In most of our kitchens, we have a spice rack or an area dedicated to herbs and spices. Many people use different herbs and spices to enhance flavours and to alter the taste of a certain food.
The use of herbs and spices in our foods has been of major importance in our history and more importantly; our health. Herbs and spices are used not only for flavour purposes but because of the nutritional value they add. By adding herbs and spices to your meals, you can cut down on the less healthy ingredients such as salt, added sugars and saturated fats.
A lot of nutrient indexes label herbs and spices as “superfoods”. They are considered to be the second most nutrient dense food after organ meats.
What is it about herbs and spices that make them so nutritious?
Firstly, they are loaded full of antioxidants. Many herbs and spices have more antioxidants than many fruits and vegetables on a per weight basis. Heres an interesting example: oregano has 42x more antioxidants than an apple. 1 teaspoon of oregano has as many antioxidants as a standard sized apple.
A number of them are high in B-vitamins and trace minerals.
Although these nutrient values are reduced by 50% when introduced to heat, researchers have found that herbs and spices still prevent the oxidative damage from unstable fats and other cell-damaging compounds that are created while cooking. When you add herbs and spices to your cooking, you are helping to increase your bodies immunity to foreign radical damage.
The nutritious values of many herbs and spices don’t just end there. There is an even wider range of health benefits you can get just by seasoning your food with herbs and spices. These benefits include:
- Boosted immune system
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Normal blood sugar levels
- Better digestions
- Improved gut health
- Reduced inflammation
- Improved blood lipids
Naturally occurring, plant-based substances like herbs and spices, are used to treat illnesses within local or regional medical healing practices. However, not all herbs and spices share the exact same nutritional values. One of the downsides to herbs and spices is that when you buy some, they have most likely been sitting in the supermarket for a while. The longer they sit, the less nutritional value they will have.
When it comes to finding top quality herbs and spices, Youngevity has got you covered. Youngevity strives to bring you the best quality products out on the market today and the Saveur range is no different.
The Saveur range is made with a mixture of the finest herbs and spices available. The ingredients in the Saveur range are sourced only from the highest quality herbs and spices.
The variety of salts and spices used in this product is are sourced from many places across the globe and are available in a wide range of textures and colours. Did we mention that they are GMO, gluten and dairy free? This means its a great vegetarian and vegan-friendly product.
The most popular product in the Saveur range that we absolutely must recommend is the Downunder Gourmet Grill. it is great for when you pull out the old barbeque, roasting, grilling and even slow cooking. It makes for a great compliment to your protein-rich meals while adding a little spicey flavour to your food.
The Downunder Gourmet Grill works best with foods such as chicken, pork, beef, lamb roasts, steak and even roasted vegetables. The Downunder Gourmet grill is a powerhouse full of flavour. Some of the strongest flavours include:
- Sweet Paprika
- Mustard
- Thyme
- Garlic
- Rosemary
- Black Pepper
- Coriander Seed
Not only is this range an amazingly versatile and interchangeable culinary dream (which is quickly becoming a pantry essential in many kitchens), but because the Saveur range can be purchased as individual items and not just in bulk. It is safe to say that the Saveur range is of much higher quality than that of the herbs and spices you get at the supermarket.
There is a lot more to herbs and spices than you might think. After reading this article, you will hopefully feel inclined to get out there and add some nutritious flavour to your meals knowing that they are doing more than just making your food taste better.
