With the launch of our new line of spices this summer, we debuted two different gift sets: our Signature Blends 3-pack, and a 4-pack we call The ‘Healing’ Pack. Our Signature Blends are some of our favorite, tried and true personal recipes that help give easy, terrific flavor to a huge variety of dishes. These NEVER leave our counter, and season most of our everyday cooking dishes. Their mix of spice ingredients all include at least ONE of the healing spices from the 4-pack, and all of them also contain mineral-rich Pink Himalayan Salt, which is the world’s best salt (in our opinion).
When we aren’t seasoning something with our Signature Blends, we try to use spices and herbs with great health benefits. That’s how our Healing Pack of spices play a key role in everyday cooking.
Our four everyday “Healers” are: Ginger, Oregano, Garlic, and Turmeric. In addition to their WONDERFUL flavoring characteristics (which is the main reason we love them), each have some amazing health benefits, and we make a conscious effort to include them in everyday cooking. (Now, of course, we aren’t doctors and we aren’t trying to provide medical information below. You should always consult your functional medicine doctor if you are treating a specific condition.) Here are just a few of their health benefits.
Garlic
Garlic has been cultivated as a culinary and medicinal food for thousands of years. In fact, ancient Egyptian pharaohs had depictions of garlic in their opulent tombs. It has long been known as a plant with great health benefits. While garlic is low in calories, it’s rich in nutrients like Manganese (23% of your RDA in 1 ounce), Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, and Selenium. Garlic contains a compound called Allicin that is activated by an enzyme when crushed or chopped. This compound has antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal properties. This is why Garlic is amazing for treating the common cold! Other studies indicate that garlic may contribute to lowering of blood pressure, improvement in cholesterol, and assistance in detoxing heavy metals.
Oregano
Oregano is incredibly effective as an antibacterial agent due to the oil compounds it contains. Many health food stores sell oil of oregano, which we have used in the past to treat a cold, with great efficacy. Oregano is also a powerful antioxidant, having 4x more antioxidant potency than highly-regarded blueberries. Oregano is also a great source of dietary fiber, which will bind to toxins in the digestive system. Those benefits would be enough to qualify it for our Healing Pack, but that’s not all. Oregano is a great source of nutrients like Vitamin K, Manganese, Iron, and Calcium. As with all spices, look for ones that are fresh, non-irradiated, and organic: Ours are all of these.
Ginger
While ginger is known worldwide for it’s ability to soothe an irritated stomach, its health benefits go FAR beyond just easing tummy aches. It is a very effective anti-inflammatory food, helping to relieve joint and muscle pain; if you have exercise induced muscle pain (all you HIIT and CrossFitters can probably relate) then you need to get some ginger in your diet! Ginger has also been shown to modulate insulin release, which aids in maintaining blood glucose homeostasis (source). Ginger can also help to reduce oxidative stress on the body, which can contribute toward the aging process. Want to look younger, longer? Try adding more ginger to your meals.
Turmeric
Ah, we’ve saved the best for last. Turmeric, with it’s vibrant orange hue, is one of the most effective food-based supplements in the world! The biggest benefits from Turmeric come from a compound called Curcumin. Curcumin is extremely anti-inflammatory, and interrupts inflammation in several ways at the molecular level. Why is this important? Because chronic inflammation is at the root of most modern diseases. Turmeric is another super-powerful antioxidant, because it’s molecular structure neutralizes free radicals in the body (which can cause oxidative damage). Curcumin in turmeric can also improve your brain power; it can boost a hormone called “Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor” – which essentials helps to increase neurological connections in the brain. This activity is strongest in children, which helps them learn things like language very very quickly. If you want to boost your brain power, get some Turmeric in your diet. Some studies even tout further, almost incredible, benefits of turmeric/curcumin: the ability to aid in the treatment of heart disease (source), Alzheimer’s Disease (source), and even cancer (source). (One word of caution in using Turmeric in cooking: it has an uncanny ability to stain, so clean up any spills on porous surfaces immediately!)
Take 10% off today and tomorrow!
Get 10% off your order Spices order this week using code “Diane10”, and take an additional 17% off the Healing Pack everyday when you buy it along with our Signature Blends (click here to get the combo pack). This 10% off coupon expires at 11:59 pm EST, 9/4/2015.
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