Last week, I talked about some of the most powerful anti-disease spices (turmeric, cloves, ginger) and how you can use them to boost your health (check out last week’s blog post HERE . Let’s continue our journey to uncover which spices are best to add to your diet this fall to rejuvenate body, mind and spirit.

CINNAMON

The rate of diabetes in the US is increasing dramatically. The phenomenal news is that cinnamon is a natural blood sugar regulator. Incredibly, when diabetics use cinnamon in therapeutic doses as prescribed by their clinician, they can gain long-term control of the regulation of their blood sugar levels.

The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine states that taking cinnamon is very useful in the care of patients with Type II diabetes. It’s unclear why this finding isn’t emphasized more widely to those suffering!

However, though cinnamon can be very powerful for Type II diabetes, it probably won’t work to control blood sugar for those with Type I diabetes. For anyone with autoimmune diseases that attack the insulin producing pancreas, cinnamon won’t affect them as much as people without those illnesses.

In Italy, research has shown that cinnamon is more effective than any antibiotic (including amoxicillin) at killing the H. pylori bacteria (which causes stomach ulcers leading to stomach cancers). The bacteria didn’t show any resistance to the spice as it does with normal pharmaceutical medication.

Cinnamon can also be used to help prevent and treat cholesterol, food poisoning, heart disease, high blood pressure, pre-diabetic metabolic syndrome, ovarian cysts, stroke, ulcers and wounds.

Shake some into your coffee, onto your apples or oatmeal and know you’re helping your body in multiple ways.

CUMIN

My first experience with cumin was eating Mexican food in California and I loved it from the first bite! Cumin is also used in Indian cuisine, Texas-style chili con carne, Caribbean foods, and (surprisingly) in Dutch as well as Spanish and Moroccan cooking.

Though it looks drab and brown, a little oily and not so pleasant to the touch, its flavor is so enchanting, you’re not going to want to give it up.

Cumin has also been useful in helping treat chronically high levels of blood sugar in Type II diabetic patients. Studies in India found it worked equally well in reducing cholesterol and tri-glyceride levels, which are the heart damaging blood fats found to be elevated in diabetic people.

Cumin contains a volatile oil rich in vitamins C and A, making it a very potent anti-oxidant with the potential to be a cancer stopper. It has prevented the formation of colon tumors, prevented or reduced the risk of cervical cancer and has been documented to reduce the instances of stomach and liver cancer. It’s also been used to treat epilepsy in the Middle East, and food poisoning and tuberculosis in India.

Blend a little cumin with hummus or coat pumpkin seeds with it before roasting to enjoy yummy treats this fall.

RED CRUSHED PEPPERS

Red crushed peppers have a metabolism boosting property that can help us trim down. The active ingredient in red chili peppers is the heat from the capsaicin. A study found women who added 2 teaspoons of the spice to their food took in fewer calories and fat in later meals.

Add a little crushed red pepper to your guacamole or pasta and enjoy the meal knowing you’ll enjoy the flavor and its benefits.

FENUGREEK

Fenugreek is a great appetite suppressant. People who took a fenugreek supplement in the morning ate less at lunch.

Sprinkle generously on chicken, lamb any type of meat or on your kitchari, rice or pasta dishes and know you will be taking in fewer calories and fewer fats. You’ll also be prone to eat less, particularly if used in combination with the red crushed peppers.

Now you know! Which powerful spice will you try? Share your comments below to let me know which spices you love!