Spices And Your Health Seven Most Potent Disease - Fighting Spices (Part I)

Spices can add much more than flavor, color and variety to your favorite foods. Many have unique health-promoting properties. So if salt and pepper are the only spices in your kitchen, you're missing out on a lot of interesting flavors and some potentially potent health benefits.
"There have been many recent studies validating the historic habit of using spices for health benefits,'' Accredited to then If you're looking for the most health bang for your buck, these seven spices top the list in terms of taste and disease-fighting capabilities.
Ginger
Health Benefits: The active ingredient in ginger is gingerol, a compound that is thought to relax blood vessels, stimulate blood flow and relieve pain. It's commonly used as a digestive aid and contains compounds that ease motion sickness and nausea and inhibit vomiting. This makes it a helpful spice for morning sickness or for people suffering from the side effects of chemotherapy.
Ginger is also an anti-inflammatory, which means it may be useful in fighting heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease and arthritis. Plus, it's high in antioxidants that fight all kinds of diseases.
Usage: Ginger can be used freshly ground from the root (see picture) in Asian dishes, as well as in any type of meat, seafood or vegetable dish. Ginger is commonly served along with beans. Dried ground ginger is typically used in desserts and baking (gingerbread biscuits, etc.), Fresh ginger root can also be used to make a soothing ginger tea.
Interestingly, the  health benefits of ginger were documented over 2,000 years ago!
Oregano
Health Benefits: Two of oregano's compounds, thymol and carvacrol, have potent antibacterial properties. In fact, a study in Mexico found that oregano was more effective against an amoeba than a common prescription drug called tinidazol.
Oregano is also a potent antioxidant, rich in phytonutrients. On a per gram basis, fresh oregano has:
·    42 times more antioxidant activity than apples
·    30 times more than potatoes
·    12 times more than oranges
·    4 times more than blueberries
How it's Used: Fresh or dried oregano can be added to Italian dishes, salad dressings, egg dishes, vegetables, meats and more.
Interesting Tidbit: Oregano means "mountain joy" and is sometimes called wild marjoram in Europe. It's closely related to the herb sweet marjoram.