Turmeric, one of the main ingredients in curry, is a plant and spice known for its unique flavor, bright yellow coloring and reputed health benefits.

Part of the ginger family, Turmeric was used as a dye and considered a powerful anti-inflammatory in ancient Chinese and Indian medicine. It is also believed to have an array of health benefits. It has been used as both a cancer-fighting agent and a liver detoxifier. Additionally, the South Asian plant can be used as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent on cuts and burns. Turmeric has also been used as a digestive aid and treatment for arthritis and depression.

Today, turmeric can be taken as in capsule form. Most experts, however, recommend that people try to include it in their daily recipes and meals.

Herbs, seasonings and spices can be your best friends when you're trying to cook healthfully. They add tons of flavor without upping the calorie or fat content.

"Fitness Magazine" has seven great spicy recipes that will fit into your healthy lifestyle. Their Hearty Beef Chili recipe is jazzed up with some smoky cumin and it gets its heat from chipotle chili pepper, Thai Pork Stir Fry gets a kick from curry, and fresh ginger flavors the Chicken with Rice Noodles.

All those seasonings and spices can really add up when you buy them at the grocery store. Consider buying them from a health food store instead; you can usually buy just what you need. Also, whole spices tend to have more flavor, so grind your own when possible. To get the most life out of your spices, keep them in air-tight containers in a cool, dry space, preferably away from light.

Source

When trying to lose weight, there are probably a few rules you follow, including lowering your intake of fats and sticking fast to your lower-calorie diet. But, maybe you shouldn't -- AOL Health took a look at some of the ideas behind Crack the Fat Loss Code by Wendy Chant, and some of the suggestions might surprise you.

• Pig out -- Not all the time, of course, but every 18 days -- this keeps your body from getting used to the same caloric intake, thereby increasing your metabolism.
• Forget fat-free -- Skip the skim and opt for low-fat (or -- gasp! -- even full fat) dressings and dairy products, and make sure you get omega 3 fatty acids like tuna and flaxseeds, and monosaturated fatty acids like you find in nuts and nut butters.
• Spice things up -- Adding just half a teaspoon of a spice, like cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, or cayenne can boost your metabolism nearly 80%!
  
  

AOL Health has plenty more tips and tricks for cracking the fat loss code, and you can find them right here.

Source

When you cook, do you stick to the standard salt and pepper? Or do you get more creative, adding fresh herbs and spices to your meals? There are benefits beyond great flavor ... so the next time you cook, be sure to spice it up.

Using spice has been linked to weight loss, and using herbs and spices in place of salt can benefit your blood pressure. In a recent study, researchers found that many herbs and spices can protect tissues from damage and inflammation -- both of which are problems caused by high blood sugar. So frequent use of certain spices and herbs may help those who are living with diabetes.

Spices and herbs are high in antioxidants. While it's not clear how much of each item is necessary to protect tissues, incorporating these ingredients in your meals in small amounts certainly can't hurt. The spices and herbs researchers found to be beneficial include cloves, cinnamon, allspice, apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, marjoram, sage, and thyme.

Source

I don't know about you, but as the days grow shorter and colder, I find myself drawn to warm, comforting foods -- things like soups, stews, pastas, and casseroles. You know, winter foods that can warm you up on the coldest of days.

I love spicy foods, so it's not surprising that Chili Con Carne is one of my winter go-to foods. It's easy to make, it's chalk full of healthy veggies and beans, and -- most important -- it's hot, both in taste and temperature. Topped with a little sour cream, a bit of melted cheese and a slice of warm, freshly baked bread, it's an ideal cold-day treat.

But how healthy is it? How many calories does it have?

Source

Want to drop a few pounds? Add some spice to your meals -- any kind will do, as long as it's low in calories. According to Fit Celeb, adding zero-calorie spices to your meals can help you lose weight. In fact, in studies, participants who did just that lost an average of 30 lbs in six months, compared to two lbs in the control group. Wow. The key to the weight loss was attributed to the aroma of the dishes -- taking a moment to savour the smell of the food was key to participants' weight loss.

A few things to keep in mind: Butter is not a spice, and neither is salt -- both will likely cause you to gain weight rather than lose it. However, be sure to stock up on healthy, flavourful spices like cinnamon, dill, rosemary, curry powder and so on.

What's your favourite spice?

Source

I'm not personally a fan of canned soups -- too much sodium for me -- but RealAge says there's a way to make these soups healthier, once you find a low-sodium variety, that is. The secret? Throw some veggies in the mix. The specific veggie RealAge recommends: Fennel.

Fennel, a spice, herb, and veggie all rolled into one, works well in all kinds of soups -- chicken noodle and tomato are two. Loaded with anitoxidants, fennel can also help knock out foodbourne bacteria like E.coli and Salmonella.

Next time you're pressed for time and find yourself grabbing for the can, make sure you have some fennel on hand. Find it in your produce section -- looks like celery stalks -- or grab some spicy fennel from the spice aisle.

Source

Can certain foods really protect you against cancer? RealAge thinks so and reports that turmeric is just the spice for the prevention of pancreatic cancer, the very disease that just took the life of The Last Lecture guy Randy Pausch and is giving actor Patrick Swayze a run for his money.

It's curcumin, the yellow stuff found in turmeric, that works wonders on tumor cells. When researchers added the substance to cancerous pancreatic cells, production practically shut down. Thumbs up, then, for the spice that gives curry and other Far Eastern dishes it's strong and distinctive flavor.

These foods also keep pancreas happy: Onions, arugula, fish, eggs, poultry, D-fortified cereal, and dairy.

Source

You know I'm not talking about Posh when I say there's a Spice Girl who likes her curves -- does Posh even have a curve? Nope. It's Baby Spice Emma Bunton who remarks that she doesn't think she'd look very good thin.

"I like being curvy," says the new mom of almost one year who just isn't someone to obsess about her figure 24/7. That doesn't mean she wasn't concerned about fitting into her skimpy Spice Girl outfits after having her baby boy, though. Breastfeeding and lots of walking helped get her into shape and she's careful about what she eats too -- no carbs on this girl's dinner menu.

When she's in the mood to indulge, Baby Spice says she does love chips, Coke, a great wine, and Chinese food. Cheers to a woman who knows what she likes, curves included.

Source

Each week, we'll be naming a Super Food and offering unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

Being someone who loves to travel, I'm drawn to ethnic foods, tastes from around the world. So many cultures have different forms of curry, but my favourite is a good, spicy Indian curry. Provided it's not loaded with too much cream or sodium, curry is loaded with healthy ingredients like fresh veggies and spices. One of the key ingredients, of course, is Turmeric, and it's one of the main reasons you should eat more curry.

Why? The reasons are almost endless.

Source

Sure, diet and exercise do wonders for self-image and self-esteem. But these pursuits often require a long haul. Why not start feeling great about yourself now. Here are a few pick-me-up practices, ladies, that will spice up the old you and leave you feeling revived.

• Switch your part. Moving the part in you hair from the center to the side, or vice versa, can give you a refreshing change.
  
• If you use face powder, stop. Your skin will look fresher and dewier. Powder absorbs light, making your complexion look flat.
  
• If you've never worn red nail polish, try it. Even short nails look shiny and glamorous when tipped in red.
• Change the color of your glasses. Try green, burgundy, or midnight blue frames for a instant new look.
• Make your teeth look brighter with blue-toned lip color. Try blue-based pink, red, burgundy, or plum shade.
  
  

For another 48 spicy tips, click here.

Source

Each week, we'll be offering original recipes and unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

Every time I walk into my local grocery store, scents of cinnamon drift my way, compliments of spiced-up holiday decorations strategically located just inside the sliding doors. On most school-day mornings, I make my boys slices of cinnamon toast. They always ask for more. And when I buy my favorite Yankee candles, I always grab the cinnamon varieties. I burn them whenever I'm home. I especially love them at Christmas time.

Think warm mugs of apple cider sprinkled with cinnamon, baked apples with crushed nuts and cinnamon on a cold winter day, or a cool glass of spiced tea on a hot summer afternoon and you're likely to conjure up visions of a Super Spice that's good for all seasons. Not only is cinnamon good, though. It's also quite healthy.

Source

I've heard before that curry can fight cancer, but apparently, it loses some of its effectiveness when it's ingested. So researchers in Japan have come up with two synthetic versions of that magical spice that can harness the cancer-fighting potential of curry, even when ingested. And when tested on mice, the results were promising -- they worked far better at combatting cancer than regular curry. To read more about the studies, click here.

I wonder if this synthetic curry tastes the same as regular curry? I myself love curry but I know some people who don't. What about you? Do you love curry?

Source

I love garlic. In fact, it's so good that I use it in almost everything where it can complete the flavor: pasta sauces, fish, chicken, vegetables and even on whole-wheat sandwiches. Not only does the pungent taste awaken your sense, it's also a great thing to eat for good health.

Yes, the smell may turn some people off, but if you can get past that, garlic is really great for you. It's been said many times that garlic has cancer-fighting properties along with other health benefits, and some researchers now may understand why that is.

The new study suggested that red blood cells turn garlic components into what are called cell messenger hydrogen sulfide (H2S). In turn, this relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow. Result? Less incidences of heart disease and blood flow problems.

Source

There's nothing precise about this salsa recipe. But there's everything healthy about it. And that's why you should give it try. It goes like this:

Cut up watermelon into chunks -- big chunks, little chunks, you decide. Then cut up a few fresh peaches into similar-sized pieces. Add some diced jalapenos to suit your desire for spice, some cut up bits of cilantro, a sprinkling of onions, and a dash of Light Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing -- which you could also leave out entirely. The juices from the fruit may do just the trick in exchange for less fat and calories.

Now mix it all up, and use your fruity salsa as a dip for the healthiest tortilla chips you can find (try blue chips from your grocery store's health food section), for a topping on your favorite fish, for a dressing on your yummy salad, or for anything your little heart desires. It doesn't really matter where your salsa lands. It's sure to spice up just about anything -- and in only the healthiest of ways.