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Spice Education
At Skinny Jim's Blends we pride ourselves on producing the finest products. But we don't stop there. We want to educate you, our customers and consumers, so that you get the most from our product. Of course, if you have any questions about any of our products or need further guidance, feel free to email us at feedback@skinnyjimsblends.com any time and we will help you the best we can! Because quite honestly, we could put up everything we know about food, food quality, preparation, cooking and the like, but it would get so jumbled up here that people would not want to read through it all! But we are here for you so email us as often as you want! Definition of Spice: A pungent, aromatic plant substance, such as cinnamon, cloves, mustard or nutmeg, used to flavor foods or beverages. Spices can come from almost any part of a plant including seeds, leaves, barks, rhizomes, latex, stigmas, floral buds and modified stems.
Listed below is some general information about spices, some health benefits, and other general spice education information.
Spices are the common dietary ingredients that contribute to the taste and flavor of foods. Besides, spices are also known to exert several beneficial effects. Because of these beneficial effects, and due to increased research on the health benefits of spices, some of them are now available in supplement form. See below a discussion of each spice.
In traditional medical systems, the ability of spices to heal various physical, mental and emotional problems has widely been reported. A growing body of research has demonstrated that the commonly used herbs and spices such as garlic, black cumin, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, thyme, allspices, bay leaves, mustard, and rosemary, possess antimicrobial properties that, in some cases, can be used therapeutically. Other spices, such as saffron, a food colorant; turmeric, a yellow colored spice; tea, either green or black, ginger, and flaxseed do contain potent plant substances, including carotenoids, curcumins, catechins, lignin respectively, which provide significant protection against several chronic health conditions including cardiovascular conditions and tumor prevention.
The American Spice Trade Association writes that man began to use spices around 50,000 BC when someone discovered that some leaves gave meat a good flavor. By 2300 BC the Assyrians, in one of the earliest known written records, wrote that the gods drank sesame seed wine before creating the earth.
Spices became a form of currency that sent intrepid adventurers onto unknown oceans to find new places, people, and trade routes. The Spice Route to China sucked in Marco Polo and brought the spice trade to Europe. Christopher Columbus set out to find the way to the source of spices and found the New World. The British Raj occupied India to gain its wealth, its spice and tea trade.
It isn't just the pepper you sprinkle on that burger, or the Tabasco sauce on your chicken wings. Spices are sacred, may be aphrodisiacs, make foods tastier, and are filled with anti-oxidants. Grab some ginger and saffron, garlic and chiles, and be healthy, happy, graced by the gods, and sexually satisfied. What more does anyone need?
Besides all these medicinal, aphrodisiac, and flavorful points for spiciness in your life, The Hospitality Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota is working on the anti-microbial facets of spices. Some spices have always been known for their help in preserving foods. Recent work has shown that gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria are slowed with the addition of "... garlic, onion, cinnamon, cloves, thyme, sage, and others..." These spices are being found to inhibit the growth of microbes: cinnamon, cloves, mustard, allspice, bay leaf, caraway, coriander, cumin, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme, and, to a lesser extent, black pepper, red pepper, and ginger.
Specific Spices and their Benefits
Paprika
Contains capsaicin, whose anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects may lower the risk of cancer (also found in cayenne and red chili peppers). There's no specific recommended dose, but moderation is probably the best way to go.
Garlic
Destroys cancer cells and may disrupt the metabolism of tumor cells, says Karen Collins, RD, nutrition advisor to the American Institute for Cancer Research. "Studies suggest that one or two cloves weekly provide cancer-protective benefits."
Regular consumption of garlic can decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It also aids digestion and prevents flatulence. Recent research shows garlic to be beneficial in the treatment of diabetes.
Allspice
Allspice is an aromatic stimulant that helps to relieve indigestion and gas.
Black Pepper
In America, black pepper is one of the most commonly used spices. In fact, it is not uncommon for a person to use pepper with every meal – a little on the eggs, a bit on the sandwich and salad, a lot on the steak and corn… Fortunately, as it turns out, this is a good thing. Why? Because black pepper is good for us!
Black pepper improves digestion by stimulating the taste buds and thereby alerting the stomach to increase hydrochloric secretion. Black pepper is also an antioxidant, and it has antibacterial effects. But wait – there’s more! You will be very happy to know that the outermost layer of the peppercorn actually helps stimulate the breakdown of fat cells!
Black pepper also helps prevent the formation of intestinal gas, promotes urination, and promotes sweating. It is full of manganese, and it also has a good amount of iron and dietary fiber as well.
OK - So you have learned about the benefits of spices... don't you think it's time to BUY SOME?