Spices and seasonings not only enhance flavor but also have effective medicinal properties. It turns out that a little hot sauce, a spoonful of olive oil, or a teaspoon of cinnamon not only makes food tastier but can also help curb appetite, aid digestion, improve memory, and even fight heart disease and cancer…
Lycopene – a powerful antioxidant in tomato sauce – can slow down the process leading to atherosclerosis. American researchers also found that sauce made from “clean” tomatoes has the highest levels of vitamins A, C, and E. This sauce can be used with hamburgers, french fries, or mixed with minced garlic and other spices to marinate chicken for a nutritious meal.
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Black pepper contains Piperine, a compound that disrupts the self-renewal process of early-stage cancer stem cells, according to a study by the University of Michigan, USA. By limiting the number of stem cells, the number that tend to form tumors is also limited. Besides sprinkling it on favorite dishes or marinating grilled foods, some people also use pepper with yogurt or fresh fruit.
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A meal containing capsaicin – the compound that creates the heat in chili sauce – not only reduces hunger-inducing ghrelin levels but also increases GLP-1, a hormone that suppresses appetite, according to the European Journal of Nutrition. Another study showed that people who drank tomato juice containing capsaicin before meals for two days absorbed 16% fewer calories than usual.
People who add cinnamon, about half a teaspoon, to sweet, starchy foods will slow down the rise in blood sugar. This spice helps increase insulin sensitivity, thus allowing people to utilize more sugar in their bodies, keeping blood sugar levels stable. Therefore, cinnamon is very good for people with diabetes.
Olive oil is a leading source of oleic acid, a type of omega-9 fatty acid that is converted into oleoylethanolamide (OEA) during digestion, a hormone that helps keep brain cells healthy. In a new study from the University of California, rodents fed products containing OEA had better memory in tests. Researchers hypothesize that OEA transmits signals in the part of the brain responsible for converting short-term memories to long-term ones, and that OEA seems to act as the glue of memory. A little bit of vegetables, cucumbers mixed with a little salt, vinegar, sugar, garlic, and finally olive oil will make you a great salad.
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Depending on the type of food the honeybees eat, the color and quality of honey vary. Many recent studies show that dark honey has stronger antioxidant effects than light-colored honey. These antioxidants protect cells from the harmful effects of free radicals and may reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, cognitive decline, and macular degeneration. Note that because honey has a strong flavor, it can be used as a substitute for refined sugar, and adding it to tea or yogurt enhances its nutritional value.