India is a land of culinary ethnic spices, and so it is tough to find a household in India where kitchen cabinets aren't filled with various herbs and spices. Not just these spices add flavours and aroma to our dishes, but they are also highly loaded with numerous health benefits.
Many spices have been considered high in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties for centuries. And it is known to all that in health ailments like arthritis, there is a lot of inflammation involved. People with arthritis suffer from inflammation of joints and other parts of the body. To lessen the chronic pain; arthritis patients go through, one great idea is to help them with foods that fight inflammation.
Usually, when you are cooking a meal, food is preferred first, and spices are just an afterthought. However, to avail yourself, the benefits of anti-inflammatory spices, make sure to add them to the meals as much as possible.
For arthritis patients, here are some anti-inflammatory spices to acknowledge when going to the kitchen next time.
Turmeric
The yellow spice, which is much popular in Indian cuisine, is high in anti-inflammatory properties. The main ingredient curcumin present in turmeric helps fight inflammation and swelling in the body. It helps to cure several types of arthritis conditions. Turmeric is much more than lending colour and flavour to dishes; it reduces inflammation and provides many other complementary health benefits.
Here's how you can use turmeric for arthritis:
- Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper to boiling water. Let it heat for 5-10 minutes and, then add lemon or honey to taste.
Ginger
Ginger has been used much longer in Ayurveda for its healing properties and, of course, culinary uses. People have been using ginger for nausea and morning sickness. Moreover, using ginger for pain and inflammation caused due to arthritis has been also proved to be very effective. Gingerol and shogoal are compounds present in ginger that help fight inflammation. Ginger has proved beneficial to help cure rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Here's how you can use ginger for arthritis:
- You can consume ginger tea to reduce arthritis pain. Add 1 teaspoon of ginger powder to boiling water. Let it simmer for 5-10 minutes, and then drink it empty stomach.
- Apply cream or oil containing ginger to affected areas.
Black Pepper
Black pepper is a staple of every Indian kitchen used broadly to add sharp punches to the dishes. Although did you know that the most active ingredient, piperine, present in black pepper, is super beneficial for health. This king of spices is valued highly for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Many studies suggest that piperine is effective in the initial inflammatory processes.
Here's how you can use black pepper for arthritis:
- Though known to all, using black pepper for seasoning salads, soups and curries is one good way to include it in the diet.
- Turmeric and black pepper used together are excellent for curing inflammations of the body. Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric and black pepper each to boiling water. After simmering, add milk and honey to taste.
Coriander
Coriander is again a powerful spice that you must add to your anti-inflammatory diet. As per Hindustan Times, coriander is beneficial in reducing the swelling of joints in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Coriander helps bring a notable reduction in joint swelling, and also it stops the release of biochemical that lead to it.
Here's how you can use coriander for arthritis:
- Add coriander powder or seeds to boiling water and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Drinking one cup of this every day will help reduce joint pain and swelling.
Cumin
The active compounds present in cumin seeds are high in anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. So, in case of pain and inflammations in the body, adding cumin seeds to your diet is beneficial. Research also suggest that cumin seeds have come out to be effective in reducing pain and inflammation.
Here's how you can use cumin for arthritis:
- Add 1 cup of cumin seeds to boiling water and let it cool for 10 minutes before drinking it.
- Using cumin, coriander and fenugreek in the form of oil for arthritis have been the most effective. Apply the essential oil on areas that pain every day.
Bid adieu to the joints and muscle pain by adding these anti-inflammatory spices to your meals.
Grab all these spices from the Vasant masala. You can also buy a blend of coriander-cumin powder from our online masala store.Vasant's spices are hand-picked and freshly grounded so that your meal becomes flavoursome.Vasant masala has been delivering 100% pure and authentic spices for more than 50 years now.
Visit our e-store and add zest to your dishes by stocking up Vasant's spices!
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