Cooking with Herbs and Spices

Herbs and spices are good for you! They have a variety of healing and medicinal properties making them very beneficial to your overall health. Herbs and spices used to be the way flavor was added to food – before chemicals and additives. Herbs and spices not only have the ability to help heal the body, they also add flavor, and are an easy way to add more nutrients to your diet.

One advantage of home cooking is that you can add your favorite herbs and spices to the meals you create. Using herbs and spices helps add flavor, more nutrient value, and reduces the need for additional salt. Using different herbs and spices is a natural way to flavor food, not to mention its a fun way to experiment with flavors in the kitchen.

Not sure which ones to try first? Here are a few basic ones to start with.

Herbs

Herbs are the green, leafy parts of a plant. Beneficial herbs are Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, and Thyme. These can be purchased fresh in the produce section of your local grocery store and are a simple way to increase the nutrient value of the foods you eat. Fresh herbs can be stored in the refrigerator crisper drawer along with vegetables. Dried herbs are also available in glass jars and are shelf stable. It is always a good idea to purchase Organic Herbs especially since these are the leaves of a plant. You don’t want to be eating a leaf sprayed with a pesticide or chemical. So its worth a few extra pennies to purchase Organic Herbs.

Benefits of Herbs

herbs tied in bundles. Thyme, basil, oregano

Basil – the “happy herb” because it contains volatile oils that improve your mood
Cilantro – helps your digestive system move metals out of the body
Dill – helps with digestion and lowers blood sugar
Mint – cooling, refreshing, and calms the digestive system
Oregano – antibacterial
Parsley – supports the health of the kidneys, helps remove kidney stones, & stabilizes blood sugar
Rosemary – improves circulation and memory function
Thyme – helps clear mucus from the lungs

Now that you know the powerful benefits of herbs…don’t be afraid to try some! Next time you are at the grocery store pick of a few fresh herbs and try adding them to your next creation in the kitchen. They will not only add great flavor, but health benefits as well. Basil is perfect for spaghetti sauce or an Italian recipe. Cilantro pairs well with Mexican food. Mint is great on a salad.

My personal favorite is cilantro. It is so versatile and great for making salsa, guacamole, chili, and on taco salad. I rough chop the leaves and stems so nothing is wasted. However, it is one of those herbs that you will either love or hate. Try it and see what you think.

Spices

Herbs are made from the green leafy parts of the plant and spices are made from the the root, berries, seeds, or flower buds of a plant. Common spices are cinnamon, ginger, pepper, and turmeric. Each spice has a unique health benefit making them worth adding to our food for more than just the flavor! Here is a short list of spices and a few benefits. Most spices have more health benefits than listed below.

Cardamon – aids in digestion
Cayenne Pepper – boosts circulation
Cinnamon – balances blood sugar
Cloves – antiviral and help with gum pain
Fennel Seeds – improves digestion
Fenugreek Seeds – supports and balances hormones
Garlic Powder – good for gut health and reduces inflammation
Ginger – warming effect on the gut
Nutmeg – natural sleep remedy for insomnia
Onion Powder – anti-inflammatory properties which can help with arthritis
Peppercorns – boosts the absorption of nutrients
Star Anise – antiviral properties
Turmeric – helps reduce inflammation in the body

Spices are shelf stable and last for years so its worth the extra investment to purchase quality Organic Spices in glass jars. Some of my favorites are by Frontier and Simply Organic. Both companies produce quality spices with great flavors. Oh, I should disclose…I am NOT paid to promote these brands.

Just Starting Out?

If you are just starting to use herbs and spices, start with spices since they are shelf stable for at least a year. This will give you more time to experiment with them and find the ones you really like. Remember is is important to purchase Organic Spices as you don’t want to be sprinkling ground up pesticides or additional additives on your food. Some spices contain additional salt too, so make sure you read the labels. The ingredients should simply be Organic Onion, or Organic Peppercorns, etc. Nothing added. Also, remember its important to purchase spices in glass jars to protect the overall quality of the spice.

Once you know the spices you enjoy, then try experimenting with the fresh herb version if available.

Disclaimer… not intended to take place of medication. Herbs and spices are just another way to add more nutrient value to the foods you eat. They can be used to heal the body, however, it is a very slow process and would need to be done with the help of a medical professional.