Do Spices Offer Any Health Benefits?

Adding a pinch of spice can transform an ordinary dish, such
as rice or oatmeal, into something exotic and flavorful. That
same small pinch of spice also will transform your health if you
make it a daily habit.
Spices like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg are the richest sources
of dietary antioxidants, offering more than even blueberries and
acai berries. Spices also offer unique nutrients not found in other
foods, many of which are being researched for their protective
properties.
Adding just 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon to your daily diet improves
blood sugar regulation, beneficial for preventing (and treating)
diabetes. Cinnamon also provides unique antioxidants, improves
circulation, and contains anti-bacterial compounds. All forms of
cinnamon (cassia and Ceylon) offer similar health benefits.
Ginger is a well-known digestive aid that relieves all forms of
nausea. Less known is how ginger can help relieve the pain of
arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. Ginger also is a
popular home remedy to reduce the symptoms of the cold and
flu. Fresh ginger provides the greatest therapeutic benefit, but
dried/powdered gingers also provide relief.
Ginger's cousin, turmeric (a fellow rhizome), is the yellow spice
that provides the characteristic color of curry powders. This spice
is well researched for its role in reducing inflammation, so it is
often recommended to ease the pain of arthritis, inflammatory
bowel disease, and even Multiple Sclerosis. Turmeric can also
reduce cancer risk and improve liver detoxification. New research
suggests that it may help to prevent Alzheimer's disease- it is
truly a magical food.
-Taste Magazine, December 2012