Spice it up !

I am a big believer in adding fresh spices to your food as much as you can, not only are they tasty but the health benefits are well worth the effort in incorporating them into your foods, especially in western diets, Here you will find all my favorite spices and the lowdown on what dishes they go best with as well as some of the health benefits for you and your family, even the dog can benefit from some herbs and spices, like turmeric,which I add to my dogs stews when I cook them all the time.Herbs and Spices have long be well known for there healing properties, BUT. IF YOU HAVING ANY HEALTH ISSUES AND ARE TAKING MEDICATIONS FROM YOU DOCTORS PLEASE CHECK WITH THEM FIRST BEFORE MIXING THEM WITH HERBAL REMEDIES.

TURMERIC:

 One of my favorite and most used spice is wonderful Turmeric. the health benefits are huge and there is much medical research and studies to back up the claims of this spice, I love it, I never cook rice without it yellow rice is all you will get in my house, I also have had dogs all my life, some with really bad arthritis, I tried everything to ease there pain from vet medications and expensive glucosamine tablets and powders, I never saw a difference in their ailments, after reading up on the benefits of turmeric I started adding it to their stews when I cooked them and after a couple months noticed a big improvement in them.I myself suffer from arthritis now also so I eat this on a regular basis. You can add it to curries, stews, etc. I haven't had a cold or flu in well over 20 years, I think turmeric and the amount of fresh garlic I use, has had a lot to do with that as well as really good hygiene

 Turmeric possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that protect the liver against damage from exposure to various toxins, according to Liver Disease.com. In animal studies, it was shown to slow down or inhibit liver disease from liver toxins. It can thin the blood, so if you take medicinal blood thinners, use turmeric only under your health practitioner's supervision.(IF YOU HAVE GALL BLADDER DISEASE OR PROBLEMS DO NOT TAKE TURMERIC)

NO GALLBLADDER ! Should I be taking turmeric?

there is a lot of conflicting articles on the net about whether or not you should take turmeric if you have no gallbladder.. I myself have been eating it for years in my food , without a problem and have jut introduced golden milk to my diet using skim milk and almond milk. and am not finding a problem in taking it, my gallbladder was removed 10 years ago though. what I am finding is that my chronic back pain is a lot more manageable ,I am getting a better nights sleep because I am not in as much pain as I normally am ( my pain stems from a crushed disc in my neck which is causing calcification right down my spine). WHAT I DO NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR THOUGH IS:the blood thinning properties of Turmeric as even something like taking aspirin daily causes me to have nose bleeds.So far so good though

health benefits are:

1. Wards off Alzheimer's disease

2. Helps to prevent cancer

3. Reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes

4. Combats inflammatory diseases

5.Fights colds and flu

6. Helps indigestion and weight loss

7. Assists diabetes sufferers
 Detailed Reference for Turmeric
I just found this and I will be adding it my daily ritual , I think turmeric really is a wonder spice.
golden-milk-recipe 

golden milk

Turmeric Paste

  Allspice: Benefits and info

Recently this aromatic spice has become a favorite of mine added to my morning coffee

Mix in a container 1/4 cup coffee whitener, 1 tablespoon allspice, 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon. mix it all up and add 1 teaspoon to you instant coffee

Allspice Benefits

Allspice is widely used as a carminative, to prevent or relieve flatulence. It is used as both an aromatic stimulant and as a tonic for the gastro-intestinal tract and digestive system, to treat vomiting, stomach ache, diarrhea and indigestion; along with digestive disorders such as dyspepsia and colic, and is known to improve the appetite. The essential oil in Allspice is a tonic for the nervous system, and has been used to treat nervous exhaustion, hysterical paroxysms, neuralgia, and convulsions. When used externally, Allspice’s warming effects are used to relieve chest infections, arthritis and rheumatism, bruises, and muscle aches and pains. Allspice has been used as a natural herbal remedy fever, colds, flu, diabetes, menstrual cramps, and heavy menstrual bleeding. Allspice extracts have antioxidant, antiseptic and anesthetic properties, and usefulness in fighting yeast and fungal infections.

Allspice is a natural source of beta-carotene, vitamins A, B-1, B-2, and C, niacin, thiamine, and riboflavin; along with the minerals iron, potassium, magnesium, selenium, and manganese. Its active elements are methyleugenol and caryophyllene, resin, tannin, sugar, quercetin, glycocides, and sesquiterpenes; and it contains metabolites of homovanillic and homomandelic acids, malic and galic acids, lignin, and bonastre. Another active constituent is the phenol eugenol, which is used by dentists as an antiseptic and a local anesthetic for teeth.

To soothe indigestion

Make an infusion of 1 – 2 teaspoons of Allspice powder in one cup of boiling water. After steeping for 15 minutes, strain through a coffee filter. May drink up to 3 cups per day.

Joint Pain

To relieve muscle aches and pains, joint pain and arthritis, and to treat bruises: Make a poultice using Allspice powder mixed with enough water to make a paste. Spread the paste on a clean cloth, and then cover the affected area.

As a dietary supplement

Take 1 – 2 capsules with water at mealtime; twice a day. Capsules average 600 mg allspice powder.

Properties

Carminative, anitdiarrheal, rubifacient, aromatic, digestive stimulant, digestive tonic, antioxidant, antiseptic, anesthetic, analgesic, antidontalgic, antifungal, nervous system stimulant, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, tonic.

Indicated For

Flatulence, stomach ache, colic, diahrrea, vomiting, indigestion, dispepsia, poor appetite, aromatic, fatigue, nervous exhaustion, hysterical paroxyms, depression, neuralgia, convulsions, menstrual cramping, heavy menstrual bleeding, fever, colds, flu, chest infections, arthritis, rheumatism, muscle aches and pains, joint soreness and pains, bruises, diabetes, yeast infections, fungal infections, tooth and gum pain.