Three spices with amazing health benefits!

May 5, 3:30 PMNY Women's Health ExaminerAmy Capetta

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Garlic can chase away bacteria. (123rf.com)

If you think your spice rack is just for boosting flavor, think again! These grounded additives will pack a powerful health punch to your picnic or barbecue, and can even protect you against summer’s food-borne illnesses! “Spices are teeming with 25,000 plant compounds with significant health benefits,” says Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., CNS, author of The Healthiest Meals on Earth. “Spices are truly the variety of life, nature in all its pungent and aromatic glory!” So the next time you're cooking, why not sprinkle one of these spices into your dishes:

Sprinkle on some...garlic to chase away bacteria!
Add garlic to those chicken cutlets on the grill and you’ll avoid any food-borne illness that could be lurking. “Garlic is one of the oldest medicinal foods on the planet!” says Bowden. “A number of studies have shown that garlic exerts antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.” Bowden also points out that this spice can modestly lower blood pressure, prevent blood clots and decrease risk of stomach and colon cancers—along with keeping vampires at bay, of course!

Sprinkle on some...black pepper to beat bloat!
When the sharp taste of pepper hits your tongue, it immediately signals your brain to produce a special acid that chases away unhealthy bacterial growth, stopping bloating and indigestion before it can start. “Black pepper increases production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, aiding in digestion, since heartburn comes from too little stomach acid,” says Bowden. He further adds that pepper is also recognized for its ability to produce relief from nausea as well as its ability to stimulate the appetite. And research published in the Clinical Laboratory Science reports that compounds in black pepper provide strong protective effects against colon cancer.

Sprinkle on some...ginger to ease an upset stomach!

Mom was right by giving you a glass of ginger ale when you complained of a tummy ache. “It’s one of the most powerful and natural anti-inflammatory used for nausea,” states Suzy Cohen, RPh, author of Drug Muggers. In fact, the USDA actually lists gingerol, the potent ingredient in ginger, as an antimetic—in other words, it has the means to prevent nausea and vomiting! Along the same lines, a study conducted by Phytotherapy Research Laboratory in Salt Lake City showed that ginger was better at relieving motion sickness than Dramamine, and a Danish study found that nearly 95% of pregnant women who consumed ginger experienced relief from morning sickness without any side effects. Ginger can also eliminate arthritic discomfort. “It works similar to Celebrex because it dampens down the expression of COX-2, a pain-causing chemical,” adds Cohen.