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Wednesday 10 October 2012

Spice up your life!!

Spice it up!
 
 
 
I use spices & herbs on everything…barely any calories & oh, so flavorful. Can't eat anything without it being spiced up!!!
 
So you think spices are just for indians?? This isn't true, while spices are prodominetly used by the indians it can be used by everyone, and lets be honest, us indians have a way of killing the taste by adding boatloads of oil and butter and over-cooking it till the nutrients have vanished, which is incredibily unhealthy!!!!
 
Is it necessary to use sweetener in coffee, cereal, oatmeal, etc.?
No. Use a dash of cinnamon &/or pumpkin pie spice.
 
sweetner and canderels, despite being low in calories, have been found to be incredibly unhealthy for the body and have been said to add certain chemicals to the body which result in disease!! Opt for cinnamon instead!
 
Do you need to use sodium-filled, sick-o Tabasco sauce on pizza?
 Nope…use all-natural chili flakes.
 
Oh, your stomach hurts?
Don’t run to the med cabinet like a weak pansy. Eat some fresh ginger.
 
 
Here’s some ways I use my fav spices:
+ Exhibit 1. Cinnamon: sprinkle on coffee, cereal, toast, peanut butter, fruit, oatmeal, &/or any type of desserts. It also happens to relieve pain, helps heal headaches, & boosts the memory.
 
+ Exhibit 2. Chili Flakes: I LOVE  everything spicy. Add it to pasta dishes, pizza, fish, steak, salads, &/or veggies. Oh, plus it speeds the metabolism.
 
+ Exhibit 3. Cumin: so yummy in rice, quinoa, beans, & on potatoes. Aids with cold symptoms & digestion too.
 
+ Exhibit 4. Ginger: eat boatloads of ginger. Whenever your stomach hurts,  eat a handful of pickled ginger [ otherwise known as: sushi ginger ]. Add ginger root to veggie juices &/or smoothies too.
 
+ Exhibit 5. Pumpkin Pie Spice:  It’s a mixture of all-spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, & ginger. Add this to coffee & tea [ it helps stabilize blood sugar too ; )]. Thank me later!!
 
OTHER BENEFITS:
 
Here are ingredients that not only add flavor to your favorite dishes but can help in your battle against the bulge.

1. Cinnamon
A 2003 study published in Diabetes Care showed that as little as one teaspoon of cinnamon per day can boost the body's weight-loss ability by reducing blood sugar and promoting healthier processing of carbohydrates. It also lowers LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) by seven to 27% and total cholesterol by 12 to 26%. Plus, cinnamon has been shown to prevent the metabolic syndrome commonly seen in pre-diabetics. But before you go on piling the spice by spoonful, note that cinnamon contains a chemical called coumarin, which can lead to liver damage if consumed in very large amounts.


 
2. CayenneThe main ingredient in spicy cayenne-capsaicin, which is also found in other hot peppers-has long been studied for its fat-burning abilities and thermogenic properties (the stimulating of the central nervous system to produce heat in the body, leading to an increase in calorie burning).
 
3. Black PepperAmong the dozens of health benefits of this common household ingredient is its ability to improve digestion and promote the absorption of nutrients in tissues all over the body. Plus, its main component-piperine (which gives pepper its pungent taste)-boosts fat metabolism by as much as 8% for several hours after ingesting it. If you want your pepper to pack the most punch, use freshly ground pepper, which has the most concentrated amounts of piperine.


 
4. Mustard SeedLike the other hot ingredients on this list, spicy mustard helps boost metabolism and allows you to burn fat more quickly, thanks in part to its thermogenic properties. Scientists at England's Oxford Polytechnic Institute recently found that eating just one teaspoon of hot mustard can "boost metabolism 20 to 25% for several hours after eating, resulting in an additional burn of about 45 calories if a 700-calorie meal is consumed."
 
5. GingerLong used for its medicinal properties, ginger is also an effective diuretic (a substance that increases the elimination of urine). It improves gastric mobility (i.e. it pushes food and waste through the digestive system) and hinders the absorption of cholesterol. Although according to the Mayo Clinic, more study is needed, preliminary evidence suggests that this versatile spice helps to increase metabolism.
 
6.Turmeric
Health Boost: Contains curcumin, which can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Try to have 500 to 800 milligrams a day, says Bharat Aggarwal, PhD, a professor of cancer medicine at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Get Cooking: For an Indian flavor, add 1/4 teaspoon turmeric to water when cooking 1 cup rice.
 
 
7.Rosemary
Health Boost: Stops gene mutations that could lead to cancer and may help prevent damage to the blood vessels that raise heart attack risk.
Get Cooking: For a delicious chicken rub, combine 2 teaspoons rosemary leaves with 2 teaspoons seasoning salt and 1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves.
 
8.Garlic
Health Boost: Destroys cancer cells and may disrupt the metabolism of tumor cells, says Karen Collins, RD, nutrition advisor to the American Institute for Cancer Research. "Studies suggest that one or two cloves weekly provide cancer-protective benefits."
Get Cooking: "Let garlic sit for 10 to 15 minutes after chopping and before cooking so the active form of the protective phytochemicals develops," says Collins. Saute fresh garlic over low heat and mix with pasta, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan cheese.
   
 
9.Paprika
Health Boost: Contains capsaicin, whose anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects may lower the risk of cancer (also found in cayenne and red chili peppers). There's no specific recommended dose, but moderation is probably the best way to go.
Get Cooking: Combine 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika, 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme and 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper to liven up popcorn.
 


Its time to spice it up!!!
happy cooking

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