Antioxidant-Rich Spices Can Help Prevent Clogged Arteries and Cancer

Discovering new and tasty ways to incorporate herbs and spices into your meals will result in placing salt on the back burner when it comes to adding flavor to your foods. As a bonus, there are many wonderful health benefits that herbs and spices have to offer.

Did you know herbs and spices can be great sources of numerous vitamins and minerals? In addition, certain herbs and spices can help treat gastrointestinal problems, aid in digestion, and even help you shed a couple of pounds!

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition discovered an additional benefit that antioxidant-rich herbs and spices have on the prevention of atherogenesis (formation of plaque in artery walls) and carcinogenesis (formation of cancer).

An abundance of research over the years has provided evidence that the oxidation of fat, specifically LDL cholesterol, leads to inflammation. This inflammation can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries as well as cancer. Oxidation occurs when your LDL cholesterol (or your bad cholesterol) reacts with destructive free radicals in your body. A byproduct of this oxidation process is a compound called malondialdehyde. Malondialdehyde can play a role in forming plaque in the arteries as well as causing DNA mutations that can lead to cancer.

The good news is antioxidants can safely work against free radicals to prevent plaque build-up and cancer causing cell damage. This research discovered that adding a polyphenol rich spice mixture containing rosemarinic acid (such as rosemary or oregano) in the cooking of hamburger meat significantly reduced the formation of malondialdehyde in the body after consuming fat containing meat.

The simple addition of the antioxidant-rich spices of rosemary and oregano to your hamburger meat prior to cooking can be used as a preventative measure towards developing certain types of cancer. Rosemary also promotes healthy digestion by relieving symptoms of heartburn, gas and loss of appetite and adds great flavor to mashed potatoes and a variety of meat dishes! Rosemary adds a burst of flavor to roasted vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, asparagus, cauliflower and butternut squash. For a quick and easy addition, sprinkle rosemary onto your salad.

Oregano is a traditional seasoning used when making pasta sauce but it can be sprinkled on virtually anything. Summer is approaching, so try tossing oregano into some of your favorite steamed or grilled seafood dishes. It also adds flavor to marinades and oil-based salad dressings! This popular seasoning has been noted for its treatment of symptoms of intestinal maladies, which include bloating, cramping, constipation, diarrhea and fatigue. Research also shows that oregano has been linked to treating respiratory conditions such as fever, cough, asthma or congestion.

Want to learn more about the health benefits of many other herbs and spices? Need practical suggestions on how to use them in your everyday recipes? Want to learn how to cut down on your salt intake yet transform your meals from ordinary to extraordinary using herbs and spices?

Then join the Cut the Salt, Kick up the Taste Challenge. It’s free and there are lots of prizes being given out.

What’s the Cut the Salt, Kick up the Taste Challenge? Click here to find out more and to register for free.

Yes, the challenge has already started, but there’s still plenty of time left in the month of May for you to participate.

Your turn to take action: Join the Cut the Salt, Kick up the Taste Challenge!