Not only do spices make your food tasty, they are loaded with medicinal benefits

• Turmeric is a yellow-orange spice used in curry. Its active constituent possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory as well as anti-cancer properties and is though to have potential use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.  It might just be brain food too with mmounting evidence that curcumin may help to protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

• Garlic is renowned for its cardio-protective credentials.
  Benefits include lowering cholestorol, reducing stickiness of blood and protecting against atherosclerosis which is the build-up of plaque on artery walls. Regular inclusion in food might also protect against stomach and colorectal cancer.
• Chilli is hot property due to its active constituent capsaicin. Most attention has focused on its use in pain-killing ointments for certain types of nerve pain. There is evidence that easting chilli regularly may assist weight loss by helping the body burn more energy.
• Ginger has a reputation of alleviating nausea (including travel sickness) and easing digestive problems. It is also a natural anti-inflammatory and is used for aches, pains and arthritis.
• Black pepper’s acctive constituent piperine can have an anti-depressant effect. It stimulates digestion, improves absorption and has antioxidant properties.

Extracted by TOM OLIVER from The 100 Foods You Should Be Easting by Glen Matter (New Holland, £9.99) with free UK delivery, call 0871 988 8367 (10p per minute from BT landlines) with your card details, send a cheque payable to Express Newspapers to: The Express Bookshop, PO Box 200, Falmouth TR11 4WJ or order via www.expressbookshop.co.uk price £9.99.

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First published in Daily Express Tuesday August 31 2010