There are several articles out there about the health benefits of herbs and spices, and a lot of herbal supplements on the market that pack those benefits in a convenient pill. We’ve had a lot of members ask: Could this herb solve my problem? Which herbal supplement is right for me?
These are good questions for your doctor, but at the end of the day, we know two things to be true:
01 Most herbs and spices are packed with antioxidants, and many are known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
02 Herbs and spices aren”t just good for you, they taste good too! You can get all the benefits and more by using them in your daily meals.
Herbs are a great way to get more flavor in your (healthy) food.
When you use herbs and spices, you’ll find you can enjoy food with less sugar, less fat, and less salt. A good Italian spice blend can transform bland vegetable soup into a marvelous minestrone. Spruce up your salad with fresh herbs and you won’t have to load up on the dressing – all you need is a light touch of lemon juice and olive oil or a spoonful of simple vinaigrette. It’s amazing how good simple, healthy ingredients can taste!
More flavor can be better for your eating habits.
Herb and spice blends can make simple recipes shine, which means fewer ingredients you need to buy and less time you need to cook (or assemble) healthy meals at home. When you start testing new flavor combinations, you’re becoming more aware of what you’re eating. When you slow down to savor the spices in your food, you enjoy your food more and are more aware of becoming full. It’s a win-win all around!
Variety is the spice of life.
Just like with fruits and vegetables, we recommend trying a small variety of spices at a time and work your way up to find the combinations you like the most. There are so many different spices to enjoy and ways to enjoy them – why not try them all. Remember, a little goes a long way! A dash of cinnamon in your coffee, fresh mint in your water, an Italian herb blend on your chicken, fresh basil in your salad, turmeric and curry on your vegetables the list goes on and on.
The best part is you can use your herbs to make the ingredients you buy in bulk shine in different dishes, with different tastes and textures. For example, if you grilled chicken over the weekend, you can use your leftovers with Italian spices on Monday, with Indian curry spices on Tuesday, as chicken salad (with dill and celery) for Wednesday, on a Mediterranean-spiced greek salad for Thursday, and in a stir-fry with Chinese five-spice on Friday – 5 completely different meals! Just make sure you’ve got the right veggies and healthy starch in the mix to make your healthy plate.
Talk to your Health Advisor for recipe recommendations and more specific tips based on your preferences and needs. We’re here to help!
