Spices Heal

Spices heal!  It’s as simple as that.  Before companies began formulating medications to assist the body with healing or pain, this was done naturally by using spices.   So why not utilize these spices to assist to decrease the inflammation in or bodies from the training you endure daily or the injuries you may be dealing with.

I put together a list of the common spices you can find and use in your everyday cooking to assist with decreasing the inflammation in your body from the daily training that you do.  Enjoy!

Himalayan Sea Salt

• Contains over 84 minerals and trace elements, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, and iron.
• Since it contains sodium as well as other electrolytes, it has a direct effect on the pH of your blood.
• Has been said to encourage better, more restful sleep due to its high mineral content
• Improves absorption of nutrients from food
• Reduces muscle cramping

Turmeric Powder

• Active ingredient: curcumin
• Curcumin is rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions that is has been shown to protect and improve the health of virtually every organ in the body.
• Has been found to be more effective than pharmaceutical drugs.
• More effective in reducing inflammation that over-the-counter ibuprofen and as effective as Celebrex

Fresh Cracked Pepper

• Rich in piperine, which works together with Turmeric
• Jumpstarts digestion by speeding up the time it takes for food to move through the digestive tract
• Piperine reduces compounds known to worsen inflammation.

Dried Oregano

• Great healing properties as well as decreasing systemic inflammation

Dried Basil

• Has anti-stress effects, normalizing levels of cortisol, lowering blood sugar, and decreasing creatine kinase.
• Basil has a compound called eugenol. Eugenol works by blocking cyclooxygenase, the pain-triggering enzymes also blocked by NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.

Dried Parsley

• Contains apigenin, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

Dried Rosemary

• Powerful antioxidant
• Contains nutrients that can help fight inflammation
• Used to treat arthritis pain

Smoked Paprika

• High amounts of antioxidants
• Contains Vitamin A which decreases inflammation
• Treats anemia by creating hemoglobin in the blood
• Contains Vitamin B which helps in the production of melatonin, which aids in maintaining a normal sleeping cycle. It also stimulates serotonin and norepinephrine levels.

Information above was taken from Healing Spices by Bharat. B Aggarwal, PhD.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for general information and education purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.  Accordingly, before taking actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate medical professionals.  The use or reliance of any information contained in this article is solely at your own risk.