Add a Little Spice To Your Life
By Maria England, NDTR, ABS Team Member
We often think of spices as just a way to season a dish, but in the past several years we have become aware of how spices have more benefits than just adding flavor! Many spices we use on a daily basis actually have amazing health benefits too!
One of our favorite spices is cinnamon, which is featured in our ABS Cinnamon Swirl Protein Pancake. It doesn’t just make our pancakes taste amazing but it also adds health benefits. Cinnamon has antioxidants, which protects our body from free radicals, which cause damage to healthy cells. It continues to help our body by being an anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is a natural function in our body that helps to repair injuries but it can be chronic and we do cause extra inflammation while working out. Cinnamon can help lower inflammation and is great for those who suffer from joint pain. Not only does cinnamon help with inflammation and removing free radicals, but it may also reduce your risk of heart disease and lower blood sugar.
We often pair cinnamon with ginger during the winter, but pairing these ingredients year round can also increase your health benefits from these spices! Ginger is naturally known as stomach soother, but did you know it could also help with reducing muscle pain and soreness after working out? This is due to it being an anti-inflammatory. Anti-inflammatory foods are great for joint pain, and muscle soreness because it reduces inflammation in joints and muscles.
One of the most popular spices right now is turmeric! Turmeric like many spices is an anti-inflammatory and it also is a great antioxidant. This combination of health benefits is important for people who workout because when we work out we actually increase the oxidation in our body, as well as inflammation. But adding a little turmeric to your post workout meal like ABS Vanilla Cake Batter Protein Pancakes can help to increase your antioxidants and decrease inflammation, which will reduce sore muscles!
These three spices are just the start of how spices can provide amazing health benefits to your foods. All three of these spices may help reduce your risk to cancer due to their anti-oxidant properties; they also help with joint and muscle pain, and increase your heart health. Next time you reach for your ABS Cinnamon Swirl Protein Pancake, Â remember you are reaching for some amazing health benefits too!
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