Winter warmth with the Indian spice box

Credit to Author: Canadian Immigrant| Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2024 14:30:14 +0000

Find warmth and healing in the colder months within the Indian spice box, also a source of delicious culinary inspiration.

Using spices for good health is rooted in Ayurveda (the Sanskrit word for the science of life), India’s ancient natural system of healing. In Ayurveda, the approach to wellness is keeping the body at its optimum to prevent illness, which is especially important during the cold and flu season.

The cornerstone of Indian cooking is spices. Indian cuisine’s diversity of spices is not only cherished for the delicious flavours they deliver; in Ayurveda they are also acknowledged for their medicinal benefits.

Why use spices?

• Spices add a depth of tantalizing flavour to hearty winter warming recipes, soups, slow-simmering stews, and curries.
• They raise the body’s temperature by increasing metabolism. If you’ve been outside in the cold, a hearty spice-infused dish will warm you from the inside-out!
• Spices are a useful set of remedies for bolstering good health with known benefits such as boosting immunity and possessing anti-bacterial properties. By eating a curry, you can take benefit from a wide variety of spices.

Here are five recommended practical and beneficial spices for winter.

Black pepper: Warming and invigorating, the “king of spice” lends much-needed revitalizing during winter, increasing blood circulation and metabolism. This enhances overall vitality, known as prana, one’s life force.

Turmeric: A spice “superstar” possessing legions of health benefits including anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. The curcumin compound in turmeric releases serotonin and dopamine hormones so turmeric is the spice to combat the winter blues.

Cinnamon: Deliciously warming, cinnamon is an anti-inflammatory spice that also lowers blood sugar levels. Its natural sweetness can help reduce overall sugar consumption.

Ginger: Soothing for stomach ailments and helping with efficient digestion, ginger’s “zingy” spicy quality adds warmth to curries, beverages and desserts.

Red chilies: High in vitamin C, rich in antioxidants, chiles increase metabolism, lending a warming sensation to the body. Choose Kashmiri chili powder for milder heat.

Spice it up this winter! But remember to consult your doctor before making changes to the diet, especially if you have any pre-existing conditions.

Preena Chauhan is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Arvinda’s premium Indian spice blends, an Indian cooking expert and co-author of the award-winning cookbook New Indian Basics.

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