How Do Spices Affect the Body?

Not only can traditional Indian spices flavour your food, increase the heat of your dishes and add some colour to wow your guests, but they can have a profound effect on your body’s health, too. From aiding in weight loss to soothing symptoms of indigestion, these five household spices are absolutely packed with properties that can help with your eyesight, inflammations and mild pain. You’ll probably already have these organic spices in your food cupboard, but if not you can find them in our online store here. Want to know more? Then read on…

Turmeric

Turmeric - the distinctive yellow spice - contains an active ingredient called curcumin. This antioxidant is great for easing inflammation and mild pain. Tonnes of research has gone into the benefits of turmeric, which shows that eating small amounts can help to slow down, or even prevent, the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

Chilli Powder

Chilli powder is packed with vitamin A; just one tablespoon contains around 9% of your daily vitamin A needs. This helps to improve eyesight and can also make it easier for our eyes to shift from light areas to dark areas very quickly, a term known as night-time blindness. There are so many other health benefits too. Chilli powder can help settle an upset stomach and soothe acid reflux. It can increase metabolism too, which is great for weight loss as you’ll burn fat quicker. Chilli powder also contains vitamin C, which works to heal injuries and infections.

Ginger

Originating from China, ginger is well-known for relieving nausea, particularly when it comes to sickness during pregnancy and chemotherapy. Stir a spoonful of ginger into hot water and drink up for instant relief. Ginger can also help with muscle pain caused by exercise. Studies show it’s particularly effective in reducing day-to-day muscle pain, and the antioxidant properties can be beneficial in fighting joint pain, too. Lastly, ginger offers great relief against indigestion.

Cardamom

Cardamom is great for people who have high blood pressure, thanks to its antioxidant and diuretic effects. It’s also got loads of cancer-busting properties - cardamom increases the activity of cancer-fighting enzymes which can definitely help sufferers. Cardamom can also fight inflammations, particularly when it comes to the heart. And if you’re suffering from flatulence or stomach cramps, try taking a spoonful to ease the symptoms.

Cumin

First and foremost, cumin is a fantastic source of iron, which helps with a child’s growth and helps the body to produce your all-important red blood cells. One teaspoon contains 17.5% of your recommended daily dosage. However, the most common use of cumin is to help with indigestion, as it speeds up normal digestion by increasing the activity of your body’s digestive enzymes. This can potentially help you to lose weight or ease the symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn. If you suffer from IBS, cumin can help as it increases the release of bile from the liver. This helps to digest fat and releases key, healthy nutrients from your stomach.