8 of the World's Healthiest Spices. Spices to save your life.
Modern science is beginning to uncover the ultimate power of spices and herbs, as weapons against illnesses from cancer to Alzheimer’s disease. “We’re now starting to see a scientific basis for why people have been using spices medicinally for thousands of years,” says Bharat Aggarwal, Ph.D., professor at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and author of the upcoming Healing Spices (Sterling, January 2011). Aggarwal notes that in his native India, where spices tend to be used by the handful, incidence of diet-related diseases like heart disease and cancer have long been low. But when Indians move away and adopt more Westernized eating patterns, their rates of those diseases rise. While science has yet to show that any spice cures disease, there’s compelling evidence that several may help manage some chronic conditions (though it’s always smart to talk with your doctor).
—Joyce Hendley, November/December 2010 Next: 1. About Plantains - Nutrition Facts, Nutritional, Health Benefits And Some Plantains Recipes. More About Plantains Plantains contain considerably more starch, less sugar and lower moisture content than bananas and can be boiled, fried or baked when they are green and unripe.
Like the potato in Europe and the U.S, plantain is the staple food in Africa, Latin America and Asia. That said, it must be understood that there is no clear distinction botanically between plantains and bananas. In some countries the distinction between the plantains and bananas are clear while in other countries the difference is not clear cut.
Most plantains will turn sweet like a desert banana if allowed to ripen long enough but they retain their shape when cooked, even when ripe ,though bananas turn mushy when ripe. Plantains grow in warm tropical climates around the world. The plantain grows to about 10-30 feet tall and has a conical trunk formed by the leaf sheaths of the spirally arranged leaves. In South India, plantain leaves are used as plates to serve traditional dishes. Nutrients In Plantains. Facts About Carbohydrates - Resistant Starch - The Natural Fat Burner - Its Health Benefits - Superfoods For Weight Loss. Facts About Carbohydrates Since decades it has been thought that foods rich in carbohydrates make the body gain weight.
However, new research indicates it is not so. On the contrary, this very carbohydrate rich foods make us slim and keep us thin. So not all carbs are bad! Studies also show that some carb rich foods not only shrink belly fat cells and boost fat burning but also increase muscle mass, curb hunger, keep one satiated, regulate blood sugar and also lower cholesterol and triglycerides etc. The research found that those who were the heaviest ate the least carbs while those who were the slimmest consumed the maximum carbs in the form of hole grains, fruits and vegetables. Goji Berries Or Wolfberries - Facts, Nutritional, Health Benefits And Some Side Effects. Goji Berries Or Wolfberries Goji berries or wolfberries have been termed a superfood and a superfruit because of their nutritive and antioxidant content.
Traditionally whole goji berries or its extracts have been used in folk medicine in China since a long time especially to promote longevity, boost immunity, lower weight, protect the liver and kidneys, improve circulation and improve sexual performance and fertility. For this reason they have also been called the fruit viagra. Goji berries have a mild tangy taste, a mix of mildly sweet and sour taste. Pumpkin And Pumpkin Seeds - Uses, Nutritional And Health Benefits. About Pumpkin Pumpkin is a squash like vegetable belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Though a fruit, not in the conventional sense that we have come to recognize them, it is considered a vegetable. In India, Pumpkin is called Petha Kaddu or Kaddu. Ginkgo Biloba or Maidenhair Tree - Uses And Health Benefits. Health Benefits Of Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo seeds are also called Ginkgo nuts or Bai Guo.
Ginkgo nuts are used in asthma, cough with phlegm, cloudy urine, spermatorrhea, frequent urination, vaginal discharge, acne rosacea, psoriasis, and swelling due to unknown toxins. Did you know? Amazing cinnamon benefits. Kiwi Fruit - Health and Nutritional Benefits. What Is Cholesterol, Its Types And Foods To Boost HDL Cholesterol, The Good Cholesterol. In this section, I am listing some foods that raise HDL cholesterol.
Some of these foods also lower the LDL levels, so that is an added bonus you get when you consume them. Eat More Nuts Walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pistachios and pecans contain heart healthy unsaturated fats. These can be consume raw, baked or lightly toasted as per your preference. Nuts can also be added to cereals, yogurt, salads etc. Consume More Fish Fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines are very rich in omega-3 fats again the healthy heart fats. Use These Oils. Paprika Spice - Health And Nutritional Benefits. Varieties Of Paprika Paprika flavors and taste can range from mild to hot.
There are various varieties of paprika like the regular or plain paprika and this is the most often found variety that is sold. Paprika may be of Hungarian, Californian or South American origin and it may also be mixed with cayenne pepper. This variety is neither sweet not hot. Hungarian Paprika : Oregano - Nutritional And Health Benefits. The Oregano Plant The herb bears pink to purple flowers which are produced in erect spikes.
The leaves are olive green in color, shaped shaped and have fine hairs on their surface. The leaves have a taste that ranges from spicy to astringent to sweet. Oregano is a close relative of sweet marjoram and this is why most of the time it is mistaken for sweet marjoram. Charoli Or Chironji - The Indian Medicinal Plant - Its Health Benefits, Nutrients, Uses And Recipes. The seeds of chironji are a delicacy and are used in desserts, bakery and confectionery products.
They are used to thicken sauces and gravies and also to flavor meats. The seeds yield an oil that is comparable to olive and almond oil in their medicinal properties and is also substituted for these oils in the pharmaceutical products. In India a traditional sweet dish called " Chironji Ki Barfi" is made from these seeds and is especially given to newly wed couples.
Mosambi, Sweet Lime, Sweet Lemon Or Citrus limetta And Its Health Benefits. The Mosambi tree is a small tree growing to a height of about 25 feet.
The branches are smooth, branch irregularly and bear numerous thorns. It bears fragrant white flowers and the unripe green fruit turns to yellow on ripening. Passion Fruit - Nutrition And Health Benefits. The Natural Sweetener Stevia Plant And Its Health Benefits. About Stevia Stevia is a genus of about 240 plants, herbs and shrubs, belonging to the sunflower family, Asteraceae.
These plants are native to South America Central America and Mexico. Some common names for stevia are : sugar leaf, sweet leaf, honey leaf etc. In India, it is called "meethi patti' meaning sweet leaf. Stevia plant is mainly grown for its sweet leaves and being a natural sweetener, stevia is a healthy replacement for chemical sweeteners like splenda, aspartame and saccharine, even the common table sugar.
Sadabahar, Periwinkle Plant Or Vinca Rosea - Health Benefits and Uses. Latin name : Cantharanthus roseus, formerly Vinca rosea or Lochnera rosea. The Health Benefits Of Cranberries And Cranberry Juice. Cranberries are scarlet red, glossy skinned and extremely tart berries that belong to the plant Vaccinium macrocarpon. Also called American cranberry and the trailing swamp cranberry, the cranberry plant is a vine like plant having about 2 meters long stem from which grow 2-8 inch tall upright branches that produce leaves and deep pink hued blooms.
Pollination of the flowers is by honey bees. The blooms give way to raw white cranberries which turn a deep red color when fully ripe. Cranberries have a certain sweetness to them that is masked by their extreme tartness. Cranberries in the wild are found to grow in acidic swamps, in the cooler climates of the Northern hemisphere. Sahjan Or Moringa oleifera - Nutrition And Health Benefits. All parts of the tree have been traditionally used for medicinal purposes, both in Ayurveda and Siddha forms of medicine. The wood pulp is used for making paper for wrapping, newsprint, printing and writing and the pulp is also suitable for textiles and cellophane manufacturing. The immature pods of the moringa are edible. Infact, almost all parts, the pods seeds , leaves and flowers, are all edible. The seeds also yield 30-40% by weight of an edible oil, called Ben oil that is nutritionally equal to olive oil, is sweet and odorless and never goes rancid.
Ben oil can also be used as a bio fuel, for lubricating fine machinery and in the manufacture of perfume and hair care products. The seed cake can be used as a fertilizer or to purify water. The leaves can be eaten as greens in salads in curries, pickles, etc.They can also be dried and eaten. The leaves and young branches are also used as fodder for livestock.The bark is used for tanning and also yields fiber. Bathua, Lambs Quarters Or Chenopodium album - Nutrition And Health Benefits. Latin Name : Chenopodium album. Indian Name : Bathua or Bathuwa. Rasbhari, Cape Gooseberries Or Golden Berries - Nutrition, Health Benefits, Recipes And More.
Saffron Or Kesar - Health Benefits And More Of This Most Expensive Spice. Nutritional And Health Benefits Of Dandelion And Dandelion Tea & Coffee. Health Benefits Of Lotus Roots Or Stem, Seeds, Leaves And Flowers. What Is A Detox Drink? Some Home Made Detox Drinks. What Is Water Chestnut, Water Caltrop Or Singhara And What Are Its Health Benefits? Loquat Tropical Fruit.
Latin Name : Eriobotrya japonica. The Health Benefits Of Chikoo (Chickoo) Or Sapodilla Fruit. About The Chikoo Tree Latin Name : Manilkara zapota The English name for is sapodilla, noseberry, mudapples etc. In India, it is called chickoo, sapota among other names. The Chickoo tree is native to Southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. It is a moderately tall tree in cultivation growing to about 30 to 50 feet in height with widely branching stem and branches. The chickoo tree needs a tropical climate to grow and cannot survive freezing temperatures. The Nutritional And Health Benefits Of Pine Nuts And Pine Nut Oil. All About Mushrooms - Types, Facts, Tips, Uses, Recipes, Nutritional And Health Benefits. White or Button (Agaricus bisporus) A creamy white to pale tan color, these mushrooms have a firm texture and delicate flavor. All About Mushrooms - Types, Facts, Tips, Uses, Recipes, Nutritional And Health Benefits. Why Is Brown Rice Healthy? The Nutritional And Health Benefits Of Brown Rice.
The Nutritional And Health Benefits Of Kidney Beans. The Health Benefits Of Sweetsop, Sugar Apple, Custard Apple Or Sitaphal. The Indian Bay Leaf - An Indian Spice And Its Health Benefits. The Nutritional And Health Benefits Of Barley, Barley Water And Barley Tea. Butea monosperma, Flame Of the Forest Or Palash Tree - Some Uses And Health Benefits. The Nutritional And Health Benefits Of Poppy Seeds Or Khus Khus. Gulkand And The Benefits Of Gulkand.
Nutritional And Health Benefits Of Curry Leaves Or Curry Patta. Nutritional And Health Benefits Of Mustard Greens And Mustard Seeds. The Many Uses And Health Benefits Of Sugarcane And Sugarcane Juice. What Is Your Circadian Cycle? Health And Nutritional Benefits Of Cabbage. The Health Benefits Of Asparagus Or Shatavari. Health Benefits Of Jackfruit And Nutrition Facts. Understanding Iron deficiency And Pernicious Anaemia. Facts, Health And Nutritional Benefits Of Okra. Health Benefits Of Macadamia Nuts. All About Hummus - Health Benefits Of Hummus. Castor Oil Therapy With Castor Oil Packs. The Common Nettle - Health & Healing From A Disliked Plant! Peanut Health Benefits. Sunflower Seeds Health Benefits. Understanding Iron deficiency And Pernicious Anaemia.