There is more to spicing food than salt and pepper. Black pepper has great health benefits but salt needs to be kept to a minimum to get and stay healthy. The rash of cooking shows in the last 10 years or so has led to the average home chef adding much more salt than they should to their dishes.
In a restaurant you usually have no time to get the food out so salt is used to pop up the flavors. In your kitchen you have other choices and generally more time. Not only do spices help cut the sodium down but they also have some great health benefits.
Chilis and peppers have capsaicin which eliminates gas from the stomach and intestines, soothes sore throat, cold and flu symptoms and increases metabolism for weight control. It is easy to add to many foods - even hot chocolate. 1/2 tsp in your cocoa will make yours more like the original drink from Mexico. Paprika also has these same qualities.
Cinnamon tames nausea and stomach ulcers; functions as a mild anti-inflammatory; increases insulin sensitivity to help focus fat burn. What you wouldn't add chili powders to you can add cinnamon to. Your morning coffee or cereal are great places for some cinnamon.
Turmeric reduces inflammation (joints, airways) and detoxifies the liver. It is one of the ingredients in most curry powders so go crazy with your Thai and Indian food and curry up your stir fry. This will keep you from adding a ton of soy sauce and the sodium that goes with it. I like a tablespoon in a pot of vegetable soup as well.
Fennel seed calms bowel distress, supports milk production in nursing mothers and combats water retention. You can add fennel to soups or make some chicken meatballs - recipe in this post.
Celery seed flushes the liver of toxins, lowers blood pressure and combats water retention. You can add some celery seed into dressings or sprinkled on some toast that's "buttered" with coconut oil.
Nutmeg improves digestion, eases the symptoms of menstruation and induces calm and sleep. You can grate it into your morning cereal or onto yogurt, etc.
Clove soothes digestive tract muscles and is a potent antihistamine. You can sneak some into your mustard or add some on some frozen yogurt.
Cardamom eases belching, flatulence and indigestion, treats respiratory conditions like coughing, asthma and loss of voice and aids in the elimination of toxins through your skin. You can add some to brown rice before boiling - just a few pinches.
Coriander which is the seed from the cilantro plant acts as a diuretic and eases seasonal allergies. It can easily be added to rice or quinoa while cooking.
All of the herbs listed in the last post aid digestion and protect the body from cancers by reducing inflammation.
Garlic destroys cancer cells and may disrupt the metabolism of tumor cells. It is hard to use too much garlic. You probably shouldn't add it to your kid's cereal, but almost everything else is fine.
Chicken Meatballs.
1 lb of Organic Ground Chicken
1 tsp fennel seeds
2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp Smoked Paprika
pinch of salt
1 tsp Dried basil
1/2 tsp Dried oregano
1 tbsp olive oil
Use your hands and mix all of the ingredients together. Make into 1 -1 1/2 in balls and cook at 350 for 20-25 minutes until just cooked through. Add to some Marinara sauce and serve over the pasta of your choice.
Have fun playing with your food.
More soon....
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