Everyone knows that spices are delicious added to food, but did you know that many spices also offer natural healing benefits?

Some of the most popular and potent spices for natural healing are cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger. I try to incorporate these three spices as often as I can.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a versatile spice that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. You’ll never run out of ways to add cinnamon to your diet. I love adding a sprinkle of cinnamon on my ground coffee before brewing it for a little boost.

Taking cinnamon daily can help reduce high cholesterol; reduce blood sugar for those with diabetes; diminish gas, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting; helps stomach problems like ulcers; helps with heart disease; and battles food poisoning.

Of course, using cinnamon in your diet can help keep you healthy before problems show up.

Use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon daily for all of these health benefits. Alternatively, take a 1-gram standardized capsule of cinnamon extract daily or use cinnamon tea to make a delicious beverage.

Ways to get cinnamon in your diet include the following: add cinnamon to pancake and waffle batter or top pancakes and waffles with a sprinkling of cinnamon; sprinkle on squash before baking; add to smoothies; mix into hot or cold cereal; add to most any fruit pie filling; top fruit with cinnamon and a little sugar.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a bright orange-yellow spice that adds depths of flavor to savory dishes. It has powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that are beneficial to good health.

Adding turmeric, which contains curcumin, to your diet can help prevent colon cancer; aids in warding off Alzheimer’s disease; boosts the immune system; supports liver health; treats arthritis, and can calm the stomach and aid in digestion.

Use turmeric as a preventative measure for good health.

Use 1 teaspoon of ground, dried turmeric spice, or grate 1 tablespoon of fresh turmeric root daily for the best health benefits. Alternatively, take a standardized tablet or capsule of turmeric extract daily.

Make “Golden Tea” by mixing 1 cup milk, 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons coconut oil, a pinch of black pepper, and a bit of sweetener (maple syrup or stevia are good) to taste. Cook on the stove, stirring or whisking to combine the ingredients. Heat to almost boiling and cook for 3 or 4 minutes. Stir and adjust spices. Drink warm.

Also, use turmeric in stir-fries; curries; smoothies; salad dressings; soups; rice dishes; pickled vegetables; and cooked vegetables, meat, chicken, and fish.

Ginger

Using ginger for natural remedies has been going on for thousands of years. This root plant has a spicy flavor that adds depth and zing to tons of dishes.

Ginger provides potassium, copper, manganese, vitamins B6 and C, niacin, iron, and phosphorus. It offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Using ginger in your diet can help treat nausea, can lower bad (LDL) cholesterol levels, fight yeast infections and other fungal infections, block bacterial infections, protects against ulcers, can ease menstrual pain, and can aid in digestion.

Use 1 teaspoon of dried ginger spice or grate 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger root daily for the best health benefits. Alternatively, use ginger tea bags and drink a cup or two each day.

Use fresh ginger root to make hot tea. Simply chop the ginger root, a few inches, with the peel on and add to a teapot or mug with boiling water. Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes. If it’s too strong, dilute the tea with additional water till it is the to your taste. Add honey and lemon. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator and enjoy the next day.

Use ginger on fish; in curries, stir-fries, and soups; add to smoothies; in salad dressings; and to baked goods like zucchini bread, anything pumpkin, and other sweetbreads.

Sprinkle Your Way to Good Health

Keep these spices on hand and add them to your food for a natural way to maintain your health. Start small by adding a new spice to smoothies. Then seek out recipes where you can use cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger often.