Health Benefits Of Herbs And Spices
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Here are 7 of the world’s best known herbs and spices, with a few of their noted health benefits according to scientific research:
Cinnamon: Cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels by imitating insulin function and increasing glucose transport into the cells. It can also be used for the treatment of insulin resistance. [1]
Garlic: Allicin is the major active ingredient in garlic that exhibits antibacterial and antifungal properties. A study has shown that garlic extract can inhibit fungal infection due to aspergillosis. [2]
Paprika: Paprika has many health beneficial compounds including vitamin A, capsicin, and carotenoid antioxidants that can improve cholesterol level, eye health, and blood sugar levels. The anti-inflammatory effect of paprika is due to capsaicin that binds to receptors on nerve cells to reduce inflammation. [3]
Ginger: Garlic has been used historically to treat motion sickness. A study has reported that ginger effectively reduces nausea, tachygastric activity, and the release of vasopressin, thus preventing and treating motion sickness. [4]
Turmeric: Curcumin, the main active ingredient in turmeric has an anti-cancer effect. It can kill cancer cells and prevent their growth. [5] It can protect against breast cancer, bowel cancer, and skin cancer.
Oregano: Oregano has antibacterial and antioxidant properties that are mainly attributed to its main active ingredients, carvacrol, and thymol. Various studies have reported the antibacterial effects of oregano against gram-positive bacteria. [6]
Rosemary: Rosemary may provide benefit in the fight against obesity, liver diseases, gastritis, cholesterolemia, bronchial asthma, edemas and even memory loss. These health benefits are attributed to polyphenolic compounds such as rosmarinic and carnosic acid. [7]
Learn More: List of over 200 herbs with full health information: https://www.herbs-info.com/list-of-herbs.html
References:
[1] Jarvill-Taylor, K.J., R.A. Anderson, and D.J. Graves, A hydroxychalcone derived from cinnamon functions as a mimetic for insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. J Am Coll Nutr, 2001. 20(4): p. 327-36. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11506060/
[2] Pai, S.T. and M.W. Platt, Antifungal effects of Allium sativum (garlic) extract against the Aspergillus species involved in otomycosis. Lett Appl Microbiol, 1995. 20(1): p. 14-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7765862/
[3] Hayman, M. and P.C.A. Kam, Capsaicin: A review of its pharmacology and clinical applications. Current Anaesthesia & Critical Care, 2008. 19(5): p. 338-343. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0953711208000756
[4] Lien, H.C., et al., Effects of ginger on motion sickness and gastric slow-wave dysrhythmias induced by circular vection. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, 2003. 284(3): p. G481-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12576305/
[5] Tomeh, M.A., R. Hadianamrei, and X. Zhao, A Review of Curcumin and Its Derivatives as Anticancer Agents. Int J Mol Sci, 2019. 20(5).
6. Saeed, S. and P. Tariq, Antibacterial activity of oregano (Origanum vulgare Linn.) against gram positive bacteria. Pak J Pharm Sci, 2009. 22(4): p. 421-4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30818786/
[6] Saeed, S. and P. Tariq, Antibacterial activity of oregano (Origanum vulgare Linn.) against gram positive bacteria. Pak J Pharm Sci, 2009. 22(4): p. 421-4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19783523/
[7] Loussouarn, M., et al., Carnosic Acid and Carnosol, Two Major Antioxidants of Rosemary, Act through Different Mechanisms. Plant Physiol, 2017. 175(3): p. 1381-1394. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5664485/