“Wow!! Food is so delicious!!”…..”Ah!! it looks scrumptious”…”Alas!!this dish has mouthwatering aroma!!”….. Well what made a dish delightful feast to senses with its flavor, color, texture and taste? Without a second thought I would tell that SPICES are whole reason behind tasty food. Not just taste, spices add health to food.
Spicing up your food..
On civilization, man explored nature to meet his basic needs- food, shelter, clothing and this also made him discover hidden treasure in mother earths lap to design his life with elegance. The elegance we enjoy now is the legacy gifted by our ancestors from mother earth. On such gift to make food palatable and delicious is SPICES. Spices are to spice up food which makes more attractable. Plants are manufacturers of not only food but also the ingredients that add taste, flavor, color and preservatives to food i.e., spices.
A part of plant having flavoring properties can be used in perfume and cosmetic industries. A part of plant having preserving properties can be used in food processing industry. A part of plant having anti-oxidant properties can be used as medicine in pharmaceutical industry. Such importance of particular plant part in various spheres of human life, spices occupies prominent place in kitchen. Specific plant part is either root{turmeric, ginger}, bark{cinnamon}, floral part{cloves, saffron }, fruit{chilies}, leaves{bay leaves}, seed{mustard, nutmeg, black pepper, coriander, cumin} or any plant substance which are nothing but SPICES.
Unnoticed impact of spices..
Spices are irreplaceable in daily diet by any other ingredient. Apart from eye witnessing facts of spices i.e., color, aroma, taste most un witnessed property of spices is its nutritional and medicinal value. Being home of tasty and spicy food, we draw value from native trees and plantations. Spices when used in small quantities add strong flavors but when used in large quantities spices ad calories to food. Along with calories some seed spices contain fat, protein and carbohydrates as well as minerals and micronutrients like iron, magnesium, calcium etc..
Spices are rich in anti-oxidants primarily phenol compounds. Thus spices aid in absorption of minerals and nutrients from food. Due to anti-oxidant activity, spices possess anti microbial properties hence enhance immunity in body that helps in fighting against diseases. Carrying the delight to benefit society, we would like to share knowledge immunity boosting properties of spices.
Important Indian spices in diet..
Bay leaf: dried bay leaf is used to add flavor to biryani or pulav hence got name as pulav leaf. Bay leaf is considered as wisdom. It is used to treat stomach problems and flu like symptoms. Bay leaves contain dietary fiber and have zero fat, zero cholesterol. It is rich source of iron.
Black pepper: Black pepper as grounded seed gives spicy tinge to taste. It is boiled in milk along with turmeric to get rid of common cold and cough. It helps in reduce body weight and improves digestion. It even helps in improving skin and reduces depression. One table spoon of black pepper adds 251 calories to food. Black pepper is source of sodium, potassium, protein and dietary fiber. Along with these, minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and vitamin B-6 were added to daily diet by black pepper.
Chili
powder: Chilies
due to capsaicin which induces pungency helps in fight inflammation. It also
helps in boosting immunity, losing weight.
Common ingredient in every dish to add color ans spice nature. Without
chili, one can say a dish is incomplete. 100 grams of chili powder adds 282 calories to
food. It is source of fat, sodium, potassium, protein, dietary fiber, vitamin
A, vitamin B-6, vitamin C, iron, calcium and magnesium.
Cinnamon: Dried bark of cinnamon add strong flavor and has anti oxidant properties, anti diabetic properties, anti- inflammatory properties and helps in fight against fungal and bacterial diseases. 100 grams of cinnamon adds 247 calories to food. It is source of potassium, protein, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B-6, vitamin C, iron, calcium and magnesium.
Cloves: Floral buds with essential oil can be used in pain relief. It helps in regulating blood suhgar levels, reduce stomach ulcers, improve bone and liver health. 100 grams of clove adds 274 calories to food. It is source of fat, sodium, potassium, protein, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B-6, iron, calcium and magnesium.
Cumin: Cumin seeds usage helps in
reduce body weight, reduce bad cholesterol and its essential oil aid in reduce
blood sugar levels as well as regularize bowel movements. 100 grams of cumin
adds 375 calories to food. It is source of fat, sodium, potassium, protein,
dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B-6, vitamin C, iron, calcium and magnesium.
Coriander: coriander either in seed form or leaf form is rich in antioxidants hence help in immunity boosting, improving brain, heart and gut health. One table spoon of coriander adds 5 calories to food. It is source of fat, sodium, potassium, protein, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B-6, vitamin C, iron, calcium and magnesium.
Ginger: Rhizome of ginger helps in
treating morning sickness, fights against infections, relives muscles as well
as menstrual pain and improve digestion and brain health. 100 grams of ginger adds 80 calories to food.
It is source of potassium, protein, dietary fiber, vitamin B-6, vitamin C,
iron, calcium and magnesium.
Garlic: garlic helps in detoxifying
heavy metals, reducing body cholesterol, improving bone health, reducing blood
pressure and combating sickness due to its anti-oxidants. 100 grams of garlic adds 331 calories to
food. It is source of fat, sodium, potassium, protein, dietary fiber, vitamin
B-6, vitamin C, iron, calcium and magnesium.
Turmeric: grounded or rhizome of turmeric
with yellow colored curcumin chemical raises it position from merry spice to
cosmetic. It has antibiotic potential and can be used as spices in foods, as a
cosmetic to enhance beauty as well as held its position on religious rituals.
IMMUNITY BOOSTER
With untapped potential of
precious spices, reap the benefits of essential oils and anti-oxidants in
spices to boost body immunity.
Preparing immunity boosting drink to fight infections like COVID-19 to which immunity is only warrior in our body...
- Take water and let it boil for few minutes
- Meanwhile
grind table spoon of each spice- black
pepper, cloves, cinnamon, cumin and coriander in mortar and pestle
- Add
ground spices to boiling water
- Add
a pinch of turmeric powder
- Add
crushed ginger to boiling water
- Boil
the contents till it reduces to half volume
- Strain
the booster drink and add honey as per taste
Follow
seven steps to prepare immunity boosting drink. It is rich in anti- oxidants
and antibiotic properties that boost immunity to fight against fungal,
bacterial and viral diseases.
Let’s spice up immunity with spices…
- - Dasu
Rama Sri Vineela
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