Health Benefit of Spices

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Not only do spices add to and enhance the flavor of food, they can promote health and well-being by providing antioxidants and helping to inhibit degenerative disease. The vegetarian diet, often associated with good health, relies on the use of spices. But anyone can enjoy the health benefits that spices provide. Spices have more antioxidant power, pound for pound, than fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants have been proven to help prevent cancers, Alzheimer's, and heart disease. According to the Journal of Medicine and Food, 15 herbs and spices used in Italy as part of the Mediterranean diet were studied to reveal information about phenolic, flavonoid, and flavanol content, as well as antioxidant potential. Salads with herbs and spices added were compared. The addition of lemon balm and marjoram doubled the antioxidant capacity of a salad. Among others, cumin and fresh ginger added the most to antioxidant capacity. Another study in the Journal of Medicine and Food is worth examining. The study looked at the effects of a spice mixture on certain stress markers and antioxidant potential in the tissues of rats. By giving the rats the spice mixture, the levels of lipid peroxidation (breakdown of fats resulting in the formation of free radicals) in tissues were reduced. Also observed was improved glucose metabolism and antioxidant status of the rats. Yet another study from the Journal of Medicine and Food investigated the effects of red chili, cumin, and black pepper on colon cancer induced in rats. They found that cumin and black pepper suppressed the onset of colon cancer. Another study reported that spices have antioxidant activity that can preserve lipids and reduce lipid peroxidation. Researchers investigated the antioxidant activities of certain spice extracts on peroxidation. The spices tested were garlic, ginger, mint, onion, cinnamon, cloves, and pepper. Cloves
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