Health Benefits of Christmas Spice

Mmm, Christmas spices… aren't they just wonderful? There's something about the smell of these spices that's just the essence of Christmas. It's not just the smell and taste that's delightful, there are many health benefits associated with them too.

Cinnamon

Indians have been using cinnamon for centuries. It can help warm you up and stimulates your appetite. It can have a great affect on metabolism and blood glucose levels. A study carried out by the nutrition lab at US Agricultural Research Service found that cinnamon increases responsiveness to insulin. That's why a number of diabetics are taking cinnamon. Other reasons for taking cinnamon include helping with IBS, colds and flu.

Ginger

Including ginger in your diet is easy. It is a popular ingredient in Chinese and Indian meals, tastes great in preserves and can be crystallized with sugar. Not to mention ginger bread and cakes. It's a popular remedy for stomach upsets, travel sickness and morning sickness. Because people tend to suffer colds over the winter period, add 2 tablespoons of grated ginger to boiling water and drink 2-3 times a day. Alternatively, add a few slices of fresh ginger or a few drops of ginger oil to some hot water and inhale.

Cloves

Clove oil has been used since Ancient times to freshen breath. Today dentists rub the main constituent of clove, eugenol, onto gums because it's naturally anaesthetic and antibacterial. Recent research has found it to be effective against superbug staphylococcus when combined with eucalyptus, lemon, thyme, tea tree and alcohol. Because of its antiseptic properties it can also helps with flu, colds, and bronchial congestion.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is probably the most bizarre of the Christmas spices. It's been used by the Ancient Egyptians for embalming; has been used as a treatment from piles in the Middle Ages and is also an alternative to marijuana. People on the Banda Islands, Indonesia will rub nutmeg oil onto their stomachs if they want to treat the flu and forehead for headaches.

Eating foods with Christmas spices is great because they taste so fabulous but also offer so many health benefits; even more than in this article. We often take these spices for granted but hundreds of years ago only gold and silver were more expensive commodities.

Natural Health Remedies
A blog about health and fitness