11 Aromatic Spices to Bring Heat and Healing Into Your Kitchen

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Looking to bring some heat and medicine to your kitchen with some new spices? Here I will show you 11 aromatic spices to enliven your food and heal you from the inside out.

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For many of us, cooking delicious meals at home has become something of a lost art in the age of fast food and takeout delivery—a trend that’s only getting worse as more people work longer hours and spend less time with their families. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Thanks to these 11 aromatic spices, you can bring both heat and medicine to your kitchen with some simple but tasty dishes that are sure to impress even the most demanding dinner guests.

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Best Aromatic Spices To Have At Hand

1. Cayenne pepper

Fresh cayenne pepper, also known as cayenne or chile pepper, is a hot chilli pepper used to flavour dishes but not only: the pungent capsaicin in cayenne will not only make your mouth water but also boost your metabolism by giving you a warm feeling that can be great for your circulation. 

Cayenne has been used since ancient times as both medicine and food, even being described as an elixir of life. Cayenne peppers are generally 5 to 7 inches long and 1 inch in diameter at their widest point.

A cup of black pepper mixed with two tablespoons of cayenne can help ease heartburn due to its alkalizing properties. Cayenne peppers are also rich in vitamins C, A, K, and many other nutrients.

2. Cinnamon

If you’re looking to infuse a little more spice into your life, cinnamon is a fragrant spice with powerful antioxidant effects. 

It has also been used to soothe stomach issues like nausea and acid reflux. Next time you’re baking cookies or whipping up some apple pie, add a dash of cinnamon. 

Cinnamon doesn’t come cheap, but a little bit can go a long way toward making your home smell warm and inviting. 

3. Ginger

Ginger is a flowering plant native to South Asia. This pungent root adds heat to your dishes and helps relieve nausea, indigestion, diarrhoea, morning sickness, muscle aches and pains as well as menstrual cramps. 

Add ground ginger to Asian stir-fries, curries, or soups for extra flavour without adding extra calories. Grind fresh ginger just before using it to release its best healing properties.

4. Turmeric

This spicy, fragrant Indian spice is most commonly associated with curries, but it also works well in rice dishes, stews, scrambled eggs, smoothies—even cocktails. 

Turmeric contains an antioxidant called curcumin that’s believed to be effective at fighting inflammation and arthritis. 

Studies have shown that turmeric may also help lower your risk of cancer; cooking with it appears to increase its potency by up to 20 times! That makes turmeric not only a great kitchen addition but also a smart nutritional choice.

5. Garlic

Allium sativum is known as one of nature’s most powerful spices. Packed with health benefits, garlic has been found to strengthen your immune system and reduce blood pressure; it’s also been proven to prevent cancer. 

Garlic is a member of the onion family (allium) which includes onions, leeks, chives, scallions, and shallots. While its use as a culinary spice is somewhat limited due to its potent smell and flavour, garlic has also been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. 

If you enjoy bold flavours in your food then garlic is a source of heat in your kitchen! Garlic is most commonly consumed in cooked form but can be eaten raw as well.

6. Black Pepper

From Indian cuisine to classic French cuisine, black pepper is one of the most commonly used spices in kitchens around the world. 

It’s also quite versatile; adding ground or whole peppercorns to dishes will bring a welcome spicy-peppery heat, as well as a hint of smokiness. 

Black pepper works particularly well with fish, chicken, pork, eggs, fruits, and vegetables—just about anything you can think of! 

Additionally, it contains capsaicin which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Black pepper is so full of health benefits that we’re considering renaming it the cure-all spice.

7. Paprika

This pungent spice has been used as medicine for centuries. Paprika contains several vitamins, including A, C, E, and K, and acts as an antioxidant to prevent cell damage. 

The spice also contains capsaicin which can have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health. A study found that it lowered total cholesterol by increasing HDL levels while decreasing LDL (low-density lipoprotein). 

Paprika is especially effective at lowering blood pressure in patients with hypertension or milder forms of elevated blood pressure. 

Additionally, another study showed that regular consumption of capsaicin can significantly reduce blood pressure in people suffering from essential hypertension.

8. Red Pepper Flakes

Red pepper flakes have several benefits, including a boost in metabolism, anti-cancer qualities, cardiovascular support, and mental clarity. Whether used in cooking or to season a salad, red pepper flakes are great for overall health! 

Red peppers also contain Vitamin C (in fact, one cup of chopped red pepper contains 40% of your daily recommended intake). 

Plus—unlike most foods containing Vitamin C—red peppers contain high amounts of antioxidants that fight free radicals. 

These free radicals lead to ageing skin and increase our chances of getting cancer. So next time you’re shopping for spices at your local grocery store or trying to figure out what to make for dinner tonight, don’t forget about red pepper flakes!

9. Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract isn’t just for adding a subtle sweet aroma to baked goods or turning an ordinary glass of milk into a special occasion. 

Vanilla is also revered in Eastern medicine as a natural aphrodisiac and helps to increase circulation, making it ideal for improving skin tone. 

To make your vanilla extract at home, add two-to-three fresh vanilla beans to each pint of vodka in a dark glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid. 

Shake daily to infuse flavour into your vodka—it should take six weeks to make homemade vanilla extract!

10. Nutmeg

Nutmeg, similar to clove, contains a compound called Eugenol. Eugenol increases blood flow which can cause your brain to heat up quickly. 

It can also help you relax, so if you suffer from anxiety or stress, it could be good for you. However, too much nutmeg can lead to headaches due to high blood pressure levels in some people. 

Nutmeg also has a sweet flavour that mixes well with other spices such as cinnamon and star anise. This spice is commonly used in curries and sweet desserts throughout India and Indonesia.

11. Clove

Clove is a warming spice for digestion, colds, and toothaches. For people with diabetes, it may also help reduce their blood sugar levels. 

Because of its anti-inflammatory qualities, clove oil can help relieve sore muscles—and has even been shown to reduce pain associated with arthritis in studies with mice. 

Use whole cloves or clove oil in sweet and savoury dishes, such as black bean burgers or roasted root vegetables. 

You can also add it to honey or almond butter as a home remedy for a toothache or sore throat; just drop 1–2 whole cloves into your mouth and leave them there until they soften (usually overnight).

Final Thoughts

As you may have noticed throughout the post, most of these aromatic herbs have anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which can be a great aid to your body in the healing of many ailments, since most of them are derived from either oxidative or inflammatory processes.

Even in small quantities, these aromatic spices will do wonders for your health if employed consistently over time in your diet – besides, who doesn’t like a fragrant kitchen? Try them out!

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