5 Spices for a Healthy Heart

The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food"?

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice extracted from the inner bark of cinnamon trees. While cinnamon sticks are often found in mulled or mulled wine, they are often used in powdered form in both sweet and savory dishes.The history of cinnamon dates back to 2000 BC. An oily compound called cinnamaldehyde has a unique aroma and taste, as well as many health benefits. In a recent study of 60 men and women with type 2 diabetes, half a teaspoon of cinnamon fasting daily for 40 days reduced blood sugar, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol.

Pepper

Peppers (Capsicum annuum) are a popular spice in Mexican, Cajun, Creole, and Asian cuisine—sometimes fresh, but more often in dried powder or flour form. When it comes to heat, chiles are considered medium-hot peppers—hotter than jalape?os but cooler than habaneros. Hot peppers contain ingredients like vitamin C, potassium and capsaicin that are responsible for many of the calories and health benefits. Circulation is probably the first thing that comes to mind when considering the cardiovascular health benefits of chili peppers. But how to improve blood circulation? Research shows that it can work in several ways. Studies show that its ingredients can lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol.

Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a plant cultivated worldwide and is believed to have originated in Siberia. Garlic bulbs from the garlic plant are used for cooking in the form of whole cloves, chopped/sliced, pressed/cleaned, juice or powder. Garlic is one of the most popular kitchen spices and one of the most researched spices in the world. More than 100 phytochemicals have been identified in garlic, the most well-known of which is the sulfur-containing compound allicin.

Allicin and other sulfur compounds are also found in garlic relatives, including onions and leeks. These health-promoting sulfur compounds are created when garlic cloves are chopped, crushed or chewed. Many studies have found that garlic can lower blood lipids, especially total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. One study found that a dose equivalent to one clove of garlic was not enough to produce results, while another 10 studies showed that four cloves of garlic a day showed results. Another study found that garlic works better when mixed with a spoonful of lemon juice.

Ginger

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) was originally cultivated in Southeast Asia and spread westward during the spice trade. Ginger root is used in savory dishes in Indian and Asian cuisine and is often used in desserts in Western cuisine - gingerbread, gingerbread, ginger ale/ginger beer, Moscow mole and pumpkin pie. Ginger root can be sliced, diced, juiced, pickled and candied, but it is most commonly used in powdered form.

A review of 12 studies found the best results with 2 grams of ginger, including an average 38-point decrease in triglycerides and a 12-point decrease in total cholesterol. Two grams of ground ginger is one teaspoon. Other studies in type 2 diabetes have found that ginger lowers fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c (an indicator of long-term blood sugar control). High triglyceride, cholesterol and blood sugar levels are risk factors for heart disease.

Turmeric

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) belongs to the ginger family – the Zingiberaceae family – and is native to tropical India and Southeast Asia. It is widely used in cooking in the Indian subcontinent.The curcuminoids in turmeric offer many of the health benefits found in foods from the Indian subcontinent – mainly related to their anti-inflammatory effects. Turmeric contains many antioxidant compounds that are not destroyed by cooking. Some studies have looked at turmeric for reducing the risk of heart disease. One study found that 2.4 grams (about 1? teaspoon) of turmeric for four days lowered LDL cholesterol.

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