Super Spices: A New Reason To Season
Contributed by: News Canada
(NC) - Nutritionists have long recommended spices and herbs as a way to add flavour without fat, salt or sugar - making it easier to meet today's dietary guidelines. But now studies suggest adding more spices and herbs to your diet may not only please your palate, it could enhance your health.
"To make it easy and delicious to enjoy the potential benefits of spices, we have created a unique collection of new recipes, specially designed to deliver up to half a teaspoon of antioxidant-rich spices per serving," says Brian Rainey, executive vice-president sales and marketing for McCormick Canada. "Many spices and herbs appear to have some beneficial effects, but there are 10 super spices that may hold the greatest potential to improve our health."
McCormick Gourmet 10 Super Spices
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Oregano
- Paprika
- Cayenne Pepper
- Parsley
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Turmeric (common in curry powder)
Botanically, spices and herbs are classified as fruits and vegetables. That's why these plant-derived ingredients are naturally high in antioxidants. And, since they no longer contain the water that makes up a significant part of the weight of fresh produce, spices and herbs offer a big antioxidant punch in a very compact package.
Spices and herbs also are rich in phytonutrients, such as carotenoids, flavonoids and other phenolics, which possess health-promoting properties beyond being great antioxidants.
To help enjoy the taste and health benefits of these super spices throughout the course of the day, here are some simple tips:
At breakfast, sprinkle cinnamon on your bowl of oatmeal, yogurt, French toast or muffin batter. A dash of thyme is a welcome addition to scrambled eggs or omelettes.
At lunch, stir dried oregano leaves or crushed red pepper flakes into favourite canned soups, chicken/tuna salads or vinaigrette dressings. Try these on pizza to get a delicious antioxidant boost. A sprinkling of ground ginger over sliced fresh fruit makes a refreshing dessert.
At dinner, wake up the flavours of favourite side dishes with crushed rosemary leaves (a natural with mashed or roasted potatoes) or curry powder (perfect for rice dishes or couscous.)
More information can be found online at www.spicesforhealth.ca.
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