From the aroma of cloves to the warmth of cinnamon, India has always been dealing with flavors that bring with them healing wisdom from hundreds of years. Present science is finally researching many of those spices with studies that show that they are abundant with bioactive molecules to foster health, healing, and overall wellness.
If you ever typed ‘Yoga Class Near Me‘ into a search bar to boost health, you’ll love to know that supplementing yoga with these spices can double its benefits. So let’s look at six daily Indian spices that go beyond flavor and have healing properties. All the spices can be used as you normally would while cooking, but below mentioned are some additional ways you can consume them as well.
1. Turmeric (Haldi):
Turmeric, or “haldi,” is arguably the most popular Indian spice globally. Its vibrant yellow molecule curcumin has excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Curcumin has been studied to reduce joint discomfort in arthritic patients. It supports brain health by raising BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) levels. It also reduces oxidative stress and postpones aging.
How to consume: Take a pinch with warm milk at bedtime. (Haldi doodh or golden latte) is increasingly popular not just in India but all over the world.
2. Cinnamon (Dalchini):
Sweet and medicine-like, cinnamon has been found to improve the body’s ability to absorb insulin and decrease blood glucose levels and is thus especially useful to type 2 diabetes patients. It’s very high in polyphenols to boot and is useful to fight off inflammation and maintain a healthy heart.
How to consume: Sprinkle cinnamon powder over fruits or oats, to get a natural health boost.
3. Ginger (Adrak):
Ginger, or “adrak,” is consumed fresh, dried, or powdered when cooked Indian style. It’s a savior when you have motion sickness or nausea. It contains active principles like gingerol and shogaol to soothe the stomach and boost gastric emptying. It has strong anti-inflammatory elements and can assist with stiff muscles/muscle stiffness or joint stiffness. Scientific studies have further linked ginger to increased insulin sensitivity to support metabolic health.
How to consume: Grate ginger over soups, stir fries, or warm water. A piece of raw ginger with honey is a quicker home remedy for sore throats as well.
4. Black Pepper (Kali Mirch):
Referred to as the “king of spices,” black pepper or “kali mirch,” beyond providing a spicy flavor to food items, increases nutrient uptake as well. The active component is piperine and enhances curcumin from turmeric by 2000% with respect to bioavailability. Black pepper is moreover antibacterial and anti inflammatory. It also assists with digestion by promoting secretions of stomach acid.
How to consume: Always combine a pinch of black pepper with turmeric while making recipes. Freshly cracked black pepper sprinkled upon soups, salads, and curries provides flavor and nutrition.
5. Cloves (Laung):
Cloves are small but powerful. They are high in eugenol, a chemical with strong antimicrobial and anti inflammatory activities. For centuries, clove oil has been applied to relieve toothache, and scientific research supports its capacity to combat destructive oral bacteria. Outside oral health, there is evidence to show that cloves can help maintain liver health and blood glucose regulation.
How to consume: Use one to two cloves while making curries or when boiling tea. Chewing a clove after food makes the breath fresh and facilitates digestion.
6. Cumin (Jeera):
Jeera seeds are tiny but powerful. Indians have been drinking jeera water for centuries to help with gas and indigestion. It stimulates digestive enzymes to facilitate easier food digestion. It has antimicrobial activity to ensure gut health. As it is rich in iron, it aids circulation and provides energy.
How to Consume: Grind and powder cumin seeds to flavor dals, vegetables, or buttermilk. Drinking jeera water first thing when you wake up is a simple wellness hack.
Boosting its Benefits
Even though spices have strong healing capacity, they are strongest when paired with a healthy lifestyle. A healthy diet, daily movement, and tension management increase their strength. More and more people today are pairing the ancient practice of yoga with mindful eating.
To get started with practicing Yoga in Hyderabad you can simply enter “yoga class near me” on Google and you’ll see plenty of online and offline classes to choose from. Merging yoga’s calming, health strengthening advantages with healing attributes of spices creates a complete health and well being system by synchronizing mind and body with nutrition.
Final Thoughts
Indian spices are not only flavoring agents; it is the medicine of nature. By pairing them with exercises like yoga, these common kitchen items can transform your daily food from being a source of nutrition to being tools of health and healing. If you live in Hyderabad, practicing yoga in Hyderabad has become very easy due to the advancement of modern technology that one can now practice yoga within their own home.
So when you grab that bottle of cinnamon or turmeric as you are cooking, remember you are healing while you are cooking and Indian food wisdom is deeply connected with health and healing with harmony.
