If you are looking for something spicy and delicious, you cannot forget the common Indian spices. There are five of the best spices you can find worldwide: paprika, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and garam masala, a combination of different exotic whole spices.
These Indian spices are also the most known worldwide for their flavour, giving everyone a delicious taste of curry or the flavour commonly known as masala. Combining these spices in different forms, such as whole spices, roasted spices, powder, seeds, and many more, can benefit and enhance the taste of your meals. The quantity of each Spice differs in each dish.
It is a common myth that when someone adds these spices, the calorie intake and the oil content in the dishes are high, but this is completely wrong as the spices can be added to elevate the taste of your dish. On the other hand, it provides many nutritional values.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dry ginger, ajowan, and asafoetida had high calcium (1.0-1.5%) and iron (54-62 mg/100 g) levels. The tannin content of spices was also high (0.9-1.3% DM). Dietary fibre ranged from 14% to 53%. Spices had appreciable amounts of essential amino acids like lysine and threonine. Keep on reading to know more!
5 Health Benefits Of Common Indian Spices To Know
1. Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
Turmeric is known as "golden spice" and offers many health benefits. Its active compound, curcumin, is renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory properties, which have been studied extensively for their role in managing chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases. Additionally, curcumin acts as a powerful antioxidant, scavenging free radicals and protecting cells from oxidative damage, thus potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and certain cancers. You can find various evidence of the same in the study "Turmeric, the Golden Spice".
2. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum or Cinnamomum cassia)
Cinnamon has a primary health-promoting compound, cinnamaldehyde. The study "Cinnamon: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant - PMC - NCBI" shows cinnamaldehyde has ability to improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels. Making it particularly beneficial for individuals with diabetes or those at risk of developing the condition. Moreover, cinnamon exhibits antimicrobial properties, which may also help combat various bacterial and fungal infections. You can have this versatile spice on oatmeal, baked goods, or infused into teas; incorporating cinnamon into your diet.
3. Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
The study "The effect of Elettaria cardamomum (cardamom)-NCBI" shows thats its carminative properties are beneficial. Cardamom alleviates digestive discomfort such as bloating, gas, and indigestion, promoting overall gastrointestinal health. The research also suggests that cardamom may have antimicrobial properties, which could help combat various bacterial and fungal infections with inflammatory conditions like arthritis. The spice also has really strong flavour, few of it can highly make the taste different of any dish.
4. Cumin (Cuminum cyminum)
One of its primary health-promoting properties is its ability to aid digestion by stimulating the secretion of digestive enzymes. It helps facilitate food breakdown and reduces gastrointestinal discomfort, such as bloating and gas. Additionally, cumin contains compounds with potential antimicrobial properties. It also helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and certain cancers. The study "Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) from traditional uses to potential biomedical applications", goes through all these benefits statistically to look at.
5. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Ginger also offers many health benefits, making it a valuable addition to any diet. The study "Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginger in Health and Physical Activity: Review of Current Evidence" shows that the primary active compound, gingerol, is well-known for its anti-nausea effects. It is a popular remedy for alleviating nausea and vomiting associated with morning sickness during pregnancy, motion sickness, and chemotherapy. Whether fresh, dried or powdered, using ginger in your cooking can give you potential health benefits.
Now that you know how healthy spices can be, why hold back your taste? Try all these spices and have a delicious meal.