Rosemary Power!

May 27, 2010

in Detox foods and nutrition,Tips to detox naturally

Recent studies have found that the use of certain spices can help reduce the adverse effects of high heat cooking. Cooking at high temperature destroys beneficial nutrients like vitamin E, vitamin C and omega 3 fatty acids.  According to those recent studies, it is possible to minimize the impact of high heat cooking by adding a spice blend to the food before cooking it. This is especially the case of rosemary, oregano and cinnamon.

Those three spices are champions at reducing fat oxidation. They are also excellent to preserve the stability of delicate oils such as olive oil compared to other food additives.   This means that when cooking with olive oil, adding rosemary or oregano can protect the oil from oxidation through heat.  Of course, the best is still to choose raw food or low heat cooking methods, but when not possible, adding spices can be a good way to preserve more nutritious benefits.

Spices such as rosemary, oregano and cinnamon are strong antioxidants. This is why they can prevent oil oxidation during cooking.  But those spices also have great health benefits outside of nutrient heat protection.  Rosemary and cinnamon, in particular, are also known to be anti-inflammatory.  This means that they are especially good to prevent inflammation related diseases like skin problems, arthritis, diabetes, and more.  Many spices also show antibacterial and antifungal properties, which can come handy to prevent food related intoxication like E-coli or salmonella.

Major Health Benefits of Rosemary, Oregano and Cinnamon

  • Anti-cancer
  • Control blood sugar
  • Prevent/treat diabetes
  • Prevent age related diseases
  • Prevent inflammation related conditions
  • Reduce the fat oxidation in high heat cooking
  • Reduce the risk of food borne intoxication
  • Help fighting colds and other viruses

Do you often cook with these spices? To what dishes do you add them?

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  • http://lafillenaturelle.wordpress.com aletheia

    YAAAY for spices!! I’m obsessed with spices and herbs, and throw them in just about EVERYTHING — breads, stir-fries, salads, you name it! I didn’t know they had protective properties. That’s awesome!

    :D aletheia

  • http://collectionsdismoi.canalblog.comm Fanfan

    I think the way and the place where the spices are produce is important too.
    The soil, the fertilization, the climate, ect modifie the quality of the herbs.

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