Eating healthy has many benefits, and using food as medicine is the primary tool throughout the world. As the popular saying goes, “Let thy food be thy medicine!”
Herbs and Spices – The Original Medicine
Over five thousand years ago, people used herbs and spices to cure health problems. Everything from skin rashes to digestive problems to life-threatening injuries were treated with herbs and spices. It was the standard of medical care up to approximately 100 years ago when different chemicals were isolated from herbs and spices to create pharmaceutical drugs.
Even today, in most of the world, herbs and spices are turned to for primary medical care. For example, it’s the standard in Europe, Asia, and Africa to prescribe an herbal remedy before a prescription drug.
Fortunately, many of the herbs and spices used for common health issues can be found in the grocery store. And you can add them to your regular meals to enhance the taste and health benefits. They’re everyday foods, like garlic, spinach, turmeric, pepper, cumin, and ginger.
How You Can Get More Herbs and Spices In Your Diet
It might seem like a daunting task, eating enough herbs and spices to really get a good effect. But, you don’t need medicinal strength herbs every day. Getting a wide range of different flavors can help prevent many problems before they even start.
Use A Salt and Herb Mix Instead of Plain Salt
If you don’t use a lot of herbs and spices, you can start by choosing some of the great mixes pre-made on the grocery store shelf. Some varieties mix salt with various herbs and spices, like garlic, oregano, cumin, anise, cardamom, and many others. Then, once you get used to the flavors, you can reduce and eliminate the salt altogether.
Try 1 New Herb or Spice Every Month
Keep trying new things. You can add different herbs and spices to your meals just by choosing something new and unusual every month. The grocery stores have dozens of varieties, and you can try one new thing a month for years.
Make A Dish That Features A Specific Herb or Spice
You can really experience new and unusual herbs by making a dish that features one. Many ethnic dishes will feature a star flavor, like basil, coriander, or anise. You can get a taste of whether you like those herbs and spices by enjoying different and new dishes.
Eating herbs and spices can help make you feel healthier and offset problems caused by too much salt and sugar. Plus, it gives you a whole new range of experiences that can make your food exciting and unique. Read more in Part 2, where we talk about using the right veggies at the right time to boost your energy and health!
Photo credit: Big stock photo
