
Spices
Topic summary contributed by volunteer(s): Jordan
Spices have been used in medicine for thousands of years. Spices may provide multiple benefits to improve chronic health issues such as cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and even improve your overall mood. Today, researchers are discovering the ability of phytonutrients in spices such as ginger, rosemary, cilantro and turmeric to act as dietary restriction mimetics, multi-purpose drugs, chemopreventive agents and angiogenesis inhibitors, all which may help in the prevention and development of cancer. 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 most antioxidant-packed food by weight is cloves (see also here). 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. Cayenne pepper could help with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Chronic Indigestion and may also help boost the fat burning properties of brown adipose tissue. Ginger may even help cure migraines. Spices may also replace common household supplements to aid in insomnia, improve muscle strength and even remove plaque better than typical mouthwash.
Curcumin, the yellow pigment found in turmeric, has the greatest potential for acting as a multipurpose drug in treating and preventing Alzheimer’s Disease, a variety of cancers such as skin cancer, pancreatic and colon cancer, osteoarthritis, MGUS and multiple myeloma, and for improving artery function (see also here).
However there is still a risk of toxicity and side effects from over consuming spices such as turmeric, nutmeg and tarragon.
The information on this page has been compiled from the research presented in the videos listed. Sources for each video can be found by going to the video’s page and clicking on the Sources Cited tab.
Image Credit: Pixabay. This image has been modified.
Popular Videos for Spices


Which Spices Fight Inflammation?
An elegant experiment is described in which the blood of those eating different types of...
Back to Our Roots: Curry and Cancer
Dramatically lower cancer rates in India may in part be attributable to their more plant-based,...
Benefits of Fenugreek Seeds
The spice fenugreek appears to significantly improve muscle strength and weightlifting power output, while possessing...
Carcinogen-Blocking Effects of Turmeric
Less than a teaspoon a day of turmeric appears to significantly lower the DNA-mutating ability...
Boosting the Bioavailability of Curcumin
Dietary strategies, including the use of black pepper (piperine), can boost blood levels of curcumin...
Don’t Eat Too Much Nutmeg
The spice nutmeg may have a relatively narrow margin of safety.
Ground Ginger to Reduce Muscle Pain
There have been at least eight randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of ginger for pain.
Benefits of Garlic Powder for Heart Disease
See what a penny a day worth of garlic powder can do.All Videos for Spices
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Does Coffee Inhibit Iron Absorption? What Are the Effects of Having Too Much Iron?
Coffee and common herbal teas impair iron absorption, which may help explain some of their benefits.
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Dr. Greger in the Kitchen: Groatnola
Dr. Greger whips up another of his go-to breakfast meals.
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The Best Diet for Fibromyalgia and Other Chronic Pain Relief
Anti-inflammatory diets can be effective in alleviating chronic pain syndromes.
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The Benefits of Fenugreek for Preventing and Treating Diabetes
The spice fenugreek contains 4-hydroxyisoleucine, a peculiar amino acid that may explain its benefits for controlling blood sugar.
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Blocking the Cancer Metastasis Enzyme MMP-9 with Beans and Chickpeas
Which legumes are best at inhibiting the matrix metalloproteinase enzymes that allow cancer to become invasive?
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Which Foods Are Anti-Inflammatory?
Foods that reduce inflammation. What does an anti-inflammatory diet look like?
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Ochratoxin in Certain Herbs, Spices, and Wine
Most food crops are contaminated with fungal mycotoxins, but some foods are worse than others.
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Fasting for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
More than half of IBS sufferers appear to have a form of atypical food allergy.
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Benefits of Cumin and Saffron for Weight Loss
The spice cumin can work as well as orlistat, the “anal leakage” obesity drug.
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Exploiting Sensory-Specific Satiety for Weight Loss
How can we use sensory-specific satiety to our advantage?