Top 10 herbs and spices

The following 10 culinary herbs and spices show particular promise for promoting good health.

Curcumin

The components of turmeric and curcumin and related compounds called curcuminoids appear to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, with potential activity against cancer, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronic diseases.

Nutmeg 

Within the apricotlike fruit of the tree myristica fragrans lies a kernel. The dried covering of that kernel yields the fragrant spice nutmeg. According to Low Dog, nutmeg displays bactericidal activity toward Helicobacter pylori and Escherichia coli.

Sweet Cinnamon 

Cinnamon has been studied not only for its antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial effects but also for its role in insulin activity. Cinnamon’s active ingredients are polyphenol polymers, which scientists think may act like insulin.

Pepper

There may be a host of health benefits in the heat of pepper. Cayenne pepper (ground red pepper), which gets its name from the city of Cayenne in French Guiana, is a concentrated source of capsaicin, the powerful phytochemical that gives chiles their heat and appears to have chemopreventative activity.

Garlic

The perceived health benefits of garlic, a species in the onion family, have long been passed down through the generations in many cultures. Garlic contains substances now being studied for their anticancer effects, including allicin, allixin, allyl sulfides, quercetin, and organosulfur compounds. 

Oregano

Dining on fresh green herbs like oregano can offer the same benefits as eating fruits and vegetables, thanks to generous levels of phytochemicals and antioxidants. 

Rosemary

rosemary, like other green herbs, possesses antioxidant and antimicrobial activities linked to its polyphenol composition. Animal studies have demonstrated its chemopreventative action.

Ginger

Ginger, a mixture of several hundred known constituents, including gingerols, beta-carotene, capsaicin, caffeic acid, curcumin, and salicylate, has numerous uses, such as an aid for pain, nausea, and vomiting. 

Some compounds in ginger have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In addition, ginger exhibits cancer preventive activity in experimental carcinogenesis.

Mint

Peppermint, one of the most widely consumed single-ingredient herbs in teas, has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. The phenolic constituents of the leaves include rosmarinic acid and several flavonoids, such as eriocitrin, and luteolin.

Basil

Basil is one of the medicinal plants widely used in several countries, including Morocco, to reduce plasma cholesterol and the risk of atherosclerosis-related diseases.