Spicy Secret Series #3: Cumin

julySpicy Secret Series #3: Cumin |  by: July Westhale
 

Are you familiar with cumin? Maybe you’ve tried Indian food? Cumin is commonly used in daals, beans, curries, and soups-this spice is a powerhouse of complex flavor. With both sweet undertones and just the slightest hint of smoke, cumin’s warm aroma can lure anyone to the table.

As it turns out, cumin’s undeniably irresistible nature goes even deeper than sensory engagement. A spice with a 5,000 year old history, it has been used for everything from medicine to skin care to part of the mummification process. Often associated with dishes from Vietnam, Mexico, and India, it was also kept in small bowls on many tables in Ancient Greece, should the need arise for additional flavor.…

Spicy Secret Series #2: Turmeric

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Spicy Secret Series #2: Turmeric |  by: July Westhale

Turmeric is the spice that keeps it flowin’…and what, exactly, does it keep flowing?  Do, read on 😉

This bright orange spice is a member of the ginger family, and has been used for over 4,000 years to increase health and treat ailments.  In Southeastern parts of Asia, it’s used to treat everything from gas to neurological degeneration.

Recently, turmeric has become popularized in the United States for its curative powers, which have been shown to counteract the damaging effects of the American diet. Used as a digestive aid for breaking down beans, proteins, fats, and grains, this miracle spice has been introduced into Western pharmacies to help maintain intestinal flora (which sugars, grains, bad fats, and antibiotics often destroy), as well as improving the elimination of toxins and purifying blood.…

Spicy Secret Series #1: Cinnamon

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Spicy Secret Series #1: Cinnamon |  by: July Westhale

Remember “How snacks can save your marriage?”  Well, that moment when your blood sugar drops and you’re ready to chew on your own arm, cinnamon is a quick and easy trick!

Research has shown that two teaspoons of cinnamon the night before a blood glucose test can drastically alter the results. As a long-time hypoglycemic, I always carry cinnamon supplements around in my purse-arsenal for times of low blood sugar, since it’s a well-recognized quick-fix.

For hundreds of years, the spice has not only been used to solve a hangry-arm chewing catastrophe, it’s also used as a remedy for muscle spasms, to vomiting, and just for the common cold, or loss of appetite, stomach upset, and inflammation that contributes to illnesses such as arthritis or chronic pain.…