Spices are known to have several health benefits; that make traditional indian home-cooked food one of the healthiest meals eaten around the world.
- Ajwain: Ajwain is common in Indian food. It has a strong, bitter taste with an aroma similar to thyme. Many of the essential oils in ajwain, most notably thymol and carvacrol, can help to fight the growth of bacteria and fungi. Ajwain can provide relief from coughing as well as clear mucus from your nose, both of which make breathing easier. Ajwain can also help to soothe pain and swelling.
2. Black Pepper: Black pepper is rich in a plant compound called piperine, which test-tube studies have found to have potent antioxident properties. Black pepper, which comes from the Sanskrit word pippali, was once known as black gold. Piperine is a natural alkaloid that gives black pepper its pungent taste. It is also the main component that gives black pepper its health-boosting qualities. Piperine is considered a type of antioxidant that helps to lower the risk of chronic illnesses like atherosclerosis, and neurological conditions.
3. Black Cumin: Black seed is a plant. People have used the seed to make medicine for over 2000 years. Black seed has been used for headache, toothace, nasal congestion, and intestinal worms. It has also been used for “pink eye”, pockets of infection(abscesses), and parasites. black seed is used for treating digestive tract conditions including gas, colic, diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, and hemorrhoids. It is also used for respiratory conditions including asthama, allergies, cough, bronchitis, flu, swine flue, and congestion.
4. Cumin: Cumin is a leafy plant that grows low to the ground in China, India, the Middle East. Cumin appears to have the ability to keep cancer cells from multiplying, according to some experiments. An extract of cumin seeds was given to rats that were experiencing diarrhea. The oil extracted from cumin seeds has been used as an effective larvicide and antiseptic agent. A hypolipidemic is a substance that helps your body control high levels of fats that hurt your heart and cholesterol levels. Cumin is considered to have hypolipidemic properties.
5. Clove: Clove oil is used to kill parasites and repel insects as it contains eugenol, a powerful germicide, as well as caryophyllene, which has antimicrobial properties. Clove oil is perhaps best known as a remedy for toothace and dental pain. clove oil, and specifically the constituent eugenol, shows advantages over potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, and other chemical food preservatives in terms of antimicrobial activity, safety, and aroma, making it worthy of consideration as a substitute food preservative.
6. Coriader: Coriander plants are entirely edible, but their leaves and their seeds are most commonly used as herbs and spices. Coriander leaves and seeds are full of vitamin K, which plays an important role in helping your blood clot. Coriander is full of antioxidents which are important for fighting free radicals in your body. The herb acts as a diuretic, which can help flush extra sodium from your system and reduce your blood pressure. Early research also suggests that coriander can help lower bad LDL cholestrol, reducing your risk of atherosclerosis, a form of coronary heart disease.
7. Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a spice that people rely on when making everything from apple pie to French toast. cinnamon is used as a remedy for diabetes, indigestion, and colds, and can help balance a person’s kapha. Studies have found that taking cinnamon can help lower blood sugar. Cinnamon’s characteristic flavor and aroma come from a compound in the essential oil called cinnamaldehyde. Cinnamaldehyde is known to exert antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that may help treat certain metabolic, infectious, digestive, or respiratory disorders.
8. Fennel: Indians are food lovers and for post-food refreshment, their love for fennel seeds (Saunf) is not unknown. Fennel seeds contain a specific aromatic essential oil that possesses antibacterial properties that help to freshen your breath. Fennel seeds contain anethole, fenchone and estragole that act as antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory. They work wonderfully for constipation, indigestion and bloating. These seeds are rich in potassium that regulates the fluid amount in the bloodstream. It helps to control your heart rate and blood pressure.
9. Fenugreek: Fenugreek is an herb that has culinary and industrial uses, but also has been used in traditional and alternative medicine. Fenugreek seed tea or fenugreek seed pills are popular folk remedies for stimulating increased breast milk production. These seeds and tea have been traditionally used for menstrual cramps. the use of fenugreek for increasing testosterone levels is very limited, it’s purported that compounds called furostanolic saponins can help stimulate testosterone production.
10. Nutmeg: A spice that is commonly used in the preparation of various dishes across various cuisines, nutmeg is valued for its sweet aroma. Just a few drops of the this oil on the affected area can treat inflammation, swelling, joint pain, muscle pain and sores. you should add a pinch of nutmeg to a glass of warm milk and have it before sleeping. if you are suffering from digestive issues such as diarrhoea, constipation, bloating or gas, a home remedy is to grate a pinch of nutmeg in your soups and stews, and have it.
