Adding spices to your meals helps reduce inflammation

Thursday 28th May 2020 04:26 EDT
 

A brand new set of compelling research reveals aromatic spices shall help reduce inflammation in your body. You heard it right! That gorgeous spice box in your kitchen may just be your biggest friend. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition collected a blend of spices like basil, bay leaf, black pepper, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, ginger, oregano, parsley, red pepper, rosemary, thyme, and turmeric.

The research was based on a prerequisite aim that found that a variety of different spices like ginger and turmeric have anti-inflammatory properties. The study examined 12 men between the ages of 40 and 65 who had obesity or had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Each participant ate three different versions of a meal high in saturated fat and carbohydrates on three different days in a randomised order.

The meal included one with no spices, one with two grams of the spice blend, and one with six grams of the spice blend. Researchers drew blood samples before and after each meal every hour to four hours, to measure inflammatory markers. The scientists also cultured white blood cells and stimulated them to get the cells to respond to an inflammatory stimulus.

Study researcher Connie Rogers said, “If spices are palatable to you, they might be a way to make a high-fat or high-carb meal more healthful. We think that's important because it's representative of what would happen in the body. Cells would encounter a pathogen and produce inflammatory cytokines.” The study shows that in comparison to each meal containing two grams of spices or no spices, a meal containing six grams of spices showed that inflammatory cytokines were reduced following the meal.


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