Herbs for Your Health: Top 5 Antioxidants Herbs and Spices

by Rajeev Sahadevan
Posted: Dec 09, 2015

There are many herbs and spices around the corner that comes with beneficial plant compounds which are excellent for the body. But here are 5 top antioxidants herbs and spices that work wonders on your body.

Cayenne

Capsaicin is an oily component that is found in cayenne and its other pepper relatives which is a prominent content in many OTC ointments and creams. It is also a ready ingredient in patches that are used for curing arthritis and muscle pain. Cayenne works as an anti-inflammatory agent and antioxidant so make sure you include it lavishly in your soup or salad. This is because cayenne has the capacity to shrink the blood vessel in the nose which will relieve you of congestion. It boosts your metabolism level and helps the body to burn unwanted calories within couple of hours after you eat. Cayenne is one of the foods that increase the digestive fire in Ayurveda which helps in assisting a healthy digestive gut. As a matter of fact, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published based on a study that people who are dealing with diabetes consumed chili pepper that balanced their blood sugar levels.

Cinnamon

This is one of the most powerful healing spices that has been used from ages not just to improve the blood sugar level in people but fopr many other reasons. Taking 1/2 to 1/4 tsp of cinnamon powder can lower the level of triglycerides and total cholesterol levels by 12-30%. Cinnamon is a wonder spice when it comes to inhibiting blood clots in the body due to its content called the polyphenols that assists in eliminating chances of heart diseases, brain strokes and many more. The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of cinnamon that alleviates any pain in the intestinal area.

Coriander

Also known as Chinese parsley, coriander seeds is a staple herb in Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican and Indian cooking. These seeds have been used for thousands of years for proper digestion. Make a strong tea from the crushed seeds and strain them before drinking. This is one of the wondrous herbs that works excellently for IBS, intestinal spasms that can often lead to diarrhea, if left neglected. Many studies conclude the fact that even the essential oils of coriander have the power to fight bacteria. Just like cinnamon, coriander has the power to fight cholesterol levels and acts as an antioxidant which is more when used as cilantro leaves.

Garlic

The pungent odor from the garlic are the result of a component called allicin which is a sulfur compound that is responsible for many medicinal benefits in the body. Did you know that garlic when consumed daily can lower the risks of heart disease by 76% and lowers cholesterol levels. Since it is a natural blood thinner, make sure to consult your doctor before consuming garlic regularly especially if you are under any medication. The antioxidant feature of garlic corrects the body in many ways and also wards off cancerous cells especially in the stomach and colorectal cancer. Garlic also helps in chucking out carcinogens that can mess up the DNA cells and give an easy entry to cancer cells. An absolute anti-fungal and antibacterial food, garlic is best when it comes to dealing with yeast infections, sinus and common cold.

Ginger

Part of Asian and Indian food culture that has been going on for centuries, ginger is one of the prominent digestive aid when it comes to balancing a right digestive system. In fact today's researchers are wondering about ginger's ability to fight inflammation. There are many studies that show that ginger when combined with turmeric can alleviate pain or swelling in the body especially those dealing with arthritis. It is also a wonder drug against spreading cancerous cells as it prevents the growth of cancer in the body. Ginger has nausea stopping effect and when combined with lemon can boost the energy levels to a great extent.