Food

15 facts about spices

We are used to add spices to almost any dish - from salad to porridge. But few people think that the most familiar spices not only make the taste of cooked food richer, but also benefit health.

1. Not what it seems

Carnation does not have the nails of any relationship is the dried buds of the clove tree are rich in oil.

Clove oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, has antiseptic properties and improves digestion.

2. Two in one

Dried and fresh ginger are very different from each other in taste and aroma. In fact-it is completely different spices.

Dried is used mainly in the confectionery industry to give flavor, and fresh-in salads, hot dishes and even for making tea.

Infusion of ginger helps with nausea-and even with toxicosis of pregnant women.

Active ingredients ginger have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action. They help stop the coming cold.

3. Almost useless fact

Ginger, garlic and other spicy foods contribute to weight loss. Contained in these products the active substance immediately after a meal a short-term increase metabolism. They provoke the body to release heat and waste additional calories. Remember how after all of the food gets hot — this is the "slimming" effect of the spices.

However, many do thus not reset, and also spices with a strong taste additionally stimulate the appetite.

Therefore, this method is suitable only for people who are not shown a diet with obesity, or with absolutely healthy organs of the gastrointestinal tract or owners of iron willpower, which is more reliable to use on a trip to the gym.

4. Acute joy

Spicy and spicy food causes the release of" pleasure hormones " endorphins due to irritation of the nerve endings. Hormones stand out as an analgesic for the" burned " language, but act on the whole body.

5. Natural antibiotic

Capsaicin – the burning ingredient in red pepper. His relatives-piperine from black pepper, allicin in onions and garlic and isocyanates.

These substances appeared in plants in order to scare off herbivores. However, they are able to deprive the appetite of not only the cow, but also harmful microorganisms that live in the mouth and nasopharynx.

6. Mother's little helpers

Cumin and dill not only have a recognizable pronounced aroma, but also contain substances that help fight cough and stimulate the production of breast milk.

7. Green fighters

Rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano (oregano) and other aromatic herbs of traditional Mediterranean cuisine contain strong antioxidants. They fight heterocyclic amines-carcinogens that appear in products during frying.

And you can grow these herbs right on your windowsill.

8. Healing wreath

Bay leaf-not only the usual seasoning for cooking dumplings, but also raw materials for the production of the well-known camphor oil. Essential oils in fresh Bay leaf - up to 3.5 percent.

These oils are very gentle on the digestive tract, so that the Bay leaf is allowed to be added to the dishes, even if a diet is prescribed for the treatment of gastritis or intestinal diseases.

9. Two-face

Basil comes in two colors. And dark purple, acute leaves, and a little rounded green leaves is all it is. Fresh Basil contains a lot of vitamin A, iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium and vitamin C.

And he, like garlic, can replace the dish the excess salt.

10. Always to the table

Fresh and dried mint is not only a fragrant additive to tea or homemade lemonade, a remedy for nausea and headache, but also an excellent seasoning for meat, fish and even vegetable salads.

11. Most accessible

Leaves conventional parsley help remove excess fluid from the body and improve digestion. Parsley may well be not only a seasoning for the salad, but serve as one of the main ingredients. And it grows almost everywhere.

12. Ethereal creatures

Anise and star anise contain essential oils that enhance bowel movements and help fight chronic constipation. They taste through the oils specific, easily recognizable and beloved by many.

13. Great replacement

With hypertension and heart failure, all types of pepper and its sharp relatives are prohibited, but they can be replaced with heart-safe garlic, horseradish and onions.

14. There is an alternative

Even with peptic ulcer, which makes it impossible to eat spicy and salty dishes to give a spicy shade without harm to health will help peppermint, cumin, fennel, thyme and sage.

15. The tastier, the better

Cloves and cinnamon contain a variety of phenols – natural antioxidants that protect the body from inflammation and even able to fight the development of diabetes.

How to choose spices

Herbs and roots are good in both fresh and dried form. The latter option assumes that the spice has retained both color and flavor. Ready-made mixtures should be avoided, or carefully read the composition on the pack – they often add flavor enhancers and a large amount of salt.

If you are buying fresh herbs, take them little by little to wilt prematurely.

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