8 Herbs and Spices that Can Save Your Health

Rebecca Lewis July 02, 2014

Sometimes, simply adding a few spices to a meal is all it takes to make your dish taste really great, as if it has been prepared by a world renowned chef. But using spices doesn’t only make your dish taste good, it can also be an inexpensive, sumptuous and effective way to boost your health and increase your well-being.

Whether you love to cook or you just want to eat, here are herbs and spices that you should always have in your pantry. In this world that is full of toxins, pollution and bacteria, taking antioxidant-loaded foods can do your health great wonders.

Turmeric

Topping our list is turmeric – a popular Asian spice that is widely used as seasoning for curry dishes. Turmeric is haven of antioxidants that help your body recover from toxic overload. Use it with pepper to get the most out of it.

Ginger

Ginger has great anti-inflammatory properties, making it a perfect home remedy for pains as well as digestive problems. What’s more, nutrients from food are more easily absorbed when ginger is added to the recipe. Ginger is very aromatic so it really is a cooking must-have!

Garlic

Considered as the best natural antibiotic in the world, garlic is a powerful remedy for colds, flu and pneumonia. It has the ability to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar.

Parsley

Be sure to eat parsley and not just leave it on your plate. It has high levels of chlorophyll, which makes it a great cleaning agent. Parsley also contains alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that may aid in heart disease and arthritis.

Thyme

Thyme is loaded with calcium, iron and manganese, which all work as antiseptic and antibacterial agents. This spice is also used to relieve respiratory troubles.

Nutmeg

This holiday spice isn’t only great with pies and eggnogs; it is also a great natural remedy. The powerful compounds in nutmeg have the ability to increase circulation as well as get rid of unhealthy, toxic cells in the body.

Peppercorn

Peppercorn is used as a disinfecting agent for minor scrapes and cuts. It also helps speed up your metabolism so it’s a cooking must-have when you’re trying to lose weight! Peppercorn is added to boost the flavour of any dish, especially meat dishes.

Rosemary

This spice helps get your blood flowing and stimulates and cleanses the nervous system, which is comprised of the brain and spinal cord and is the most important system in the body.