Allys of Mediterranean diet

Spices are a good alternative to salt and sauces to season plates. Healthy and irresistible to create always different recipes in cuisine.

Pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, turmeric, ginger, saffron… are some of the most used to aromatize plates. The so called “drugs” of popular medicine have always had a main role, with the “spice” pharmacist, who is the expert of spices.

Pepper, in its most common variety, black and white (identical, the white pepper becomes from the black one by removing the skin before the sun drying of the berry), presents in rough surface grains (black), and smooth surface (white). The white one has also less spicy flavor and taste then the black pepper. Rich of mineral salts and vitamines, used in small doses helps digestion. Better to buy in grains then powdered: once milled it losts much of its aroma. Among the varieties, green pepper, is an anti inflammatory and it’s a worthy ally for people on diet because reduces the sense of hunger.

Many are the properties of cinnamon, unmistakable aroma of delicious desserts, it is perfect in winter against influence and cold and in summer because it stimulates sweating. This powerful antibacterial, not only reduces blood sugar levels, but also helps digestion and alleviates menstrual cramps.

Another spice with an intense and unmistakable aroma is the nutmeg, rich of mineral salts and vitamins. It relaxes fighting insomnia and it is also used against toothache. It also helps the skin to fight acne with its antiseptic action.

Mineral salts, vitamins, antioxidant substances are the nutritional mix of clove, another spice with a strong taste, used in cuisine for the preparation of sweet and savoury dishes. Among the properties: alleviates toothache, it’s an ally of vision, it fights fatigue and favours memory

Thanks to its extraordinary properties (and no one contraindication), turmeric can be considered the queen of spices. Excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, it plays also an antibacterial action to cure, for example, candida (it soothes itching and burning). It’s also a good antidepressant favouring the increase of serotonin level. 

It calms nausea, muscle and menstrual pains, headache… These are only a few of the beneficial properties of ginger, a precious spice with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities. Very popular for the preparation of herbal tea, it helps digestion, detoxifies, deflates. It is widely used for the preparation of desserts as the famous gingerbread

Who has never heard about saffron risotto! Uses of the most expensive spice on the market (Italy is among the most important producers), are many, as its properties… It has not only a antidepressive function, but it also fights insomnia, helps digestion, regulates the level of cholesterol.

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