Herbs and Spices for Health Benefits

You know that herbs and spices make the food taste. Use it to flavor foods without added salt, sugar, and fat. Using herbs and spices allows you to meet today's dietary guidelines. It gives you more reasons to season and spice up your taste and health.

Emerging evidence suggests that herbs and spices have phytonutrients which can really help to maintain health and prevent disease. Spices and herbs are derived from plants. They contain the same properties of fruits and vegetables. They are rich in antioxidant levels comparable to fruits and vegetables and is included in many of today's popular "super food."

Look carefully and note that ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon contains antioxidants that many ½ cup raspberries, strawberries or, or ½ cup pomegranate juice. USDA database included Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) of the antioxidant levels of certain herbs and spices. When spices and dried herbs they become more concentrated source of natural antioxidants.

Antioxidants are incredible powerhouses in our bodies. Studies show they provide a variety of benefits, including supporting the immune system. They also may play a role in reducing inflammation, which is increasingly recognized as the first step in many chronic diseases.

Serving Size ORAC

Cinnamon, ground 1 tsp 6956

Pomegranate juice 8 oz 5853

Blueberries ½ cup 4843

Cranberries ½ cup 4792

Oregano, dried 1 tsp 3602

Milk Chocolate 1 bar 3595

Turmeric, ground 1 tsp 3504

Cinnamon, ground ½ tsp 3478

Raspberries ½ cup 3002

Strawberries ½ cup 2969

Sweet cherries ½ cup 2322

Oregano, dried ½ tsp 1801

Turmeric, ground ½ tsp 1752

Asparagus ½ cup 1441

Almonds 1 oz 1263

Red cabbage ½ cup 1002

Curry powder 1 tsp 970

Red Grapes ½ cup 951

Kiwifruit 1 medium 670

Green pepper ½ cup 688

Broccoli ½ cup 620

Sweet red pepper ½ cup 589

Ginger, ground 1 tsp 519

Curry powder ½ tsp 485

Spinach 1 cup 455

Thyme 1 tsp 407

Carrots 1 medium 406

Eggplant ½ cup chopped 383

Paprika 1 tsp 376

Rosemary 1 tsp 364

Ginger, ground ½ tsp 259

Tomatoes ½ cup chopped 330

Cantaloupe ½ cup chopped 250

Thyme ½ tsp 204

Herbs and spices are edible and can replace the salt and fat to enhance the flavor of foods without adding a lot of calories. They help prevent the risk of such diseases; hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease and some types of cancer. At least they can wake up your taste-bud experience new flavors.