Spices: Not just for flavoring foods

I consider myself to be a bit of a whiz in the kitchen. I have every spoon and every pot for any type of meal I dream up. My fridge is loaded and my spice rack is packed full of delicious zests and flavors that add character to each and every one of my concoctions.

Little did I know that many of the spices on that rack are not just good for my taste buds; they're great for my health, too!

Cinnamon

You can feel a little bit less guilty when you have your cinnamon French toast in the mornings. Did you know that a mere dash of cinnamon can lower your cholesterol? Or maybe you have diabetes and had no idea that cinnamon can help regulate your blood sugar level. This wonder spice has been linked to several other health benefits too, such as:

• Reduction of yeast infections
• Anti-clotting effect on blood
• Arthritis aid (especially when added to a tablespoon of honey – delicious!)
• Cancer preventative and aid
• Acts as a natural food preservative and fights E. coli bacteria

Not only that, but some even say that just the scent of cinnamon helps boost one's memory!

Ginger

And here I thought for years that ginger was just a funny looking root that I only occasionally tossed into my Asian-inspired dishes. Not only is ginger also a natural way to help fight a number of cancers (such as ovarian and colon cancer) but it's also great at reducing any sort of pain and inflammation you may be experiencing.

Pregnant woman of the world, rejoice! Ginger is great for any sort of tummy upsets – including morning sickness. No side effects and no harm to your baby. If nothing else has worked for you thus far, try ginger.

Some other ways you can use ginger to boost your day to day well being are:

• To treat menstrual cramps
• To reduce and even eliminate migraines
• To alleviate heart burn
• To naturally prevent and treat colds and flues
• To protect your kidneys

Oregano

Not longer is oregano only a great way to flavor your spaghetti! Oregano has strong antibacterial properties, making it a forerunner amongst all the herbs and spices in keeping those colds and other viruses at bay. This herb is also rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help free and destroy the “free radicals” in our bodies that are responsible for things like cancer and aging.

Maybe the fountain of youth is really just in a teaspoon of oregano?

Garlic

I saved my personal favorite for last. As a true garlic lover, I was amazed to discover just how many health benefits it offers. As with the others, it helps both fight and prevent cancer. It is also an immunity booster, which of course helps you stay healthy (if you feel a cold coming on as you're reading this, grab a clove and pop it in your mouth – you'll be glad you did!). Garlic helps with the treatment and prevention of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels, reducing artery plaque build-up, and it protects the aorta by keeping it supple and flexible.

The list doesn't end there. Garlic also helps with:

• Hypertension
• Infections
• Detoxification
• Blood Pressure
• Impotency
• Pregnancy (helps fetus with weight gain and helps keep mom's blood pressure low)

There you have it! When preparing dinner tonight, keep these four spices in mind and come up with creative ways to add them to your meals.

photo by Zsuzsanna Kilian