking dinner, is a great way to include this amazing spice in your diet.
4. CINNAMON
Admittedly my favourite spice of all time. There are many studies that have proven its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, as well as its anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer activities. It’s also great for balancing blood sugar, so add a dash into your baking, oatmeal, or coffee to keep them stabilized.
You can also add a tsp (or more!) into your coffee grounds before brewing for a hint of cinnamon flavour and all its amazing benefits. It’s also great added to soups, baking, and breakfast cookies.
5. GINGER
Well known and used for thousands of years for its medicinal properties, ginger should be a regular part of your healthy nutrition protocol. This is another spice that is great for digestion, but it’s also used for reducing nausea, boosting the immune system, reducing pain, and lowering cholesterol. It is a potent antioxidant that has the ability to improve arthritis, diabetes, and fight cancer.
I love using ginger for smoothies, stir-fry’s, and soup.
6. NUTMEG
Besides being rich in vitamins and minerals like magnesium, folate, and B6, the many benefits of this spice include aiding in digestion and detoxification, improving cognition, stabilizing blood pressure, and reducing inflammation. It may also help with managing anxiety and depression.
Add it to your latte’s, oatmeal, and muffins (see below) to take advantage of its healing benefits.
7. TURMERIC
One of the most researched and well known spices, turmeric has benefits such as lowering inflammation, treating GI issues, aiding in weight loss, reducing pain, and fighting cancer. This spice can be easily added into your daily routine through smoothies, golden milk, and cooking.
I also love using it in homemade gummies too!
Of course, there are a gazillion more herbs and spices I could list that hold incredible therapeutic properties. But these are some of my favourites that are easy to incorporate and probably already found in your kitchen.
