Indian spices are multifarious in their use and health benefits. We have used them in our everyday cooking for eons hardly realizing the natural inherent properties of these magical ingredients. In recent years, with the popularity for natural foods and health consciousness growing, these spices have been promoted to the american consumers by savvy marketing experts. My hope is to help you infuse these spices in your daily preparations. Not only will you enjoy exhilarating tastes but also reap all of the health benefits. This could be a welcome shift in your lifestyle.
I will list the health benefits of the most common spices used in our recipes here. I will also include the health benefits of the asian vegetables introduced through the recipes here. |
Asafoetida
This is used in Indian vegetarian cooking to promote flavor. Just a touch is good enough to avoid an overly powerful flavor.
Health Benefits:
- Promotes digestion
- Asafoetida is regularly used in Ayurvedic preparations. Ayurveda is the practice of natural medicine that originated in India. Ailments in the practice of this alternative medicine, are treated using natural herbs and spices.
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Black Pepper
It is one of the healthiest spices used mostly in southern indian cooking. Pepper is native to India and was a main attraction to invaders. It has existed since the pre-historic times. It is regularly used in natural remedies (ayurvedic medicine) for treating several ailments. Below are the main benefits I have found in my frequent use of pepper in many of the dishes.
Health Benefits:
- Improves digestion
- Helps soothe Irritating throats due to cold
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Dhal ( a lentil dish)
Uncooked form is easy to store. Dhals do go with any mood, especially for a rainy day. A hot bowl of dhal can energize and quickly transform you. Vegetarians can thrive on this magic ingredient and dish.
Health Benefits:
- Filled with proteins with just enough carbs, plenty of minerals and vitamins
- The turmeric, garlic and onion give a dose of antioxidants
- Ginger improves digestion
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It is another common ingredient used as part of our daily diet. One of my favorite concoctions is ginger chutney. If you like spicy, hot chutneys this can become a quick favorite.
Health Benefits:
- Antioxidant
- Promotes digestion
- Prevents nausea
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Kale:
A power house in its nutrition. It is considered one of the best leafy vegetable there is.
- Has significant health benefits like lower the risk of cancer
- Contains antioxidant vitamins A, C, and K
- When cooked, fiber content of cruciferous kale binds bile acids and
- helps lower blood cholesterol levels
- reduces the risk of heart disease
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Mango
A high- fibre fruit rich in vitamins, minerals and poly-phenolic flavonoid antioxidant compounds. Also recent studies show mangoes protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostrate cancers.
- High in vitamins C and E, potassium
- Antioxidant
- High in coppers, zinc, manganese, phytonutrients
This vegetable is high in protein, ash, fibre, lipid, phosphorus and niacin contents. Of course the taste of the vegetable can be enhanced by the way it is prepared.
Health Benefits:
- Promotes digestion
- Helps control weight in people with Type II diabetes without loss of nutrition
- Excellent source of fibre, hence a natural laxative
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Red Chilli Pepper
Red chillies are native to the Americas and was introduced to India by the Portuguese. It has featured in our cooking big time since then that It's hard to imagine Indian cooking without these spicy hot chillies. Besides adding a kick to your dish, it also enhances the taste quite a bit. I have found that overdoing it creates irritation to the digestive system. Taken in moderation, chillies provide a lot of health benefits.
Health Benefits:
- High in vitamins B and C, and beta carotene
- Helps relieve symptoms of chronic pain
- Great food preservative
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This is indeed a magical spice. The powder form which is what we use is the root of the plant, dried and powdered. In its root form, turmeric looks like ginger. It has a deep yellow color, also a fresh herb smell and taste. It is used in most Indian vegetable or meat preparations.
Health Benefits:
- Has healing properties, used to heal cuts and bruises
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiseptic
- It has been recommended for daily intake to prevent Alzheimer's and joint inflammation
- Soothes sore throat
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Asafoetida
This is used in Indian vegetarian cooking to promote flavor. Just a touch is good enough to avoid an overpowerful flavor.
Health Benefits:
- Promotes digestion
- Asafoetida is regularly used in Ayurvedic preparations. Ayurveda is the practice of natural medicine that originated in India. Ailments in the practice of this alternative medicine, are treated using natural herbs and spices.
back
to top
Black Pepper
It is one of the healthiest spices used mostly in southern indian cooking. Pepper is native to India and was a main attraction to invaders. It has existed since the pre-historic times. It is regularly used in natural remedies (ayurvedic medicine) for treating several ailments. Below are the main benefits I have found in my frequent use of pepper in many of the dishes.
Health Benefits:
- Improves digestion
- Helps soothe Irritating throats due to cold
back
to top
Dhal ( a lentil dish)
Uncooked form is easy to store. Dhals do go with any mood, especially for a rainy day. A hot bowl of dhal can energize and quickly transform you. Vegetarians can thrive on this magic ingredient and dish.
Health Benefits:
- Filled with proteins with just enough carbs, plenty of minerals and vitamins
- The turmeric, garlic and onion give a dose of antioxidants
- Ginger improves digestion
back
to top
It is another common ingredient used as part of our daily diet. One of my favorite concoctions is ginger chutney. If you like spicy, hot chutneys this can become a quick favorite.
Health Benefits:
- Antioxidant
- Promotes digestion
- Prevents nausea
back
to top
Mango
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Mango fruit is rich in pre-biotic dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and poly-phenolic flavonoid antioxidant compounds.
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According to new research study, mango fruit has been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers. Several trial studies suggest that polyphenolic anti-oxidant compounds in mango are known to offer protection against breast and colon cancers.
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Mango fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin-A and flavonoids like beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. 100 g of fresh fruit provides 765 mg or 25% of recommended daily levels of vitamin A. Together; these compounds are known to have antioxidant properties and are essential for vision. Vitamin A is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in carotenes is known to protect body from lung and oral cavity cancers.
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Fresh mango is a very rich source of potassium. Potassium in an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.
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It is also a very good source of vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin-C and vitamin-E. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen free radicals. Vitamin B-6 or pyridoxine is required for GABA hormone production in the brain. It also controls homocystiene levels in the blood, which may otherwise be harmful to blood vessels resulting in CAD and stroke.
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Copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes, including cytochrome c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase (other minerals function as co-factors for this enzyme are manganese and zinc). Copper is also required for the production of red blood cells.
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Mango peels are also rich in phytonutrients, such as the pigment antioxidants like carotenoids and polyphenols.
This vegetable is high in protein, ash, fibre, lipid, phosphorus and niacin contents. Of course the taste of the vegetable can be enhanced by the way it is prepared.
Health Benefits:
- Promotes digestion
- Helps control weight in people with Type II diabetes without loss of nutrition
- Excellent source of fibre, hence a natural laxative
back
to top
Red Chilli Pepper
Red chillies are native to the Americas and was introduced to India by the Portuguese. It has featured in our cooking big time since then that It's hard to imagine Indian cooking without these spicy hot chillies. Besides adding a kick to your dish, it also enhances the taste quite a bit. I have found that overdoing it creates irritation to the digestive system. Taken in moderation, chillies provide a lot of health benefits.
Health Benefits:
- High in vitamins B and C, and beta carotene
- Helps relieve symptoms of chronic pain
- Great food preservative
back
to top
This is indeed a magical spice. The powder form which is what we use is the root of the plant, dried and powdered. In its root form, turmeric looks like ginger. It has a deep yellow color, also a fresh herb smell and taste. It is used in most Indian vegetable or meat preparations.
Health Benefits:
- Has healing properties, used to heal cuts and bruises
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiseptic
- It has been recommended for daily intake to prevent Alzheimer's and joint inflammation
- Soothes sore throat
back
to top
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| ^ Please contact me for any of these ingredients or utensils. |
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