Spices with a Medical Benefit

There are a few spices that have shown some medical benefit!


Cinnamon: Improves blood sugar control. It can improve this by 19%. In one small study, it reduced "bad" cholesterol 27%. I know this sounds to good to be true but I have seen this with my own patients. The suggested amount to take daily is 1,000 mg or 1 full teaspoon. You cannot "just sprinkle" it on. I recommend the capsules. It is difficult to get a full teaspoon everyday.

Garlic: Slows clogging of the arteries and reduces blood pressure. There is some talk about reductions in stomach and colon cancer too. Garlic supplements don't  show the benefit. It must be fresh or canned. I purchase diced garlic at the dollar store. It is 1/4 the price than the grocery store. It makes meal prep much easier. I find that I use much more as well!

 Ginger:  Decreases nausea and vomiting. It also helps reduce dizziness.  It can be helpful for motion sickness as well.  Some studies suggest a reduction in osteoarthritis pain. I personally found ginger capsules very helpful for dizziness. You may find crystallized ginger, ginger ale, or ginger snaps helpful as well

 Turmeric: Shown to reduce heart burn. It may have healing qualities as well. It can be added to food or taken in pill form. I found a versatile recipe for Chicken Broth containing turmeric.
Be sure to let your health care provider what supplements you are taking.