Spice up your life
This story was originally titled "Spice Up Your Life" in the May 2011 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!
Topped with a sprinkle of sweet cinnamon, a bowl of applesauce makes for a tasty morning treat. But did you know that with that light shower of spice, you've upped the calcium content of this simple snack? Cinnamon isn't the only spice that boasts nutritional benefits while boosting the flavour of food. We asked registered dietitians Gina Sunderland, in Winnipeg, and Natalie Brown in White Rock, B.C., and medical herbalist James Christian, in Victoria, to dish on 10 delicious dashables that can perk up both your meals and your health.
Turmeric
This brilliantly coloured spice (shown above) is most often found dried. "It's peppery, warm and bitter tasting, and it has a mild orange and ginger fragrance," says Brown. "It's one of the ingredients used to make curry, and gives ballpark mustard its yellow colour."
How can it help me? Research shows that turmeric has excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering abilities, as well as potential anti-tumour properties, says Christian. What's more, it may help prevent clotting diseases such as deep vein thrombosis.
Try it now: This spice works well with lentils, but Christian suggests experimenting by stirring it into a variety of dishes, or steeping it into a tea.
Test Kitchen recipe: Spanish Chicken and Rice with Chorizo
