Adding herbs and spices to the foods you eat can be a powerful way to turn them into healthy, fat burning “super foods”. Plus, you’ll be doing so without adding extra calories.
That reminds me of all the people who don’t understand why they can’t lose weight when they eat nothing but salads, yet conviently forget the thousands of calories they are consuming in the form of the dressing.
But back to the power of herbs and spices.
Let’s face it, like those salad dressings, herbs and spices can make plain tasting foods super extra tasty!
Some of the most potent and powerful antioxidants in existence, are contained within a variety of herbs and spices. Yes, some have higher antioxidant levels than the fruits and vegetables you should be ating.
In fact, some like turmeric and cinnamon contain as much as ten to FIFTY times the antioxidant levels as a very powerful superfood in its own right, blueberries! Yeah, jaw-dropping!
Some of the antioxidants in spices help to protect against a variety of diseases, including:
* Heart Disease
* Diabetes
* Arthritis
* Alzheimer’s Disease
* Cancer
* Plain old fashioned aging
And it’s not just their powerful antioxidants. Herbs and spices can also help to naturally boost the metabolism because many of them are thermogenic.
Just like eating grapefruit, herbs and spices can help to control insulin levels and stablize blood sugar. Controlling insulin levels can help to burn fat.
A huge problem, for both diseases and from exercise, is inflammation. Many herbs and spices are powerful anti-inflammatories.
Let’s take a look at four of these powerful herbs and spices.
1. Cayenne
This might not be for those people that don’t like hot or spicy foods (it’s really hot), but you may want to reconsider that position.
Cayenne increases thermogenesis, raising your metabolism and helping you to burn more calories and burn fat faster.
Cayenne is also a powerful anti-inflammatory and pain reliever for headaches, sore muscles and even arthritis.
Oh, and yes, it will clear your sinuses!
It will also help to reduce your LDL cholesterol and trigycerides, while lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
2. Turmeric
Turmeric is becoming more and more popular for its many health properties. The main active ingredient, curcumin, has anti-inflammatory benefits that are considered on par with certain drugs like hydrocortisone, as well as over the counter pain relievers like Advil but it is not toxic, unlike the drugs.
Among the many health benefits include slowing down the progression of Alzheimer’s, more so than many drugs used for that purpose.
3. Cinnamon
Cinnamon has been around and popular for a long, long time and with good reason. Remember from above, cinnamon is one of those spices that has ten to fifty times the anti-oxidant levels of that super food, blueberries!
Cinnamon is a powerful insulin stabilizer, good for those with diabetes and those looking to lose weight.
Like turmeric, cinnamon has big time anti-inflammatory and pain reliever powers, for things such as headaches and arthritis.
4. Ginger
Ginger is beyond rich in antioxidants, having over twenty different ones.
Ginger is effective for sore throats, nausea and even coughs.
Like cinnamon and turmeric, ginger is good for aches and pains from arthritis to sore muscles.
Whether you are intested in losing fat and getting fit or improving your overall health (or both!) be sure and include these four herbs and spices as part of your daily nutrition program.
You could reap the amazing benefits, such as improved metabolism, to fewer aches and pains, to controlling your insulin levels and reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke and even cancer.
