The Health Benefits of Common Spices, Including Black Pepper, Cinnamon, and Cayenne

By Anne Clarke

Black pepper, cinnamon, cayenne pepper – none of these spices are new or unusual to most people. In fact, these are spices that many of us use on a regular basis, especially black pepper. But did you know that these spices also have many health benefits? Did you know that there is more reason to use these spices than to simply add flavor and spice to a meal?

Black Pepper

In America, black pepper is one of the most commonly used spices. In fact, it is not uncommon for a person to use pepper with every meal – a little on his eggs, a bit on his sandwich and salad, a lot on his steak and corn… Fortunately, as it turns out, this is a good thing. Why? Because black pepper is good for us!

Black pepper improves digestion by stimulating the taste buds and thereby alerting the stomach to increase hydrochloric secretion. Black pepper is also an antioxidant, and it has antibacterial effects. But wait – there’s more! You will be very happy to know that the outermost layer of the peppercorn actually helps stimulate the breakdown of fat cells!

Black pepper also helps prevent the formation of intestinal gas, promotes urination, and promotes sweating. It is full of manganese, and it also has a good amount of iron and dietary fiber, as well.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon also has a very healthy dose of manganese, but the health benefits of cinnamon are different than those of black pepper. Cinnamon can help eliminate and prevent the clumping of blood platelets. The scent of cinnamon can boost brain function – in other words, smelling cinnamon can improve your virtual recognition memory, working memory, and more!

Cinnamon can also help stop the growth of bacteria. Some even say that cinnamon can be used as spicy alternative to traditional food preservatives. For people with type 2 diabetes, cinnamon is wonderful – it can help them respond to insulin and thereby normalize their blood sugar levels.

Cayenne

The list of benefits from cayenne pepper seems to go on and on: it fights inflammation, prevents stomach ulcers, boosts immunity, offers pain relief, has cardiovascular benefits, and helps clear congestion. It seems that no matter your ailment, a dose of cayenne will help you out! Cayenne is also full of vitamin A.

Who knew that making your food taste good could be so good for you? So, go ahead and add a little spice to your meal. Adding a bit of spice to your life may actually help you increase your lifespan!

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, cooking, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on spices, please visit Designer Spice Racks.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke

Discover Pomegranate Health Benefits

By Michelle Pennington

Health experts and researchers have attributed a lot of importance to the drinking of pomegranate juice in the present times. Synonymous with good health and fitness, there are still a lot of people who may think why this fruit is the attention of so much hype in the recent years. Pomegranate health benefits have been associated with a number of human ailments and disorders. This fruit has been over the recent decades one of the most sought after health fruits among the health conscious fraternity.

Greatly in demand for its folic acid and vitamin nutrients, pomegranate is rich in polyphenols, tannins and anthocyanins.

Known for its antioxidant properties similar to red wine, green tea and purple grape juice this fruit is becoming the number one health choice among the millions of people all over the world.

Pomegranate does have more significant health benefits that have been clinically proven by medical research and studies. This wonder juice successfully prevents osteoarthritis and contributes to dental protection as well. Drinking of about 1.7 ounces of pomegranate juice lowers systolic blood pressure by around 5 per cent. Rich in potassium and vitamins A, C and E, the juice of this fruit curbs cancer and heart disorders successfully.

Pomegranate health benefits the regulation of stomach activity and it can be digested easily. There is preliminary evidence that suggests that the regular drinking of pomegranate juice may help in the reduction of cholesterol successfully. According to a clinical research that was conducted in Clinical Nutrition in June 2004, a group of Israeli researchers published a report that the daily consumption of pomegranate juice successfully reduced blood pressure and reduced LDL oxidation.

Additional health benefits of pomegranate studies have proved that a person has a lesser risk of heart stroke if he or she drinks the juice of pomegranate. The juice makes the heart thinner and lowers plague that has the tendency to grow in the arteries of the heart. The juice also works against enzymes that damage body cartilage. The juice also has the benefits of reducing weight, improving skin and giving renewed energy to a person.

Pomegranate health benefits also include the prevention of breast cancer from being formed. This juice has positively reduces lung cancer risks and it also slows down the possibility of prostate cancer. The juice also benefits the brain and it slows down the possibility of Alzheimer's disease. Drinking the juice of pomegranate juice also immensely benefits the neonatal brain of the unborn child.

In order to get the maximum pomegranate health benefits one should drink concentrated pomegranate juice or the fruit can be eaten as a whole. There are many pomegranate supplements that are available in the market and one can also take them to get the maximum pomegranate health benefits. One should have the fruit as a whole or the juice which can be extracted from the pulp and then consumed. One should welcome its benefits and include it as a vital part of one's diet as well as fitness program to get the maximum benefits and enjoy a healthy longer life span!

I'd like for you to discover the pomegranate health benefits for yourself! Here is a nutritional anti-aging health drink supplement that consist of ALL 5 Major Organic Fruits in one bottle and is highly recommended for the whole family! Get pomegranate juice benefits with Le Vive Juice, the NEW anti-aging health drink! Available at: Levive-Juice.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Pennington