Add some spice to your life!

Time to add a little spice to your life?

Spices not only add amazing flavour to your food but did you know some have great health benefits as well?

Here's a list of a few that are great additions to your diet. Give them a go and see what you think!

Cinnamon
Studies have shown that by adding as little as 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to our daily diets can lower our LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, as well as having a regulatory effect on our blood sugar levels, making it especially beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes. 
Try adding some to your morning porridge, yoghurt or smoothie. 

Ginger
A winner when it comes to the relief of nausea and digestive problems. Not only that, it also helps improve circulation and aids in arthritis pain due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Feeling a little run down? Add some ginger to your diet to relieve symptoms of colds.
Ginger not only tastes great in stir fries but also as a tea (just add a little honey/agave nectar and fresh lemon).

Tumeric
Only recently have I discovered that tumeric not only adds wonderful colour and flavour to your food but it also has an anti-inflammatory effect, making it beneficial for sufferers of many auto-immune diseases. Add some to curries, scrambled eggs and marinades.

Cumin
This little herb helps with digestive issues as well as being a good source of fibre, helping with constipation. Add some whole or ground cumin into BBQ sauces or marinades, to stir fies, or stews.

Oregano
Oregano is known to have strong antiviral and antibacterial properties that help to improve respiratory health and strengthen the immune system. Most of us have probably used oregano in our cooking from time to time. Try adding some to pasta sauces, on home made pizzas, or on salads.

What are some of your favourite spices to use in cooking?