Health benefits of Indian spices

Being half Indian myself, when being taught to cook we also learn about the medicinal properties of the ingredients- both within the food and used in other preparations. Some ingredients (like asafoetida) are used in cooking purely for their benefits to health, rather than for their taste.

I thought some might be interested in reading about the most common of these spices and their uses.

Asafoetida (or Hing)- reduces gas in the stomach aiding digestion. It can also be used as a remedy for whooping cough.

Bay leaf- has antifungal and anti-bacterial properties.

Cardamom (Elaichi)- used to aid digestion and helps prevent bad breath. In India it is widely used in ayurvedic medicines for a wealth of purposes. A whole cardamom may be chewed to aid diabetes.

Chilli- helps speed metabolism and lower cholesterol because of its high antioxidant properties.

Cinnamon (Dalchini)- reduces cholesterol and promotes natural insulin production.

Clove (Laung)- a whole clove may be chewed (or clove oil rubbed onto the gums) to help with tooth ache as it is a natural local anaesthetic. It is also used for treatment of coughs, colds, poor digestion, fevers and chest pains.

Coriander (Dhaniya)- within cooking or other preparations it has benefits for sore throats, allergies, hay fever and digestive problems. Externally it can be used as a topical rub for sore and/or rheumatic joints.

Cumin (Jeera)- is a natural source of iron. It aids a healthy immune system. The seeds can also be boiled in water to create a drink which helps with dystentery.

Curry leaves- the leaves are used for reducing blood sugar. They and other parts of the plant are widely used in ayurvedic preparations for a plethora of health problems.

Fenugreek (Methi) - Helps treat diabetes and lower cholesterol. Teas made from it are said to help production of breast milk.

Garlic (Lashan) - Has antibiotic properties, helps healthy blood circulation, promotes a healthy heart, helps reduce coughs and colds, etc etc

Ginger (Adrak)- Helps digestion and also useful in combating coughs and colds.

Mustard (Rye) - The oil from the seeds is a great source of iron, zinc, calcium, protein , omega 3 fatty acids & manganese. Oil is used for massaging into the body and sometimes the hair to promote healthy hair growth.

Nutmeg (Jaiphal)- aids bad breath, asthma and heart disorders. NB, nutmeg in *large* doses is dangerous to the health.

Saffron- aids skin problems, asthma, coughs, colds and digestive issues.

Turmeric (haldi)- helps with skin problems and rashes. The powder can be used topically to treat wounds and help them heal. It is also said to comfort diabetic problems.