spices
Plant based spices have been used in medicine for thousands of years, and their use continues today. Saffron has been found to be just as effective in the treatment of Alzheimer’s as the leading drug Aricept (see here, here). Black pepper has been found to be potentially protective against cancer and inflammation. Combining black pepper with turmeric boosts the bioavailability; this illustrates why diversity in the diet is very important.
Drinking green tea every day may increase our lifespan. And chai tea has all the benefits of tea but also incorporates cloves and cinnamon, which makes it one of the healthiest beverages.
The healthiest food by weight is cloves. Cinnamon, oregano, lemonbalm, and majoram are also excellent sources of antioxidants (see also here, here, here, here). A yummy pumpkin pie is an excellent way to incorporate cloves and cinnamon into your diet.
See also the related blog post: Can antioxidant-rich spices counteract the effects of a high-fat meal?
Topic summary contributed by Denise.
To help out on the site, email volunteer@nutritionfacts.org
Watch videos about spices
-
Antioxidant Content of 3,139 FoodsIn the most extensive study of its kind ever published, the amount of anti-aging anticancer antioxidants is measured across thousands of different foods.
-
Oxalates in CinnamonHow much turmeric and cinnamon is too much?
-
The Healthiest BeverageA recipe for making the healthiest beverage even healthier
-
Healthy Pumpkin PieRecipe for incorporating antioxidant-packed spices into one's diet.
-
Superfood BargainsRanking foods by antioxidants per dollar spent.
-
Antioxidant Content of 300 FoodsRanking foods by antioxidants per serving.
-
New Antioxidant SuperstarsRanking foods by antioxidants per unit weight.
-
Is Black Pepper Bad For You?Does ground pepper have inflammatory or anti-inflammatory effects in the body?
