It is no secret that spices and herbs have many health benefits, such as treating nausea, preventing heart diseases, and improving blood sugar control. However, did you know that some spices and herbs also provide anti-inflammatory benefits?

In a nutshell, inflammation is the body’s fighting infections and healing. Unfortunately, in some cases, inflammation can get out of hand and damage your body. If this situation occurs, it is called chronic inflammation, which can further lead to many diseases, including diabetes and cancer.

Hence, consuming spices and herbs with anti-inflammatory benefits plays an essential role in the body. Curious to know more? Read down below five spices and herbs with anti-inflammatory properties beneficial for your body!

Ginger

Ginger is one of the most commonly used spices in the world. Outside of ginger’s culinary uses, people have used it for thousands of years for traditional medicine to treat colds, nausea, and migraines. Ginger contains more than 100 active compounds, such as gingerol, shogaol, and zingerone, which can help reduce inflammation.

Garlic

Like ginger, garlic is also a famous spice ingredient used to treat arthritis, coughs, constipation, and infections, including reducing inflammation in the body. Most of garlic’s health benefits come from its sulfur compounds, such as allicin, diallyl, disulfide, and S-allylcysteine, which appear to have anti-inflammatory benefits.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice ingredient popular in Asian cuisines that have been used since ancient times. Turmeric contains over 300 active compounds, including curcumin, an antioxidant with powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. However, if you would like to consume curcumin for its anti-inflammatory benefits, it is highly suggested to purchase curcumin supplements rather than pure curcumin or turmeric consumption.

Black Pepper

The king of spices, black pepper, is also a popular spice that can fight inflammation. In traditional medicine, black pepper is commonly known for treating specific health conditions, such as asthma, diarrhea, and other gastric ailments. However, many research have suggested that black pepper’s active compound piperine may play a role in reducing inflammation. Simply season your cooking with a dash of black pepper to enjoy its health benefits anytime.

Ginseng

Ginseng is a well-known spice that originated from the Asian continent. The two most popular types of ginseng are Asian ginseng and American ginseng. Compared to its Asian counterpart, American ginseng is commonly more relaxing. Furthermore, just like the other spices mentioned above, ginseng also has many medicinal properties. Due to its active compound ginsenosides, ginseng can provide many health benefits, including reducing signs of inflammation in the body.

Conclusion

If you’re worried about signs of inflammation in your body, you can try adding more spices and herbs into your diet before consulting with a medical professional. Most importantly, remember to thoroughly check the quality of the spice ingredients that you consume to enjoy its maximum benefits.

References:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/anti-inflammatory-herbs