Seasonings That Help Your Health

There's always a lot of attention paid to the health benefits of what's in food, but what about what's on our food?

NYU Medical Center clinical nutritionist Samantha Heller tells The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm that many seasonings not only make food taste good but are good for you.

Those herbs and spices do double-duty, but don't expect to see whole meals made of them. Heller says that many of them are simply too strong and pungent to eat alone. They're great taste enhancers, but you probably wouldn't like a salad made exclusively of basil greens, whose ursolic acid may suppress cancer cells.

Still, it's good to know what the healthful properties are because including certain seasonings in your diet can have a protective effect over time.

Herbs and spices come in various forms — such as dried, raw and granulated — and, Heller points out, no one form is healthier than any other. For instance, crystallized ginger is just as beneficial as raw.

As for some specific seasonings:

Cinnamon

It's been used for centuries in fragrances, perfumes, as a spice in foods, and for ailments ranging from indigestion to influenza.

A conventional folk remedy, cinnamon's healing qualities don't have a lot of scientific research to support them yet. One notable exception is a recent clinical study that found cinnamon may help improve glucose and lipids in people with Type 2 diabetes. If you're a Type 2 diabetic or you are insulin resistant, try including some cinnamon in your diet.

Cinnamon powder, bark and teas are widely available in most stores.

Turmeric

Turmeric, a spice grown in India, China and southern Asia, is best known as the bright yellow spice in curry powder and mustard.

Curcumin is a compound that's been isolated from turmeric and has many healing properties. In particular, curcumin acts as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that helps protect the body's cells against cancer and tumor growth.

Research also shows that curcumin may help reduce the progression of coronary vascular disease and retina problems associated with Type 2 diabetes.

Fennel

Fennel is a popular herb used with fish. A member of the parsley family, fennel has long been used to treat dyspepsia, flatulence and nausea. Clinical studies have shown that fennel helps reduce colic in babies and menstruation pain in women. You can chew on some fennel seeds or sip some fennel tea to help relieve stomach or menstrual discomforts.

Ginger

Ginger is known to take care of stomach problems. It's a versatile root that can be used to complement sushi or spice up a ginger cake.

Ginger is a popular remedy used to help reduce nausea, motion sickness or morning sickness associated with pregnancy.

In addition, some studies suggest that ginger's anti-inflammatory properties may help relieve symptoms of arthritis, rheumatism and musculoskeletal disorders.

It's easy to add ginger to your diet by eating crystallized ginger or brewing some ginger tea. For ginger tea, take about ¼ teaspoon of the chopped root, pour boiling water over it, and let it steep for five minutes. A little honey will sweeten it up nicely.

Rosemary

Rosemary is a woody shrub with narrow, aromatic leaves often used in cooking. Germany has approved it for the treatment of indigestion, to help relieve symptoms of rheumatism and, when applied externally, for people with circulatory disorders.

For an invigorating and wonderfully scented bath, pour in some brewed rosemary tea.

Rosemary is not only good in you, it is also good on you. Dietitians and herbal specialists say rosemary is good for the scalp and hair. Rinsing dark hair with concentrated rosemary tea will make it shine.

Rosemary oil helps increase circulation in the scalp and stimulates hair follicles. That may help some people prevent premature baldness. For sore feet, Heller adds, soaking them in a very warm foot bath made of concentrated rosemary tea helps to relax muscles, stimulate circulation and heal strains.