These Ten Everyday Spices Also Have Many Health Benefits

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Spices can be a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance and are used all over the world for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants used for flavoring or as a garnish. Spices are sometimes used in medicine, religious rituals, cosmetics or perfume production. Depending on their geographical origin, the native spices play a vital role in the cuisines and culture of that region.

Cloves were used in Mesopotamia by 1700 BC. The ancient Indian epic Ramayana mentions cloves. The Romans had cloves in the 1st century CE, as Pliny the Elder wrote about them. The Egyptians used herbs for mummification and their demand for exotic spices and herbs helped stimulate world trade.

The word spice comes from the Old French word espice, which became epice, and which came from the Latin root spec, the noun referring to “appearance, sort, kind”. Species has the same root.

The earliest written records of spices come from ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Indian cultures. The Ebers Papyrus from Early Egyptians that dates from 1550 B.C.E. describes some eight hundred different medicinal remedies and numerous medicinal procedures.

Here are some basic spices found in every household along with their health benefits. Before rushing to the medicine closet, rush to the kitchen instead to give these a shot for basic ailments.

1. Turmeric

Known as the gold among spices, this spice’s reputation has shot up since COVID 19 for its decongestant, antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties. Turmeric is also packed with antioxidant, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-mutagenic properties. It is good for your brain, relieves arthritis, prevents cancer and has healing properties. Rich in circumin, turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties have been instrumental in treating osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic pain conditions.

2. Star anise

Star nise is usually used for culinary purposes in Chinese, Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian cuisines. Star anise is a spice made from the fruit of the Chinese evergreen tree Illicium verum. It’s aptly named for the star-shaped pods from which the spice seeds are harvested and has a flavor that is reminiscent of licorice. It is a rich source of two important antioxidants namely linalool, an essential oil, and vitamin C that protects the body against cellular damage caused by environmental toxins. Some researches indicate that the antioxidant capacity of this spice may even possess anti-cancer properties, such as reducing tumor size

3. Mustard

Mustard has a spicy flavor and is native to the temperate areas of Europe. It helps reduce pain, stimulates appetite and relieves symptoms of arthritis. Including mustard oil in your regular diet could prove to be beneficial to your heart health as it is a rich source of MUFA, and lowers bad cholesterol in the body. In Maharashtra, mustea1e63ard oil is used for body massage during extreme winters, as it is thought to keep the body warm. Mustard seeds are a rich source of oil and protein. The seed has oil as high as 46-48%, and the whole seed meal has 43.6% protein.

4. Black Pepper

Black pepper, also known as the king of spices, promotes weight loss, helps relieve cold and cough, improves digestion, boosts metabolism and treats many skin problems. Add this fact to a glass of turmeric milk and it becomes much more therapeutic with a pinch of black pepper. Combined with honey, this is a great cure for throat irritations and coughs. In ancient medicine, black pepper was believed to cure several illnesses, such as constipation, insomnia, oral abscesses, sunburn, and toothaches, among others. One tablespoon of ground black pepper contains moderate amounts of vitamin K, iron and manganese with trace amounts of other essential nutrients, protein, and dietary fibre.

5. Cumin

It has the ability to aid digestion, improve immunity and treat skin disorders, insomnia, respiratory disorders, asthma, bronchitis and anemia. In India, most gravies are flavoured with cumin as it is a common remedy for digestive issues. The seeds are powdered and used in different forms like kashaya (decoction), arishta (fermented decoction), and vati (tablet/pills), and processed with ghee (a semifluid clarified butter). In traditional medicine practices of several countries, dried cumin seeds are believed to have medicinal purposes.

6. Clove

Clove oil is one of the richest sources of antioxidants. Cloves are antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic. They are rich sources of minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and vitamins and minerals. In aromatherapy, it is used as an antiseptic and pain reliever especially for toothaches and stomach pain. It is often mixed with other oils to treat various disorders. Chewing on some clove buds can help reduce a coughing fit.

7. Cinnamon

Cinnamon has a large number of antioxidants which protects the body from body diseases and is anti-inflammatory in nature. Cinnamon forms a part of many exotic dishes and reduces bloating. This is the bark of the tree which is used as a spice and used in cookery as a condiment and flavouring material. It is known to lower total cholesterol and triglycerides. It is often used to fight insulin resistance for elevated insulin levels. Cinnamon has a long history of use in traditional medicine as a digestive system aide.

8. Cardamom

Also known as elaichi, cardamom hails from India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Indonesia. Green cardamom is one of the most expensive spices by weight but little is needed to impart flavour. It is best stored in the pod, as exposed or ground seeds quickly lose their flavor. A rich source of vitamin A and vitamin C, calcium, iron, and zinc, this spice promotes heart health, helps in digestion, enhances oral health, helps in diabetes, helps fight depression, fights asthma, prevents blood clots and treats skin infections. Individual seeds are sometimes chewed and used in much the same way as chewing gum as it helps to neutralize the breath odors.

9. Saffron

It comes from a flower’s stigma and styles. These are called threads, and collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food. Saffron has long been the world’s most costly spice by weight and has a very distinctive aroma. It is often used in cooking to give its color and essence to the food. It helps manage asthma, aids in menstrual problems and soothes dry skin. Saffron has also been studied for its possible beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors, such as lipid profile, blood glucose, weight, and in erectile dysfunction. Saffron infused milk is usually consumed for flawless, bright skin tone abd is used in creams and lotions for this property.

10. Fenugreek

This spice has many medicinal uses. It improves digestion, is known to increase libido in men, promotes milk flow in mothers, helps those suffering from eating disorders and also reduces inflammation. Also used in traditional medicine, fenugreek can increase the risk for serious medical side effects, though its culinary use (in smaller quantities) is usually believed to be safe. Fenugreek dietary supplements are manufactured from powdered seeds into capsules, loose powders, teas, and liquid extracts in many countries. Powders may also be used as a topical medication or dressing for skin wounds or eczema.

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While celebrity and stardom may look all glitzy and glamorous to the outside world, little do we realise that even celebs and famous personalities are after all vulnerable humans like us and are fighting their own battles. While some fall sick and quickly recover, many illnesses are fatal, chronic, and invisible with pain being one of the long term issues that can hinder every minute of your existence. While looking beautiful and happy on the outside, here are 10 lady celebs who have not had it easy and have battled with chronic pain disorders in their life.

Padma Lakshmi

Endometriosis

The Emmy-nominated host of Bravo TV’s Top Chef, Padma Lakshmi, now 48, suffers from endometriosis. Padma told in an interview to a magazine in April 2009 that she found out in a very hard, difficult way–and had to be operated on. In endometriosis, during each menstrual cycle, tissue builds up, breaks down, and bleeds, leading to very painful menstrual cramps, chronic lower back and pelvic pain, painful sex, bleeding, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and nausea. What started as cramps at age 13 for her, got worse over time. For more than two decades, Lakshmi had struggled to manage the chronic pain that arrived with her periods. She is now an advocate on women’s health and works to destigmatize the topic of menstruation.

Sonali Bendre

Metastatic Cancer

Sonali Bendre was been diagnosed with metastatic cancer also known as high-grade cancer where cancer cells spread to the rest of the body through the circulatory or lymphatic system. Sonali Bendre revealed that she was suffering from continuous pain in her body which led to her getting tested in the first place, and that was how she found out about the disease.

”As women we are thought to bear the pain as a part of our life and so we don’t take our aches and pains seriously and that is what made me delay my diagnosis,” she said in a TV interview. She underwent treatment in New York.

Selena Gomez

Lupus

28 years old Selena Marie Gomez the singer, songwriter, actress, and producer from Texas, USA said in 2015 that she suffers from lupus, an inflammatory disease that causes the immune system to attack its own tissues. Apart from skin rashes, lupus is known to cause achy joints (arthralgia), swollen joints (arthritis), constant or severe fatigue, ankle swelling. Lupus harmed her kidneys, and she underwent a kidney transplant in 2017.

Lady Gaga

Fibromyalgia

Stephanie Germanotta is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, and businesswoman. Two years back, Gaga revealed her struggle with fibromyalgia, a condition that affects the nervous system and causes widespread pain throughout the body.

She also came up with a documentary about it. “In our documentary the #chronicillness #chronicpain I deal with is #Fibromyalgia,” she tweeted in September 2017. “I wish to help raise awareness & connect people who have it.” Fibromyalgia causes widespread muscle pain, along with fatigue and issues with sleep and memory.

“I get so irritated with people who don’t believe fibromyalgia is real,” the singer said in an interview to the media. “For me, and I think for many others, it’s really a cyclone of anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, and panic disorder, all of which sends the nervous system into overdrive, and then you have nerve pain as a result.”

Gigi Hadid

Hashimoto’s disease

International model Gigi Hadid or Jelena Noura (also the wife of Zayn Malik of One Direction band fame) suffers from Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder in which your immune system creates antibodies that damage your thyroid gland and what causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland is still unknown. Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, joint pain and stiffness, and muscle weakness are common symptoms among other issues.

“For those of you so determined to come up [with] why my body has changed over the years, you may not know that when I started [at] 17 I was not yet diagnosed [with] Hashimoto’s disease,” she tweeted in February 2018. “Those of [you] who called me ‘too big for the industry’ were seeing inflammation & water retention due to that.”

Venus Williams

Sjogren’s syndrome

The former world No. 1 tennis Player Venus was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, an auto-immune disease whose symptoms include joint pain and fatigue. Williams has struggled since her diagnosis, pulling out of the 2011 US Open after being overwhelmed with fatigue. In Srojen’s syndrome, the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy cells that produce saliva and tears. Sjögren’s syndrome often occurs with other such disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Muscle or joint pain, swelling between the jaw and ears (swollen salivary glands), and some other symptoms of this disease.

“The fatigue is hard to explain unless you have it,” she told in a media interview The New York Times in 2011 of her struggle with Sjogren’s syndrome. “Some mornings I feel really sick, like when you don’t get a lot of sleep or you have the flu or cold. I always have some level of tiredness. And the more I tried to push through it, the tougher it got.”

Swara Bhaskar

Slipped disc

A couple of years back, actress Swara Bhasker revealed in an Instagram story that she had to be on bed rest for 10 days because of a slipped disk problem. Not taking adequate rest, there are chances that she might need 8 weeks of bed rest after 2 weeks. This condition occurs when the soft centre of a spinal disc pushes through a crack in the tougher exterior casing of a vertebra. Though Some herniated discs cause no symptoms, Others can irritate nearby nerves and result in pain, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg. Not every disc needs intervention but some may need to be treated with medication, physiotherapy and possibly surgery.

Sneha Ullal

Autoimmune disorder

Cast against Salman Khan in ‘Lucky — No Time For Love’ (2005), she was called Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s look alike. But she disappeared from the industry as she was diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder.

“It’s a blood-related illness where my own immune system kept me unwell”, she said. “My body would become so weak that I would not be able to stand on my feet for more than 30 to 40 minutes and because I kept shooting for films even with this illness, it got worse. Beyond a point, I didn’t have the strength to do what an actress is expected to do — running around, dancing and continuous shooting etc. That’s when I had to stop and start my medication, because there was no point in doing films and then falling sick every other day.

Lisa Ray
Cancer (Multiple Myeloma)

The famous actor and model, Lisa Ray was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2009, a rare cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Lisa announced she was cancer-free in 2010 but not completely cured as disease is treatable but incurable. Bone pain, Bone weakness, Broken bones (fractures) are some symptoms of this disease amongst many others.

Samantha
Polymorphous Light Eruption

Samantha, the popular actress down south, suffers from called PLE or Polymorphous Light Eruption in 2012. This is a skin condition called by sunlight wherein the person starts feeling very itchy and it leads to a lot of pain. This usually happens to those having fair skins. Symptoms of polymorphic light eruption. An itchy or burning rash appears within hours or up to 2 to 3 days after exposure to sunlight and lasts for 2 weeks. The rash usually appears on the parts of the skin exposed to sunlight, typically the head, neck, chest,and arms but disappears without leaving a scar.