Awesome Medicinal Herbs Used In Cooking

Different Types of Spices or Herbs for Cooking
 

Basil

The word basil is derived from the Greek word “basileus” which means “king”. It is an herb belonging to the mint family and often used as a seasoning for food. But you can also get some health benefits using this herb.

Basil

Basil is used to help in various ways such as calming the stomach, for coughs or colds, and headaches as well. It may also be used for stings and bites. There is also some evidence that using basil may help level out blood sugar and may also help stress reduction.

The herb is also most known for its culinary uses. It is heavy in nutrients and light in calories.

Basil is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, potassium, iron and calcium.

Further reading: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266425.php

https://wellnessmama.com/5505/uses-for-basil-leaf/

Cayenne

It is believed that Cayenne pepper is used for both medicine and food for the last 9,000 years.

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne can stimulate the body’s circulation and reduces acidity. Another great benefit that it can offer is by helping digestion such as healing an upset stomach, stop stomach pain, slow intestinal gas and cure diarrhea.

Cayenne pepper can also be used as a natural remedy for cramps. It is also believed that it can prevent heart disease and can lower high cholesterol. Some people also used cayenne pepper to relieve migraine, joint and nerve pain.

You can add cayenne pepper to food naturally or in powdered form. Some people even use it as creams and capsules for them to take advantage of its detoxifying properties.

Cayenne pepper contains vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, manganese, potassium and flavonoids that provide the antioxidant properties.

Further reading: https://draxe.com/cayenne-pepper-benefits/

Ginger

Ginger is a common ingredient in Indian and Asian cuisine. Using ginger as medicinal had also been known for centuries.

Ginger

Some of the known health benefits of ginger includes helping to relieve digestive issues, and as a home remedy for nausea when having cancer treatments or for pregnant women having morning sickness.

Ginger is also good for pain reduction such as reducing pain during menstrual cycle, or reducing muscle pain due to lifting weights. Ginger is also known to reduce inflammation and to treat inflammatory conditions.

Ginger can be taken as an ingredient to flavor foods and drinks, by drinking ginger tea, or by chewing raw ginger.

Ginger contains many other anti-inflammatory & antioxidant compounds. It also provides vitamins and minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, folate, dietary fiber, protein, vitamin C and vitamin B6.

Further reading: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265990.php

Garlic

Garlic is thought as a native herb grown in Siberia and had spread around the world for over 5,000 years ago. Today, garlic is a well known herb which is related to onions, chives and leeks that are used to add flavor in food and beverages. But garlic offers more health benefits than its relatives.

Garlic

Garlic is used for various conditions relating to heart and blood system. Some conditions include low blood pressure, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, coronary heart disease and hardening of the arteries.

It is also used to treat fever, cough, stomach ache, headache, sinus congestion, joint pain, gout, asthma, hemorrhoids, low blood sugar and diarrhea. Some women also used garlic in the vagina for yeast infections.

Garlic can be taken as fresh, powdered, or garlic oil to add flavor in foods and beverages.

Garlic contains manganese, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B1, phosphorus, calcium, copper and selenium.

Further reading: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-300-garlic.aspx?activeingredientid=300

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=60

Turmeric

In America, turmeric is known as a spice and one of the main components of curry powder. It is believed to contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. Many studies have shown that turmeric offers major benefits for the body and brain. It may even be the most effective nutritional supplement.

Turmeric

Turmeric has been used in India for many years as medicinal herb and a spice that gives the curry its yellow color. It is a cousin of ginger which is also a root with deep golden color.

Turmeric contains bioactive compounds called curcuminoids. Curcumin being the main active ingredient of turmeric has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, as well as a strong antioxidant. But in order to experience the full effects, it should be extracted from turmeric that will contain significant amounts of curcumin. Arthritis patients also responded quite well in taking curcumin supplements (source).

Curcumin can also boost brain-derived neurotrophic factor that is linked to improve brain function and can lower the risk of brain diseases. It is also believed that it can lead to many improvements that will lower the risk of heart disease. Turmeric is also a natural anti-inflammatory compound and can also dramatically increase antioxidants of the body.

You can easily find ground turmeric at your local grocery store. One can blend turmeric into smoothies or adding it when making soups. Turmeric also brings warm flavors when cooking curry or stew.

Turmeric contains the B vitamins, with vitamin B6 having the highest content. One tablespoon of turmeric spice includes trace amounts of vitamin C, vitamin K and vitamin E.

Further reading: https://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric/

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