Herbs add more than flavor to your food, some have health benefits as well

[housewolf]

Herbs are not only great in meals for spice and added flavor but are key to the nutritional density in the foods you eat. Herbs can protect you against diseases, clear toxins from your body, and provide you with vitamins and minerals.

Here are some examples of such, from a list of nine assembled by Planet Green:
Basil - provides Vitamins A, C, and K, along with iron, manganese, magnesium, & potassium. Loaded with flavonoids, basil helps prevent cell damage from radiation and oxygen.
Ginger - Treat nausea and an upset stomach with ginger; prevent and treat the common cold with its antiviral components.
Fenugreek - good for menstrual cramps, menopause symptoms, cholesterol, and diabetes.
Flat Leaf Parsley - renowned for high levels of antioxidants & is full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber that help balance cholesterol and ward off constipation.
Turmeric - The Cork Cancer Research Centre's test results show that turmeric can kill gullet cancer cells in 24 hours!

Others are Garlic, Cilantro, Mint, and Lavender

Sources: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/9-healing-herbs-and-how-to-use-them-in-your-cooking.html

The Secret Powers of Herbs and Spices

But scoring high on the ORAC isn't the only reason why herbs and spices pack such a powerful punch. They're also very dense in other nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, and because of their nutrient density, they're also thermogenic, meaning they naturally increase your metabolism.

Additionally, herbs and spices have medicinal properties. This should come as no surprise considering they've been used as medicine for thousands of years prior to the advent of modern medicine that focuses on synthetic drugs in lieu of these natural counterparts.

Lastly, spices can "upgrade" your meal by reducing toxic compounds created during the cooking process. A study published last year discovered that adding an antioxidant-rich spice blend to meat prior to cooking reduced the level of malondialdehyde (a chemical marker for oxidation) in the meat by 71 percent and levels in participants' urine by 49 percent.

The researchers used a blend of:

Cloves Cinnamon Oregano Rosemary
Ginger Black pepper Paprika Garlic powder

You can easily recreate this simply by mixing the dry spices together and rubbing them onto the meat before you quickly sear it, or add them to your marinade.


You can also help prevent the formation of toxic heterocyclic amines (HCAs) by adding blueberries or cherries to your burgers. HCAs form when food is cooked at high temperatures, and they're linked to cancer. In terms of HCA, the worst part of the meat is the blackened section, which is why you should always avoid charring your meat, and never eat blackened sections.


Which Herbs and Spices are the Most Potent Disease Preventers?
see at http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/04/9-healing-herbs-and-how-to-use-them-in-your-cooking.aspx


To boost your immune system (see link for specific info):
Licorice, Turmeric, Black Pepper, Oregano


To reduce inflammation, and treat inflammatory and infectious conditions (see link for specific info):
Turmeric, Cloves, Nutmeg. Ginger, Peppermint, Cinnamon


To boost mental health and/or reduce anxiety (see link for specific info):
Nutmeg, Natural salt


More on the benefits of turmeric & cinnamon at the link
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/04/9-healing-herbs-and-how-to-use-them-in-your-cooking.aspx

[yellerpup]

1. What great information!

Adding herbs and spice to your diet has benefits far beyond pleasure. This is a good map to learn how you can be healthier and eat better at the same time. Super! Thanks. :hug:

[Phentex]

2. Don't have many recipes with tumeric...

other than soups and stews. I'll have to branch out!


Thanks for the info.

[tigereye]

3. great article, thanks!

Spices are so wonderful. But the idea of cherries and blueberries in burgers is quite amusing- that is something I've never seen - even though I love fruit in pretty much any dish... :D