Spices can be an excellent source of phytochemicals, many of which have important health benefits. Plant foods are high in antioxidants that the plant uses to protect its tissues from the damaging effects of light and oxygen. When humans and animals eat the plant foods, they absorb the antioxidants, which then have the same protective effects. Spices are particularly rich in antioxidants and this explains the health effects of spices evidenced in the literature. Many spices have both medicinal and culinary uses, and the distinction between the two is often blurred. Incorporating spices into the diet is therefore akin to adding medicine to the diet in terms of food’s ability to maintain health and prevent disease. In humans, spices have been shown to have a number of benefits including antioxidant effects, the modulation of detoxification enzymes, the stimulation of the immune system, anti-inflammatory effect, the modulation of steroid metabolism, as well as antibacterial and antiviral effects.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself
RdB
