09/12/2019
As we are about to celebrate Christmas, lots of spices and herbs are needed in our foods to improve the taste and for aroma, but the right herbs and spices should be used.
Herbs and spices: Herbs and spices make small fraction, yet indispensable food groups of our diet. These include garlic, basil, thyme, tamarind, turmeric, cloves, pepper, cardamom, chilies, nutmeg, saffron, etc. Garlic contains a high amount of selenium, which is an important co-factor anti-oxidant enzyme inside the human body.
HERBS
Herbs are plants with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, medicinal purposes, or for fragrances; excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients. The term "herbs" refers to plants or parts of them, including grasses, flowers, berries, seeds, leaves, nuts, stems, stalks and roots, which are used for their therapeutic and health- enhancing properties. Culinary use typically distinguishes herbs from spices. Herbs generally refers to the leafy green or flowering parts of a plant (either fresh or dried), while spices are usually dried and produced from other parts of the plant, including seeds, bark, roots and fruits. Herbs can be used to cleanse the bowels, open congested sinuses, help mend broken bones, stimulate the brain, increase libido, ease pain, aid digestion, and a thousand other purposes. Topically, herbs can repair damaged skin, soothe a wound, improve complexion, heal bruises and relieve aching muscles. Herbs demonstrate great versatility for the treatment of a broad variety of health needs.
Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, and in some cases, spiritual. General usage of the term "herb" differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs; in medicinal or spiritual use, any parts of the plant might be considered as "herbs", including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, root bark, inner bark (and cambium), resin and pericarp. There are different types of herbs, we are dealing with the culinary herb.
Culinary herbs are distinguished from vegetables in that, like spices, they are used in small amounts and provide flavor rather than substance to food.
Herbs can be perennials such as thyme, sage or lavender, biennials such as parsley, or annuals like basil. Perennial herbs can be shrubs such as rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), or trees such as bay leaves. Some plants are used as both herbs and spices, such as dill w**d and dill seed or coriander leaves and seeds. There are also some herbs, such as those in the mint family, that are used for both culinary and medicinal purposes.
Culinary herbs are a great addition to food. It is not just because they add distinctive flavor and spicy taste to the food, but also contain many anti-microbial substances that help keep our food protected from these agents. Usually, chefs smear herb and spice mixture in small amounts over the raw foods, fish, and meat to marinate.
Some serving tips:
• Fresh herb leaves are being used in the preparation of soups and green sauces.
• Chopped, fresh herb leaves can impart richness to the vegetable as well as fruit salads.
• Along with other spicy items, selective healthy herbs are being used to enhance the flavor and taste of vegetable, chicken, fish and lean meat dishes.
• Some herbs and plant parts like mint, and ginger are increasingly being used to flavor juices and refreshing drinks
Herbs carry unique anti-oxidants, essential-oils, vitamins, phyto-sterols and many other plants derived nutrient substances, which help equip our body to fight against germs, toxins and to boost immunity level.
Health benefits of herbs:
• Herbs contain unique antioxidants, essential oils, vitamins, phytosterols and many other plants derived nutrient substances, which help equip our body to fight against germs, toxins and to boost immunity level. Herbs are, in fact, medicines in smaller dosages.
• Essential oils in herbs have been found to have an anti-inflammatory function by inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX), which mediates inflammatory cascade reaction inside the human body. The enzyme-inhibiting effect of essential oils in herbs makes it a valuable remedy for symptomatic relief in individuals with inflammatory health problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory bowel conditions like ulcerative colitis.
• Many novel compounds in the healthy herbs have been found to reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
• Controlled-epidemiological studies have shown that certain compounds in garlic like those that thiosulfinates (allicin) can bring significant reduction in total cholesterol and blood pressure, and thereby, helps cut down coronary artery disease and stroke risk.
• Curcumin, together with other antioxidants in the turmeric, has been found to have anti-amyloid and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, it is thought to be effective in preventing or at least delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
• The volatile oils, vitamins, and antioxidants in the herbs have cytotoxicity action against prostate, pancreatic, colon, endometrial cancer cells.
• The chemical compounds in the herbs have been found to be anti-spasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, analgesic, aphrodisiac, deodorant, digestive, antiseptic, lipolytic (fat burning and weight loss action), stimulant and stomachic effects when taken in a proper dosage.
To be continued……
s