'Spice a dish with love- it pleases every soul'- the health benefits of spices

    KEYWORDS- spice, dried spice, fresh spice, health benefits, medicine, patents, food is medicine

    AVERAGE READING TIME- 8 MINS                            

This article furnishes information on the taste of spice. Spice is one of the essential six tastes. Spice along with the other tastes are experienced in the tongue. Each region in the tongue is designated to a unique taste. The food molecules bound to certain receptors present in that particular region of the tongue. There are some specialized cells in the tongue called gustatory cells. These cells contain gustatory hairs which house the receptors for several tastes. The molecules upon binding with the respective receptor triggers the release of certain substances which get converted into electrical signals. These signals on reaching the appropriate region in the brain get perceived as the corresponding taste. The response to these molecules in the food are facial expressions, hand gestures, and sometimes action based on the degree of the emotion exhibited at that time. It is believed that good food can trigger positive emotions and can relieve the brain from negative emotions. 

Spices are mainly of two types namely fresh and dry. The green chilli, capsicum (bell pepper), ginger mint and basil are some of the classic examples of fresh spices. There are a lot of dishes ranging from pizzas to pasta to a lot more that incorporate these spices. 

some of the fresh spices

Green chilli has Vitamin C and antioxidants. Chili can prevent the occurrence of many lifestyle diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and even cancer. Capsicum can boost metabolism. The natural colouring in the capsicum contains phytonutrients called lycopene which can protect the heart. Ginger has antioxidants and can fight against infections. It can relieve sore muscles and lower blood sugar levels. Ginger can alleviate the symptoms of arthritis and can reduce menstrual pain. Mint is known for its cooling nature. It keeps the mouth fresh and the body cool. It can prevent and cure a lot of digestive problems and can boost the mind. Basil leaves are rich in antioxidants and can fight infections. They have a wide range of applications in Ayurvedic and alternative medicine.

some of the dried spices used in Indian culinary

                                      

There are some dried spices that are proven medicinal and have plenty of health benefits. The Indian culture especially the ones in the south understands the importance of these spices and incorporates them in their culinary so as to get maximum benefits out of them. Some of the spices seen commonly in Indian culinary involves:-

👉 pepper                                                                    

👉 dried chilli (kashmiri, guntur etc.)

👉 cardamom

👉 clove

👉 turmeric

👉 nutmeg

👉 coriander

pepper is one of the essential spices used in Indian culinary. The medicinal purposes of pepper were well understood by the British traders who traded the pepper with the Indians. Pepper is rich in anti-oxidants and has the potential to cure cancer. The ICAR-IISR (Indian Institute of Spice Research) holds the patent for pepper.

dried chilli has a reserve of iron and can help in the circulation of blood flow, increase the oxygen-binding capacity of haemoglobin and can improve certain brain functions.

cardamom has a lot of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents and can prevent the occurrence of severe diseases including cancer. It kills the mouth bacteria and can keep the mouth fresh with its aroma. Nepal is in the process of getting a patent for cardamom. 

clove has a lot of medicinal properties. It is used to relieve tooth pain by killing the bacteria in the mouth which can cause plague. People can get relief from tooth pain by chewing the clove in between the teeth which are in pain. Apart from this, clove is rich in antioxidants and can regulate blood sugar levels. The United Kingdom (UK) holds the patent for clove and its application in the field of dentistry.

turmeric is one of the spices used in daily cooking. Most of the south Indian dishes incorporates turmeric in them. It is a natural food colouring for the colour of yellow. Apart from this, they have a lot of health benefits. Turmeric has anti-microbial properties. This is the reason for the practice seen in Indian culture where turmeric is applied to any open wound to prevent any infection. Turmeric is also incorporated in a lot of ayurvedic cosmetics. This Indian-origin herb is now patented by the US.

nutmeg also has a lot of medicinal properties. It is antibacterial and hence is used in dentistry products like toothpaste, toothpowder, and mouth wash. It has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties and can prevent the occurrence of several diseases. The US holds the patent for nutmeg.

the coriander seeds are used as a spice when dried. These seeds are highly beneficial. They can boost immunity and can lower blood sugar levels. It is anti-microbial and can fight off infections and protect the body. They can furnish protection to the essential organs like the brain and heart.

These are some of the health benefits furnished by the commonly used spices. It is essential to incorporate spices in our diet to enjoy the health benefits. It is better to consume foods with health benefits at younger ages rather than consuming pills for several diseases at older ages. The absorption capacity is the highest at the youngest ages and hence it is essential that children eat food rich with nutrients and boost their immunity so that they do not fall ill regularly. Spices are one of the potent foods which follow the saying "food is medicine".