Nothing excites a chef like a row of spices. Apart from being flavor additives, spices on their own have immense properties that could be considered unique – each spice is distinct. They have proven medical properties too. While one could help during flu, one could help reduce inflammation. Where one spice is a very strong antibiotic, there is another one that could help in reducing stress.
Here are the top five superfood spices for cooking and how they can help us:
1. Turmeric
Turmeric is a rhizome considered holy and sacred in Eastern religious practices. It was used in cooking, preparing medication, and used externally to apply on cuts and bruises. It is a superfood spice for cooking because of the high concentration of curcumin whose medicinal benefits are numerous. From healing simple bruises and cuts, it can also play a significant role in curing arthritis and preventing the spread of cancer. It is also used to reduce inflammation. You can use the fresh root or the dry roots yellowish powder to add color and cure meat.
2. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice that gets its flavor from its oil. It is obtained from the inner bark of a tree. It is a superfood spice for cooking because of the high concentration of cinnamaldehyde. Cinnamon is packed with antioxidants and antimicrobial properties. One of the key health benefits is that cinnamon can diminish the signs of resistance to insulin, thereby helping a diabetic to respond better to insulin. It reduces the risk of heart attack, cholesterol, and benefits people with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. If you think of its use in food, it adds loads of flavor to curries, desserts, meat preparations, and smoothies.
3. Black pepper
Called the queen of spices, pepper is obtained from a vine as a fruit and dried fruit is known as a peppercorn. The raw fruit is green and the ripe is red. They contain phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fiber. The essential oil in pepper contains piperine, can help relieve muscle pain and helps relieve problems with digestion. It can stimulate blood circulation. When it comes to cooking, it is used mostly as a seasoning in soups and is used to enhance flavor in curries and meat dishes. Pepper is used extensively in soups if someone has the flu, cough, or cold. Some cuisines use green pepper for picking purposes.
4. Cloves
Cloves have tremendous therapeutic properties and are a concentration of antioxidants. They contain vitamin K, fiber, and magnesium and have anti-inflammatory properties. It is used to make spice powder, in desserts, and is frequently added in rice and meat preparations.
5. Cayenne pepper
This is a chili pepper from South America, closely related to bell peppers and jalapeno. Capsaicin is the substance that makes cayenne pepper a superfood spice for cooking. It also contains vitamin B6, vitamin C, minerals, and flavonoids. The cayenne pepper powder is obtained from dried and powdered pepper. It serves as an analgesic and is used in creams that treat osteoarthritis. It helps with pain management. It is useful in treating nerve pain, post-surgery pain, lower back pain, and diabetic neuropathy.