You May Spice up Food and Boost Health
By Tom Herrin
As we strive to do all that we can to manage our health, it can sometimes be challenging. Staying on top of information that may help us can keep us moving. Anytime we can incorporate things we like with things that may support our health, it makes it a little easier. If you tend to use spices in your foods, which most of us do, you may be able to tweak what you use to help improve your health in certain areas. There is some evidence that the right spices may be just what you need to be just a little bit healthier.
Peppermint May Go a Long Way
Some spices are mild but do just enough to treat a variety of things. Peppermint is often thought of as something that flavors treats. It can be made into teas or added to almost anything you can think of. It is really good for digestive issues, both large and small. It may be the right thing to have to soothe a queasy stomach, but it is also believed to help with bigger digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. Of course, you don't always have to ingest peppermint. It is often used as aromatherapy as the scent alone seems to have some healing properties.
Holy Basil May Be Good for the Immune System
You may have used regular basil, but holy basil is different. It is believed to be helpful in fighting infections by interfering with the growth of many of the organisms that cause disease. According to one study, it may help boost immunity by increasing the production of some of the immune cells in the blood. There has also been some indication that this spice may help blood sugar and stress-related problems.
Cayenne May Heat up Health
Many people use cayenne in dishes. I personally enjoy it in some stews and on pasta dishes. It is also believed to increase metabolism. There is some evidence that it may help to fight some cancers. I have used cayenne capsules to help fight inflammation, and I have had great success. I was using a brace on both knees to help support them because of inflammation. After I had taken it a couple of weeks, my inflammation was gone, and I was able to walk better than I had for quite some time.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in St. Charles, Mo.