Before discovering the benefits of spices and herbs, it is good to know the history, from where they have come from. The history of spices has turned around the Middle East and South Asia countries along with their trade practices around 1550 B.C. When it comes to herbs, plants have started using herbs, which have been essential to all cultures or tribes for many decades. Previously, spices were imported from countries like Africa and Asia. This is the main reason why they were more expensive at that time than now. Herbs have been used for food and medicinal purposes by hundreds of tribal cultures since the 15th century.

It is believed that the ancient Egyptians conserved their mummies with them. In the bible, there are also some herbs and spices, which were grown in the Garden of Eden and prized. After the Chinese and Koreans, the spice trade was developed by the Europeans throughout the Crusades. There was an East India company, which was formed by the Dutch in the 1600s, which has become one of the most dominant trading companies in history.

HERBS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN HUMAN BEING LIFE

Nowadays, spices and herbs have become a necessity in every home in India. Herbs have been widely used in Ayurveda medicines, recipes, and remedies. Nevertheless, well-practiced use of spices and herbs can do wonders for your cooking.

How the herbs and spices beneficial?

Have you ever thought that herbs and spices can be beneficial for your body? Yes, why not, as our ancestors used them for a healthy and disease-free body! Many of us have taken complete advantage of the herbs and spices for our bodies. Using spices and herbs as seasonings and flavorings for food like the ancient people used, can give us a plethora of benefits. Read further:

• They contain huge amounts of minerals and vitamins, which help enhance the immunity of the body to ensure proper function. Some herbs and spices also have anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-viral properties that fight foreign invaders to prevent harm to the immune system. Many of our ancestors performed experiments to show that they were actually effective for the body in different ways.

• They also have cancer-fighting properties because of anti-oxidants and polyphenols present in them. These properties help in destroying the free radicals, which are the cause of cancer. With them, the inflammation also gets reduced.

• Some herbs and spices are responsible to soothe stomach issues. They have been also used to relieve nausea, gastrointestinal distress, and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms for longer. This way, the digestive issues can be resolved. In Ayurveda medicines, cardamom and cloves were wrapped in betel nut leaves and then chewed after the foods to boost the digestion and flow of saliva.

• Because of the antioxidants in them, we can use them as a tool to enhance heart health. They protect the cells to prevent the production of blood vessel lining from free radical damage.

Its other benefits include promoting healthy weight, skin, and hair. Like, In India, spices and herbs have been used for thousands of years for both health and culinary purposes. Apart from Indians, Chinese, Romanians, Greeks, Arabians, Muslims, and Europeans realized the importance of herbs and spices because of the healing and medicinal properties they have, and used them for many centuries.

INDIAN SPICES - SIMPLE TO USE, UNIQUE IN TEST

Using them!

It is always preferred to use them as fresh because the dried herbs and spices might lose flavor with time. A combination of herbs and spices can be used to cook foods and flavor them as well. The list includes sago, turmeric, kalonji seeds, dry fenugreek, Indian gooseberry, Sanay Patti, mulethi sticks, safed musli, and many others. In terms of medicinal use, we can take them as an alternative to modern medicines, as the ancient people used them already.