Inflammation at the right time, in the right context, is a powerful defense our bodies need to fight infection and promote wound healing. The problem is when the inflammation becomes chronic, low-grade, and persistent.
This can set the stage for disease, aging, and a host of other health effects. That is why we must pay attention to inflammation and combat chronic inflammation through food, and some spices that we will present to you below.
The best anti-inflammatory spices
When it comes to anti-inflammatory spices, there are many to choose from. Here are a few that are incredibly versatile, super delicious, and easy to use:
Turmeric, a powerful anti-inflammatory spice
The first thing in our arsenal of anti-inflammatory spice is turmeric. Turmeric gets all the love and attention, for good reason. This spice has been used for hundreds of years and is considered an important healing tool in Ayurveda, which is an ancient Indian medical system.
Turmeric is packed with plant-based bioactive compounds, the most studied of which is curcumin. Curcumin fights inflammation in multiple ways, making turmeric a powerful anti-inflammatory spice.
One thing to keep in mind is that turmeric is not very bioavailable, which means it’s a challenge for the body to absorb its benefits. Fortunately, you can simply add a pinch of black pepper – this spice contains the compound piperine, which helps increase the bioavailability of turmeric. These two go hand in hand in my book when it comes to fighting inflammation.
Sumac
Sumac comes from vibrant burgundy berries that grow in the Middle East. Those berries are dried and then ground into the spice. Zumque is packed with anthocyanins, which are compounds of plant origin that have anti-inflammatory effects. It has the particularity of having a lemon flavor, without the liquid, which is also easy to use: try sprinkling the hummus, your favorite salad or a anti-inflammatory soup.
Peppers
If you don’t like spicy, don’t panic. You can also use smoked paprika for the same effect. All of these spices have compounds like capsaicin, which is also a powerful anti-inflammatory.
mustard seed powder
Finally, we have powdered mustard seeds: Mustard seeds come from the mustard plant, which is a cruciferous vegetable and therefore contains a number of beneficial nutrients, including anti-inflammatory enzymes (such as myrosinase and sulforaphane).
It’s important to note that when we cook cruciferous vegetables, we lose the ability to absorb those enzymes and their powerful benefits. That’s why it’s a good idea to combine these cooked vegetables with other raw sources of myrosinase and sulforaphane, such as mustard seed powder.
The amazing thing about all these different spices and their key bioactives is that they affect inflammation at different points in the molecular cascade within our cells. So when you combine them, you get anti-inflammatory benefits even more powerful.
Now that you know about these anti-inflammatory spicesNow is the time to put this knowledge into practice.