We hope you are getting as excited as we are about the possibilities. Our ongoing investigation has brought us to the power of some ingredients that won’t add calories but may offer some health benefits. Smoothies and easy soup started our journey. Now, let’s spice it up.
Chili Peppers*
Good news. Contrary to the myth that these hot numbers cause ulcers, they actually help fight them! And they contain capsaicin. It’s a powerful compound that fires up the metabolism and the body’s fat burning response. Ancho chiles are the mildest, habanero one of the hottest. But all can heat up your health in a good way.
Turmeric*
Popular in Indian and Thai cuisine, this yellow underdog has an admittedly unusual flavor. Try adding it to your soup – or if you don’t like the taste, just stir 2 teaspoons into a couple ounces of water and down it and chase it with more water. The benefits may outweigh the feisty flavor. It is being explored for its anti-inflammatory qualities and ability to relieve arthritis pain, help manage diabetes and possible positive effect on many autoimmune disorders. The active compound is curcumin. Fresh turmeric looks similar to ginger root, but can also be found in the dry spice aisle.
Cocoa Powder
Just in time for hot cocoa season. A 2008 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry analyzed cocoa powder to find out if the chemical composition and effect of natural, unprocessed cocoa powder differed substantially from the “Dutch” processed cocoa powder found in grocery stores and used by the majority of consumers and food manufacturers. Cocoa powder is one of the most concentrated sources of flavanols (flavan-3-ol). It is of interest to health science for heart and circulatory benefits, such as decreasing blood pressure and improving circulation. While natural cocoa outscored processed in its concentration of flavanols, lightly processed powder still offered 40 percent and moderately processed offered 22 percent of the flavonol activity.
* For more on these and other health-beneficial spices and flavors, see this December 2013 U.S. News and World Report article.
You may have seen our recent interest in supporting our overall health at home. Our premise is simple: you are what you eat. Our recent blogs explore ways to up fruit and veggie intake for more health protecting “phytonutrients.”
