by Dr. Leo Galland
Aromatic, flavorful herbs and spices add to the delicious taste and health benefits of the anti-inflammatory program in The Fat Resistance Diet.
Cooking with these fragrant spices is especially satisfying in winter. Here are some of the superstars:
- Turmeric
This mild Indian spice has been scientifically studied for its protective effects against inflammation. Turmeric’s health benefits and yellow color are due to a group of flavonoids called curcuminoids. Medicinal uses of turmeric include the healing of stomach ulcers and the relief of oxidative, free-radical stress. Turmeric powder is readily available in the spice section of most supermarkets. Add a few shakes of it to soups and stews, or try the recipes in The Fat Resistance Diet.
Read: Turmeric – New Hope for Tendinitis
- Ginger
The tangy taste of ginger adds zest to soups and sauces. Sliced or grated, ginger awakens the flavors of chicken and fish and contains some of the most powerful natural anti-inflammatory substances known. Ginger extracts and teas have been used for arthritis, vertigo, migraine headaches and various digestive problems, especially nausea. Buy ginger either as whole ginger root (refrigerated, in the vegetable isle) or as powder (in the spice section).
Learn: Ginger – Know What Herbs Do What
- Cinnamon, cardamon and cloves
The sweetness of cinnamon blends nicely with almost any food or beverage. We like it in oatmeal, applesauce, yogurt and tea. Powdered cinnamon, about a half teaspoon a day, may prevent diabetes or reduce blood sugar in adults who have diabetes. One study found that cinnamon reduced levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in people with type 2 diabetes.
Our recipe for Slim Chai Tea combines green tea with cinnamon and two other warming winter spices: cardamom and cloves. In experimental studies, cinnamon and cardamom were found to enhance detoxification by the liver. Cloves owe their piquant flavor to eugenol, a potent anti-inflammatory phenolic.
Read: Essential Oils Combat Drug-Resistant Superbugs
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