Emma Miller
The wellness nutritionist explained why and what spices women should add to their diet. She also explained for whom spices are dangerous.
Spices are a real storehouse of numerous vitamins, beneficial acids, and trace elements. So they not only improve the taste of dishes, but also affect human health – most often positively, but there are also nuances.
Spices have a mild antibacterial effect. Therefore, the addition of spices extends the shelf life of a number of products. And in the old days, they even served as medicines.
Correctly added spices and herbs prevent putrefactive processes in the intestines and pathogenic bacteria from developing and improving metabolism.
What is the difference between spices and herbs?
To begin with, let’s explain what is considered a spice. Their main difference from spices and seasonings is that they are never consumed as an independent dish. These are plant seeds and other parts of plants (for example, inflorescences, stems and leaves, and fruits). Examples include bay leaf, cloves, vanilla, and pepper.
And here are spices are no longer always of plant origin. Their main feature is that they never affect the flavor of ready-made dishes and do not have their own smell. Examples of spices include sugar, gelatin, salt, citric acid, and starch.
Seasoning is a product that often requires separate preparation. For example, horseradish, tomato paste, vinegar, mayonnaise, and mustard are considered seasonings.
How spices affect the body: the most useful spices for women
Tatyana Kikhteva, a wellness nutritionist with a medical degree, and a member of the National Association of Nutritionists and Dietitians explained in a commentary to Glavred how spices are useful, especially for women.
She also listed the most useful spices for women:
- Fennel is indicated for hormonal disorders, tones up the female body, and increases lactation.
- Basil – it has the ability to relieve menstrual cramps.
- Oregano – is recommended for menopause to reduce hot flashes.
- Saffron is the most expensive spice. It is used if you want to get pregnant, it is good for the skin, in case of menstrual failure, and is an anticarcinogen.
Why spices and seasonings are dangerous
“All spices can be harmful if used in excessive amounts, in case of individual intolerance. People with various chronic diseases should be especially careful because frequent use of the wrong seasoning can also worsen the course of the disease,” Kikhteeva emphasized.
