Herbs and spices have been used since the beginning of time. Some have been used as currency, medicine, and even in food. Spices do not have to be hot. Spices can be Thyme, Cardamom, Turmeric, Ginger, and Garlic. Salt and Pepper are not the only two that you can shake on top of your lunch or dinner plate. In fact, why do restaurants continue that ever-so-dull practice? Why not offer something new for our palates? Restaurants could place Turmeric and Curry in place of the Salt and Pepper. It can't be worse than salt. Salt contributes to hypertension and high blood pressure, just to name a few. In our homes, we can toss out those Salt and Pepper shakers and replace them with what we want to try. Isn't that funny how we are subconsciously controlled in that way to use Salt and Pepper and to think that is are sole options?
Go to the supermarket and experiment with at least three different spices. Place them on the dinner table and tuck away the salt and pepper. I challenge you to live like that for two weeks. Just TWO weeks.
I can tell you that after that time, you will really awaken your taste buds and have a new appreciation for flavor at meal time.
Learn to taste with all your taste buds. Taste all six flavors: Sweet, Salty, Sour, Pungent, Bitter, and Astringent.
The many herbs and spices that many are rediscovering and are becoming conscious to, have positive health benefits. Of course, garlic has heart health benefits in that it helps thin the blood (without aspirin!), lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Ginger and turmeric have anti-inflammatory effects as well. Ginger can also be used to alleviate nausea too.
How about Cardamom? This spice can help with asthma and respiratory issues.
Herbs and spices have wonderful benefits; however, it is important to talk over the information about herbs and spices with a holistic health care provider before independently experimenting. Why? Because many people take prescription drugs. Prescription drugs are man-made synthetics and chemical forms of herbs and spices. Because of this, a drug and a spice that have the same purpose may contradict each other.
Keep it simple at first and experiment with something easy like Basil and Thyme. Find a holistic health practitioner to go over the rest. Remember what Hippocrates said: "Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food."
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