12 Standout Spices and Herbs To Support Your Health

Not only do spices and herbs make almost everything taste better, but they’re SO beneficial to our health. They’re loaded with antioxidants and medicinal properties.

You can take just about any meal, smoothie, even water, and add an extra punch of antioxidants and health benefits by incorporating spices and herbs.

12 standout spices and herbs to incorporate in the kitchen

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants that help protect against free radicals and slow the aging process. It helps stabilize blood sugar, is anti-inflammatory, helps the body fight against infections and viruses, helps protect the heart, and may help lower the risk of cancer. What a powerhouse. Not to mention, it tastes delicious. I’ve been adding a few dashes of cinnamon to almost every smoothie, sprinkling it in my coffee, adding it to oatmeal, and incorporating it in most of my baking. Such a great way to add sweetness without the added sugar!

Turmeric

Turmeric (the spice that gives curry its yellow color) contains curcumin, a very powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound. Turmeric has been used for thousands of years as one of the greatest medicinal spices. When incorporating it into meals and beverages, be sure to add black pepper along with it… turmeric (more specifically curcumin), is not easily absorbed by the body, but when combined with black pepper, absorption gets increased by 2,000%!

Try this Turmeric Latte (aka Golden Milk)

Black Pepper

Not just for taste. Black pepper improves digestion and has potent antioxidant properties. As mentioned above, black pepper also increases bio-availability. Eggs, sandwiches, soup, and just about any dinner entree could use a good sprinkle of black pepper for its taste and health benefits.

Garlic

The health benefits of garlic are well worth the breath! Long been used to fight off illnesses and infection, garlic is a great supporter of the immune system. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “In test tubes, garlic appears to kill cancer cells, and studies involving people show some of the same outcomes.” Incredible. It’s anti-inflammatory and improves cardiovascular health. I’ve been adding fresh chopped garlic to pizzas, soups, most dinner entrees, and even eating a clove raw here and there for a little immune boost.

Rosemary

Rosemary is a rich source of antioxidants and a powerful anti-inflammatory. It’s known for soothing digestion, enhancing memory and concentration, promoting brain health, and even eye health. I’ve been using it a lot when cooking chicken and fish, and for flavoring olive oil.

Basil

Caprese salad, pesto, pizza… yum! Basil contains antioxidants, is anti-inflammatory, supports liver function, and may help protect against skin aging.

Ginger

It’s a well known fact that ginger can help soothe an upset stomach. It also helps with nausea… I reached for ginger chews quite a lot in the beginning of my pregnancies to help curb my morning sickness. It’s a great source of anti-oxidants, reduces inflammation, supports heart health, and is a natural pain reliever. Pickled ginger (aka gari, aka sushi ginger) is my favorite way to eat it. Also, the ginger dressing served at Japanese restaurants is delicious… I need to find a good recipe so I can make my own (if you know of a good one, recipes are welcome 😉).

Thyme

Thyme is believed to have antibacterial, insecticidal, and even anti-fungal properties. It may even boost mood. It’s a great addition to soup recipes, pasta dishes, pizza, and seasoned on meats. It’s also really refreshing infused in water with lemon.

Oregano

Oregano is a wonderful antioxidant. It has antibacterial properties and is anti-inflammatory. Oregano is a staple in most pasta/pizza sauces, goes well to infuse olive oil and dressings, and is great as a meat seasoning/marinade.

Sage

Sage is a great source of anti-oxidants, supports cognitive function and may even help to protect against neurological disorders such as Alzheimers and dementia.

Paprika

Paprika is a pepper based spice rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It aids in the treatment of auto-immune disorders and supports eye health. I use a lot of paprika on taco night at our house… it’s a great seasoning for ground beef or turkey. It also goes great sprinkled on deviled eggs, and potato and macaroni salad!

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper, specifically capsaicin (a component of cayenne pepper) packs in a ton of antioxidants, boosts metabolism, improves circulation, and may act as a pain reliever. Mexican night calls for a lot of cayenne over here in the form of hot sauce!

Am I missing any of your favorites? What are some spices that you use and love?

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