3 Delicious Spices to Heal Your Body

Do you eat for fuel or do you eat for fun? I like to think you can have it all when you cook with garlic, ginger and turmeric.

Don’t fuel disease, fight it with these 3 Healing Spices:

1. Garlic

According to the National Cancer Institute, garlic is among the leading natural food sources and can fight against many varieties of cancer cells. With photochemical allicin, garlic aids in the production of cancer fighting enzymes in the body, and has shown to decrease the risk of colon cancer by nearly 50%.

Both topically and when ingested, garlic is a powerful antibiotic and can radically deter the spread of infection. History has shown that the antibacterial and antiviral properties of garlic are among its most recognized health benefits. Recently, garlic has been used to treat infection by the bacterium Pseudonomas aeruginosa on the skin of burn patients.

Here is a short list of just a few (of the many) things garlic can do for your health:

lower cholesterol
strengthen immune system

deters tumor growth
loosens arterial plaque and buildup
antioxidant which scavenges free radicals

regulates blood sugar and pressure
promotes respiratory health

2. Ginger

Much like garlic, ginger is a powerful antioxidant root with a strong bite, both in taste and health benefits. Once one of the most expensive spices in the world, ginger is now widely available and affordable because of its heartiness and ability to grow year round.

Ginger is a warming spice and encourages circulation of oxygen throughout the body. High doses of ginger can promote sweating which is an excellent way to rid the body of harmful toxins or bacteria that can cause colds.

Some refer to ginger as a blood tonic with an ability to purify the bloodstream. It increases energy production from the heart and inhibits the long sequence of events that can cause blood clots.

Here are more reasons to jump on the ginger train:

reduces nausea

cancer fighting
anti-fungal, antiseptic, antibacterial
reduces swelling

increases digestion
pain reliever
anti-arthritis

Turmeric:

Turmeric may not be as familiar to you as ginger and garlic but it is one of nature’s most powerful healers and can be used in much the same way. Similar to ginger in shape, turmeric has been used for centuries in Asian and Indian cuisine, medicine, and even as a potent dye in clothing and paints.

Turmeric’s healthy power comes primarily from a key ingredient know as curcumin, a natural phenol, which gives turmeric its bright yellow color. Frequent use of turmeric has proven effective in lowering rates of breast, lung, prostate, and colon cancers.

New study shows that this spice may have incredible influence on genetic mutations apart from cancer, like cystic fibrosis. Mice with the mutation were given high doses of turmeric and showed vast improvements in protein function and reduced the accumulation of mucus.

Here are even more benefits of this bright spice:

detoxifies the liver
reduces the progression of Alzheimer’s
anti-inflammatory

aids in weight management
natural pain killer
treats skin conditions and melanoma

The good news is all 3 of these spices are readily available in supermarkets at reasonable cost and the variety of dishes which feature their flavor are easy and abundant.

Garlic, ginger and turmeric add great flavor to foods and can have extremely powerful health benefits like disease prevention and healing. There is a reason more and more health stores stock their shelves with these spices in supplement form – they are extremely good for you!

Sources:

http://nstarzone.com/FOURSPICES.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=72
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=60
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=78