Spicing it up
@GardenGerty (169489)
United States
November 19, 2015 8:34am CST
There are many herbs and spices that are helpful and healthful. Our cooking class lady is constantly making lists of what is good for us.Online we read about different flavorful things that are to benefit us. My chiropractor and my doctor agree on some things as well. If you are from India, many of the things you use regularly are the things we westerners are just learning about.
Years ago my grandmother ate lots of garlic for her high blood pressure. Science says it is true that it helps. I think eating garlic and onions repels biting insects like mosquitoes too.
To help with pain we are encouraged to eat ginger, turmeric, cumin and hot peppers.
Cinnamon, as long as it is the right kind, is supposed to help with blood sugar and cholesterol. Be careful though as it can be too much.
So, with my breakfast today I had tomato juice (high in potassium) with a little turmeric and hot pepper in it. It tasted good and I feel good about it.
18 people like this
15 responses
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Nov 15
I have also heard that B complex vitamins repel mosquitoes and that may be true. I had not been good with my vitamins while moving and I started to "taste good" to biting insects again. It also can happen if you eat too much processed sugar.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (502653)
• Italy
19 Nov 15
@GardenGerty I also tried B complex vitamins and it did not work. It's not the sugar, my husband consume more sugar, I do not even put sugar in my coffee, as I said, my doctor confirmed that it's our blood group, the ZERO group is the one that attracts mosquitoes.
3 people like this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
19 Nov 15
They must love my blood group then, lol.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
19 Nov 15
All the curries that I prepare are from recipes that I picked from my mother. They have all the condiments that have great health properties. At the moment I am making a chutney out of brahmi, tulsi, coriander and curry leaves to which a bit of coconut, onion, green chilli, bilimbi, sugar and salt is added. It is not cooked but garnished with oil and mustard.seeds.
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Nov 15
I would love to grow some tulsi. I do not see it in the stores, but my cooking lady uses it. She says she can order herb plants for us.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
20 Nov 15
@allknowing The other name we use is Holy Basil. There are many different kinds of basil, and I have grown some of them.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
19 Nov 15
@GardenGerty Tulsi grows abundantly here in my garden as it self propagates. Tulsi I am told compares well with Basil.
1 person likes this
@youless (114117)
• Guangzhou, China
19 Nov 15
In my country there are some areas and the people are really fond of the garlic so much. They can even eat raw garlic or green garlic. It seems that they have less possibility to have cancer. In brief, garlic, green garlic and ginger are good for the health. Besides, they can make the dishes much more delicious. We often use them when we are cooking.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Nov 15
They do add good taste and gently treat the illnesses we might have.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Nov 15
@youless your comment had double posted so I deleted one.
2 people like this
@youless (114117)
• Guangzhou, China
20 Nov 15
@GardenGerty Sorry, I didn't know that. Since sometimes the connection is not good, so I have to reload it and therefore there may be a repeated response. If I knew I posted it again, I would delete by myself. Thanks for doing it for me.
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
20 Nov 15
Fish oil and omega 3's are supposed to help that as well. Also foods with lots of potassium. Good job on the blood pressure.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Nov 15
No side effects unless you actually are allergic to the plants. I think there is much value in food as your medicine.
2 people like this
@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
20 Nov 15
@GardenGerty We have to keep a special menu during the time of treatment. Non Veg not allowed at the time of treatment.
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
19 Nov 15
I think there is an answer to every ailment found in nature. Most doctors would rather just give us a pill, to cause more side effects, so they can give us more pills, and keep us coming back. This from a nurse, lol.
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
20 Nov 15
The doctors I have had have been willing to work with me on not taking medicine unless I have to. I do have to take antibiotics before dental procedures because I had a joint replaced. I do not have insurance and have had spotty coverage over the years, so I do not see doctors often.
3 people like this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
20 Nov 15
@GardenGerty I work in a hospital and do have insurance. It really doesn't help that much.
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
20 Nov 15
I love spicy foods . But i don't like turmeric though . I prefer ginger .
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
20 Nov 15
I know there are two different kinds of cinnamon, and the health benefits occur from the more expensive kind. I had a friend on the old myLot that took so much cinnamon, in capsules that she damaged her liver, I think it was.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
20 Nov 15
@GardenGerty we have cinnamon powder. i put some on my morning coffee. but how do i know if it's the right kind of cinnamon and if i'm using too little?
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Nov 15
@Barbourne is correct, and it is found in curry powder. I put it in my home made hummus and in my chili.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
19 Nov 15
Spices may be good in one way but for me they are mostly bad. I cannot tolerate most spices. Even black pepper gets to me sometimes. I wish I had a better stomach.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
19 Nov 15
I hear you, I have known people who had various issues with spices of all kinds.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54716)
• United States
19 Nov 15
I have never thought to put turmeric in tomato juice. That sounds good.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
20 Nov 15
It is good. I also like cumin in many dishes.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
19 Nov 15
I love to use some of those spices. I put tumeric in my eggs and oatmeal!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
20 Nov 15
Oatmeal? Hmmm. I do use it in eggs. I forget what cumin is supposed to be good for, but I like the taste of it in a lot of things.
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
20 Nov 15
I like being a guinea pig, doing taste tests.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
20 Nov 15
Ginger helps with pain and upset stomach. My cooking lady says she chews on slices of ginger when whe is around people who are sick to stay healthy.
2 people like this
