Recent studies indicate that adding spice to your food may actually help with a host of health concerns. Eat your way to health- read on to find out more.
A recent USA Today article highlights the benefits South Indian coooking. The article quotes Alamelu Vairavan, co-author of the book Healthy South Indian Cooking, who claims that making food with brightly coloured vegetables (peppers, onions, chillis, eggplant etc..) contain natural anti-oxidants that help fight disease. It's also the spices used in Indian cooking however that seem to hold the key to some health secrets we can all use.
"Indian food typically contains curry powder or turmeric, which scientists believe contains a compound that protects against arthritis, Alzheimer's and other diseases," says Vairavan. Curry powder, a blend of freshly ground spices can help releive pain, increase metabolsim and help ward off a host of illnesses.
The article goes on to say that "a study in the November issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism suggests turmeric, one component of curry spice, almost completely prevented joint swelling in rats with arthritis. Other studies have suggested that the spice could protect against diseases such as heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's, a degenerative brain disease that afflicts nearly 5 million people in the USA."
If you're interested in sourcing organic and natural spices, including turmeric, curries, cayenne and others, check out my Spice Traders piece.
