| Compelling scientific research over the past two | | | | chemicals within the body, assist the body's |
| decades shows that not only are spices good for | | | | detoxification processes and modulate a range of |
| us but the evidence indicates that they are | | | | mechanisms involved in the development of |
| actually essential components of a balanced diet. | | | | cancer. |
| The health benefits of spices can be best | | | | Spices can also act as powerful treatments for |
| appreciated by dividing them into 10 principal | | | | certain types of cancer. |
| categories. | | | | Some spices enhance the effects of the |
| 1. ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY | | | | traditional cancer treatments of radiotherapy and |
| An antioxidant is a substance that prevents | | | | chemotherapy, as well as reducing the negative |
| oxidative damage by neutralizing the highly | | | | side effects of these therapies. |
| reactive and destructive free radical molecules | | | | The most important anticancer spices are anise, |
| that are produced during cellular energy | | | | basil, black pepper, caraway, clove, fennel, garlic, |
| production. Damaging oxidative stress occurs | | | | ginger, green tea, mustard, rosemary and |
| when there are insufficient antioxidants available | | | | turmeric. |
| to "mop up" excess free radicals. Oxidative stress | | | | 6. DIABETES |
| can be caused by infections, drugs, smoking, | | | | The phytonutrients found in spices help to control |
| pollution, radiation, excessive exercise, | | | | many of the pathological mechanisms that underlie |
| psychological stress and obesity. | | | | diabetes and metabolic syndrome. |
| Damage caused by oxidative stress has been | | | | Cinnamon, fenugreek, garlic, coriander, ginger and |
| implicated in a range of diseases including | | | | caper are the spices most effective in lowering |
| Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer, | | | | blood glucose and abnormal blood lipids. |
| heart disease and diabetes. | | | | The myriad of antioxidant compounds in spices |
| Some antioxidants are produced by the body, but | | | | also help to protect against the severe oxidative |
| these need to be supplemented by the | | | | damage to which all diabetes sufferers are |
| antioxidants found in foods. The best way to do | | | | subject. |
| this is by regularly eating a variety of | | | | 7. ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE |
| antioxidant-rich foods such as culinary herbs and | | | | The precise cause of Alzheimer's disease is |
| spices. | | | | unknown. However several factors such as |
| Spices have the highest antioxidant activity of all | | | | oxidative stress, inflammation and the |
| food groups including fresh fruit and vegetables | | | | accumulation of toxins in the brain are known to |
| (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition July 2006). | | | | be associated with its development. Communities |
| 2. INFLAMMATION | | | | that include high levels of spices in their diets have |
| There exists a pervasive type of systemic | | | | lower incidences of Alzheimer's disease than those |
| inflammation underlying a wide range of chronic | | | | who do not do so. |
| diseases that causes damage to most tissues and | | | | Turmeric, rosemary, ginger and garlic show |
| organs. This type of inflammation may be caused | | | | impressive protective and curative effects against |
| by a number of factors including obesity, infection, | | | | this disease. Their anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory |
| gum disease, toxins and autoimmune disease. | | | | anti-toxin and other effects all contribute to their |
| The phytonutrients found in spices can reduce the | | | | position as the most important food group in the |
| pathological effects of inflammation by acting | | | | prevention of Alzheimer's disease. |
| against each of these contributory factors as well | | | | 8. HEART DISEASE |
| as by direct anti-inflammatory action. | | | | Cardiovascular disease is associated with a range |
| The most potent anti-inflammatory spices are | | | | of factors including raised cholesterol and |
| bay leaf, garlic, ginger, oregano, rosemary, thyme | | | | triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, 'sticky' |
| and turmeric. | | | | platelets, obesity, smoking, diabetes and chronic |
| 3. IMMUNE SYSTEM | | | | systemic inflammation. |
| A healthy immune system is vital for the | | | | Spices are powerful preventative agents against |
| prevention of cancer, infections and other | | | | cardiovascular disease as they modify most risk |
| diseases. Although our immune systems weaken | | | | factors as well as other illnesses and pathological |
| as we age we can counter this by eating a diet | | | | processes associated with this condition. Caper, |
| rich in spice-based immune boosting compounds. | | | | cinnamon, coriander, fenugreek, garlic, ginger, |
| These will help aid our aging immune systems by | | | | mustard, oregano, rosemary, thyme and others |
| helping to fight off cancer and infections and | | | | exhibit powerful, protective effects against the |
| prevent the development of autoimmune | | | | development of heart attacks and strokes. |
| disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus etc. | | | | 9. MACULAR DEGENERATION |
| Spices particularly rich in immunomodulating | | | | Macular degeneration, also known as age related |
| phytonutrients are black pepper and garlic. | | | | macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease of the |
| 4. ANTI-TOXIN EFFECTS | | | | macula of the eye that is found predominantly in |
| We are continuously exposed to a number of | | | | elderly people and is the leading cause of central |
| toxins - from environmental pollutants to the | | | | vision loss in the USA for those over the age of |
| cancer-causing chemicals found in certain foods, | | | | 50 years. |
| such as red meat. While the body has | | | | Several very large studies have shown |
| mechanisms to deal with a limited variety and | | | | conclusively that those individuals who eat a diet |
| quantity of toxins, it needs additional help to | | | | rich in antioxidants reduce their risk of developing |
| counter sustained levels of these substances. | | | | macular degeneration by up to 35%. |
| Spice-derived compounds are extremely effective | | | | 10. AGING |
| in augmenting the body's mechanisms for | | | | Aging is a complex, multifaceted process that is |
| combating toxins. | | | | influenced by both genetic and environmental |
| Spices such as mustard, wasabi, caraway, citrus, | | | | factors. The processes underlying aging such as |
| coriander garlic, rosemary and turmeric neutralize | | | | oxidative stress and inflammation are common to |
| a whole range of environmental carcinogens and | | | | many age-related illnesses such as those |
| toxins. | | | | mentioned above. |
| 5. CANCER | | | | Therefore the aging process can be retarded by |
| The fundamental cause of cancer is DNA damage | | | | foods, such as spices, that contain high levels of |
| that can occur as a result of aging, genetic | | | | antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and other |
| susceptibility, and exposure to an assortment of | | | | protective compounds. |
| carcinogens. | | | | By including a wide variety of spices in our diet or |
| Many of the phytochemicals found in spices act | | | | taking a natural, balanced spice supplement we |
| as potent preventive agents against cancer by | | | | can add a vital lifestyle factor to our |
| defending DNA against free radicals and other | | | | disease-fighting armamentarium. |
| toxins. They prevent the overproduction of toxic | | | | |