Best Spices To Boost Heart Health

Spices are more than just improving the taste of our foods. They are also packed with potential healing agents that can provide with health-promoting benefits. Some of our well-known spices can even benefit our hearts and blood vessels. Check them out below.

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a hot chili in the Capsicum family that is frequently used to enhance the flavor of savory dishes. It is loaded with nutrients and antioxidants that can benefit our health. Its anti-inflammatory properties are good for our heart and its active ingredient known as capsaicin can help improve cholesterol levels because of its ability to reduce the build-up of cholesterol in the blood.

We can add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper into our tea, smoothies, or soup to reap its numerous positive effects in our body.

Garlic

Garlic is used in cooking as whole cloves, chopped/minced, pressed/paste, juiced, or in powdered form. Aside from being one of the most popular cooking spices, garlic is known to have powerful medicinal benefits. More than 100 phytochemicals have been identified in garlic, with the sulfur-containing ingredient allicin being the most well-known one. Allicin helps in managing cholesterol, managing triglyceride levels, reducing blood pressure, and reducing cardiovascular risks.

Crushed garlic cloves can be consumed daily or its juice can be added into salads or soups.

Ginger

Ginger is mostly used in n savory dishes in Indian and Asian cuisine. Its gingerol, the most bioactive constituent of ginger, is responsible for its flavor and aroma as well as many health benefits, which come from its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This known to be as an anti-nausea remedy has a number of cardiovascular benefits. It has anti-inflammatory properties, helps lower down LDL cholesterol and increases HDL cholesterol, promotes HDL function to remove cholesterol from plaque, lowers blood sugar, and improves circulation.

Onion

Onions are popular food worldwide. They are low in calories but high in vitamins and minerals and contain 2 important flavonoid compounds that act as antioxidants, namely quercetin, and sulfur.

Eating onions is one of the best ways to deal with heart problems. It raises levels of HDL cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, prevents clot, and decreases the levels of unhealthy fats in the blood.

Turmeric

Turmeric contains curcumin that possesses potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that are beneficial in dealing with heart diseases.  It works by improving our cholesterol levels—lowering both the total level and the LDL number; lowering inflammation and oxidative stress; promoting weight loss and lowering blood sugar.

Simply add 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric to juices, tea or smoothies. Also, we can add it to sautéed soups, vegetables, or curry broth.