What if we told you that you can help aid your body in fighting inflammation and pain with spices?
When it comes to tired achy muscles, you always think of the traditional or "normal" way of relieving that pain. Stretching is the most common way to relieve sore muscles but studies have found that myofascial release improves the quality of the muscle plus relieving the soreness of it. Another popular and easy way to ease muscle pain is over the counter medications such as Ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory medications which are not necessarily good for you and we tend to stray away from recommending them.
The cause of pain is not the lack of medications in your body.
Spices have been apart of many cultures for as long as time. And over that time, spices have kept people healthy and virus, fungus, and disease-free. Before processed food, people actually had to cook their meals and flavor it with healing herbs and spices.
India is a great example of a country that shows very little disease because it is linked to the number of spices they consume in their everyday meals. Why? Why am I talking about spices and diseases? Well, in the average American diet, salt, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives make up most of the food we eat today. Now, that doesn't leave much room for wholesome superfood spices now does it?
The lack of spices in our diets makes our bodies less likely to fight off disease, function optimally, and feel our best.
Adding spices to your everyday diet can help with overall health but when you're sore and have tired muscles, you'll do anything to feel better. I have gone through and found 5 anti-inflammatory and natural pain-relieving spices that you can add to your meal right away. Your body will be better equipped to start healing itself because you're taking control of your life and health.
1. Turmeric
This spice is probably one of the most popular anti-inflammatory spices that exist because of the natural superpower strength it has in our bodies. Its recent new stardom has been making way into the shelves of natural food stores in various forms; from pills to powder.
This amazing anti-cancer spice has the ability to help prevent and cure so many health-related issues such as cancer, arthritis, depression, PAIN, type 2 diabetes, and many more. Remember when you consume turmeric, you must also eat black pepper with it as the pepper helps the body absorb the benefits of turmeric. Without pepper, eating turmeric would be a waste.
Pain Relieving Component: Curcumin
Different forms to purchase: Turmeric Capsules, Curcumin Powder, Turmeric Powder
2. Chile
You either love spicy foods or you hate it. Or maybe a hint of spice is okay! You probably don't associate chile as a pain-relieving spice like turmeric because of the burning sensation in your mouth. Chile has proven to be one effective natural pain-relieving spices out there.
How it works is simple. The more you consume, the more you build up a tolerance to the burn. And in return, your body releases a hormone called somatostatin that actually cools inflammation, simultaneously. So while your mouth is on fire, the rest of your body is enjoying the benefits of capsaicin, the leading factor of pain relief in chiles. You can now find capsaicin creams to use topically for arthritis, nerve pain, shingles, diabetic neuropathy, neck pain, and headaches.
Pain Relieving Component: Capsaicin
Different forms to purchase: Fresh peppers from the grocery store,
3. Fennel Seed
You're probably thinking "What do I use fennel seed for?" Well, you can use them in meats like sausage or sauces. You may already eat fennel seed without knowing. Most Italian sausage has fennel seed in it. This anti-inflammatory spice has proven to be a powerful antioxidant that reduces pain in our bodies. This handy spice has the power to defeat free radicals which causes oxidation to DNA and cells of our bodies. The more oxidation we have in our bodies, the more inflammation we have too.
Pain Relieving Component: Antispasmodic and Anethol
Different forms to purchase: Fennel Dried Seeds, Fennel Oil
4. Juniper Berry
Juniper Berry is known as a diuretic and a spice that complements meat dishes. Turns out that this small berry can actually help heal various inflammation disease. It has been used to help ease arthritis and helps relieve menstrual pain. It has the same effect as taking anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) for arthritis and other pain.
Pain Relieving Components: Pinene, Myrcene, Sabinene, also limonene, Terpinene, Camphene and Thujone
How to buy: Dried Juniper Berries, Juniper Berry Oil
5. Black Pepper
Black Pepper has many healing properties varying from digestion relief to easing arthritis pain. The compound piperine in black pepper helps enhance the absorption of other healing spices as well as its own anti-inflammatory properties. The good thing about pepper is that it is easy to put in a variety of meals. When you digest your food better, you'll feel better. So pour on the BLACK PEPPER!
Pain Relieving Component: Piperine and Capsaicin
How to buy: Ground Black Pepper, Whole Peppercorns, Black Pepper Extract
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