In every culture, spices are used in their cuisine. In India, cardamom and cumin are widely used. In Italy, they love basil and oregano. In Mexico, cilantro, garlic, and chili are used in more than half of their cuisine. In Thailand, there’s sweet basil and lemongrass.
Herbs and spices are very crucial if you want to step up your game in cooking. Not only do they enhance the taste, but most spices also have additional health benefits that you definitely don’t want to miss.
Cooking with herbs and spices is a form of art that’s translated to health. Knowing which ones to add to your daily meal is good for you.
Ginger
This spice has an acquired taste that not everyone loves. However, I think it adds a very clean and refreshing flavor to the mix. It’s amazing in soups, casseroles, smoothies, salad dressings and even in stir-fries. If you want, you can even make your very own homemade ginger ale.
Ginger is considered a medicinal root. Gingerol is a bioactive compound in ginger that has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It also helps aid in morning sickness, colic, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, nausea and loss of appetite. If you’re suffering from menstrual cramps, migraines, and osteoarthritis, ginger can also help in alleviating the pain. Healthy, right?
Garlic
I love how garlic makes any savory dish delicious. It can be minced, chopped, blended, powdered or even be eaten in cloves– just grill it! These aren’t your average defense to vampires, but also to fight off certain cancers.
Garlic is very nutritious but very low in calories, which is a good thing. It’s very rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese.
The benefits don’t stop there because it can even reduce the severity of common colds and flu. When you take high doses of garlic, it can even improve your blood pressure and avoid hypertension. Personally, I love garlic because it’s healthy and it really adds a nice flavor to a lot of food.
Basil
Basil is another powerful antioxidant. It has a lot of polyphenolic flavonoids which shields our body’s structure from free radicals. It’s a good source of magnesium, vitamin A and has anti-inflammatory that works as well as aspirin and ibuprofen. This can be your new headache medication!
If you have asthma and arthritis, eating this regularly may reduce the symptoms. There’s no harm in trying, since adding basil to your meals is as easy as adding salt to taste.
I really enjoy basil even in something as simple as a sandwich and very basic salads. It adds a unique fresh taste that I really love.
Fun fact: Basil isn’t just for food purposes. It’s oil can be extracted and made into an essential oil that can be used to treat wounds, cuts and skin infections. It is also said that it’s shown to be effective in fighting acne.
It’s easy to keep your health in check just by making sure that you maximize and optimize the food that you eat. Take note that every drop or portion that you consume, whether it’s whole foods or herbs and spices, you have to be aware of the nutritional value or the lack of health benefits that you’re getting.
The key to eating healthy is consciously eating what you need.
Garlic is amazing. I actually make sure to eat a lot of it whenever I can.
That’s fine, Allison! It’s healthy! You don’t have to feel guilty about it!
The good thing is that these herbs/spices are very easy to incorporate in meals.
You know those korean food wherein they just grill the garlic and they taste wonderful? It’s not too strong, almost like potatoes? I love those. ?
Oh yes I was honestly wondering why regular garlic isn’t like that. I mean, garlic tastes strong.
Oh, I love basil in my salad and sandwiches too. It tastes delicious.
My husband hates the taste of ginger and I don’t know why. So I don’t use it in cooking.
Basil is love, even in smoothies. You get the health benefits without actually tasting it.
I always do research with spices and herbs. It’s the little things in your cooking that make a lot of difference.
I agree. You may think that oh, this is just a garnish, I don’t really get anything from this, but you’re wrong.
It really the little things! A good example of this is chia seeds. They’re so small, but the benefits are wow!
Ginger works really well with cough, especially if you add honey.
I love ginger! I use it as a face mask to smooth out my face. It’s also super delicious on baked potatoes! Thank you for this!
I love eating gingers cut raw, with a dash of lime n some salt sprinkled on it..
BUT WAIT!!, if you call in the next 10 minutes, we’ll give you not one, but two cloves of garlic, absolutely free!! Thats two for the price of one!! Just pay separate shipping and handling. Not available in all states. hahaha just kidding. Amazing article! Thank you.
Can you put fresh ginger root into an empty capsule and get the health benefits like that?
I had a ginger root in my shake tonight. I did too much and that shyt was strong lol. But i drank it
I take natural garlic cloves in capsule form after every meal along with organic apple cider vinegar, raw honey, a squeeze of lemon juice, and baking soda and it really has helped clean out my insides. I feel so much better, more energetic, and it also helps detox your liver and kidneys. MUCH better than drugs and sooo much healthier and cheaper.
Useful info! Thank you. I’d like to mention basil essential oil is great before bed time. Great stress reliever!
I love eating garlic in its raw state but my husband does not like the scent it emanates.
I take ground ginger root and ground tumeric root in double “oo” veg caps
actually the doctors are more culprits than vampires nowadays so eat garlic a day to keep doctor away but not a vampires?
After Garlic, I follow it up 3 glasses of water, with a Banana, Two carrots, 4 radishes, and maybe some oranges, By then Im full.
The amount of spices normally used in food will not supply any really significant amounts of anything except flavor. In most cases those studies use amounts of spices that nobody would ever actually use.
what about the ginger that is processed one we bought from super market?
Sometimes I feel like some Fruits and Vegetables look like our organs to give us hints for Cures for different types of pains or sicknesses.
I boil raw ginger and then add a bit of organic honey , it doesn’t just help your health but it’s really tasty
I had chronic bladder infection for 10 years and spent so much money on antibiotics and also tried fermented foods, but Ginger blew everything away!!! Infection gone.I feel great on it, awake alert and way more happy overall.I love this stuff. I use it in boiled water with honey and lemon.
Also if one takes a piece of garlic every day has less chances of suffering from Malaria!.
Enjoyed this piece, very useful, very knowledgable, I will make use of what I learned. Thanks for sharing.
Garlic helps grow nails too. split in 2 parts and go over your nails. they grow faster and strong.
It’s so cool ginger can reduce the risk of heart disease and prevent cancer. My uncle passed away due to colon cancer and the fact that this can reduce pro-inflammatory signaling molecules in the colon is amazing. I will be drinking this every day.
Anyone else just eat straight ginger? Im using it as a snack while I am quitting smoking.
I mix ginger with 1/2 a green apple and water like a smoothie with the nutribullet and around 20 grams of ginger or more and what a pick-up in the morning or when i can make it. its great with a alkaline water of 8-9 ph level.
Thanks for this! Herbs and spices have been shown to provide numerous health benefits; from boosting immunity to controlling blood sugar, aiding digestion, lowering blood pressure, and easing joint pain.
Love it! Who knew basil was so good for you! I love using it in pesto, but it’s great in lemonades and cocktails, too!
Interesting. I keep hearing garlic helps headache stomach bug and flu ear nose runny nose and eyes.
garrlic garlic….. everyone eats garlic! duh! But HOW u eat it is what counts.
Omg I hate garlic! I just chewed and ate a clove. It burnt my mouth like acid and now I feel like throwing up.
Thank you very much for the very informative information for the public health benefits.
Ive just started taking fresh ginger, i eat a piece about tablet size raw “neat” everyday, is that ok??? also what is shelf life of fresh ginger?? and what is the best way to store it??
Thank you, good advice, people need to realise that this is truly our medicine and what our bodies need to function healthy.
Hello, thank you for such useful information. I wanted to ask, how long should you wait to eat a meal after taking garlic on an empty stomach. Also can I blend the honey and garlic together in the blender as a liquid and get the same result? Thank you in advance.
I just threw a decent amount of ginger into my blender with some cashew milk and cranberry juice, blended it and drank it. I felt almost euphoric, I really think it can fight brain inflammation and PTSD.
Garlic is soo underrated as a anti-depressant. I’ve been taking garlic cloves for about 2 weeks now and I swear I have never felt better. Everytime I take a couple crushed cloves, i feel so good about 15 to 20 mins after. It almost feels like I drank a glass of wine. without the dizzy buzzed feeling. I takes away anxiety (for me anyway) better than Ativan/xanax. Garlic most definitely works on your neurological system. Fixing imbalances and providing a energy boost. I love it. Garlic has giving me back my thirst for life.
I love basil, I use it on everything! Glad to know there are all these health benefits to it as well. That’s probably why I’ve stayed healthy all these years!
Eating raw garlic will help you!! But won’t keep your friends close lol
Due to the ingestion of many herbs and spices, I’ve avoided needing a doctor for over 4 years now. And ginger and turmeric are always my daily regimen.
Garlic have help me in greater measure that I look younger than my age. Am 67 today but a lot of people count 50 years for me. So Garlic is a Magic Bulb, all purpose elixir. Thanks for confirming this with your article.
Ginger is also great appetizer. Due some problems, i lost 20kg and appetite. Started eating piece of raw ginger 1h before meal and felt hungry ,so i can eat ,and got 3kg back. It’s better than garlic, since you don’t have to worry about bad smell.
garlic is poison to the human. body. 100% fact. dont put this poison in your body.
Wow. Thank you so much, Rebecca. These are some of the things that should have been taught in school
I’ve started making Ginger tea as part of an anti inflammatory diet. I’ve noticed a difference in a short space of time! Also no more indigestion,discomfort! Try it!!
I’ve been taking garlic for several months, since then my acidity level normalised and never experience hearrt burn anymore.
Eating raw Garlic cloves, makes you double over in excruciating pain, feels like your stomach is dying a slow and painful death ?.. ☝? only for a minute or so.. Still do this daily because the benefits far outweigh the negatives..
Would cooking alter the benefits of these herbs? Increase or decrease the benefits?
How do I use fresh organic ginger for osteoarthritis? do I eat or make it as a tea? which is better preferred?
I tried basil pesto the other day and I’m not joking, this was the best pesto I ever had! I was so shocked considering I usually don’t like basil!!!
The vitamins in ginger roots offers a lot of benefits, including the ability to treat headaches and common colds
My grand grandma was able to reach 90 and up before she passed away. she often ate raw garlic, onion and ginger every single day.
I had to learn that basil is actually a health food, i’ll add it to all of my Radiant Peach diet approved meals.
GINGER has helped my mom with her pain and it has helped me with my bloating. It is basically like putting a needle in a balloon…It just goes down right away. Ginger is a miracle root.
Is there a limit on how much basil we should eat… How much is too much?
For more than a year I’ve been having indigestion and what felt like a burning sensation in my belly. I had some info on ginger and I started boiling it, taking it three times a day. the burning and indigestion quieted down. I now can sleep peaceably at nights.
Ooooh I love me some garlic ? then I put honey over it !!! Can’t tell I ate it… just love the mess.
I eat ginger for just a week, and it makes so many changes, my heart and my stomach are now is much much more functional. Thank you
Interesting. I’m having a hard time finding evidence for your claims. Would you please help?
Thanks so much for posting all the useful information… It’s told that ginger should be consumed not too much a day. May I know how many grams is good for a day.
It is good if you mention each plant from which country. Thanks for this valuable information.
Its good for hangover as well.put fresh ones in a soup and drink it before sleep or the first thing in the morning.i actually like muscle soup with vegs and lots of ginger.
I buy garlic in a jar that is filled with vinegar. The taste is more tolerable.
When I’m using ginger I’m always advised to peel the ginger. why? In most plants the skin has more nutritional value than the rest of the plant.
I started eating garlic last week and i thought why am i addicted to it? And i searched for this and now i am happy that it is good for me.
I love to eat both garlic and ginger but not together… both are goood healthy food… better than stink cooffeee, beer, potweed, drug, salt, sugar, soda
Investigate DIY ginger soda, it is awesome, cheap and very healthy. This weeks brew is ginger, blueberries, cinnamon, star anise and cloves. Takes about 7-10 days to brew. I brew a batch a week with different fruits.
This is an easy enough diet addition – worth it if they do all of these!
I can’t stand garlic ! Also, i can’t stand the light of the sun and also holy water !
Garlic fights bacteria and viruses improves metabolism relieves toothache. Reduces weight.Treats skin infection thins your blood regulates blood sugar lowers blood pressure.Lowers Cholesterol improves allergy symptoms protects heart.prevents cancer.Treats Respiratory problems helps with warts
I’ve been eating a lot of garlic. I add garlic to my mashed potatoes, mushrooms, brown rice and fries.
I can’t stand garlic ! Also, i can’t stand the light of the sun and also holy water !
Garlic fights bacteria and viruses improves metabolism relieves toothache. Reduces weight.Treats skin infection thins your blood regulates blood sugar lowers blood pressure.Lowers Cholesterol improves allergy symptoms protects heart.prevents cancer.Treats Respiratory problems helps with warts
I will keep the strong breath lol, I feel greater everyday eating raw garlic! ?????
I really liked this information, I love herbs and spices and it’s interesting to know how they can help with your health?
Garlic is a good natural gift but when you cook it lose 80% nutrients so eating it in raw form is a good choice!
garlic is excellent and you don’t get sick and I drink wine also with garlic and very seldom get sick and take cayenne and other supplements
I just tried some ginger for a bout of a 48 hour stomach virus and it worked wonders. I haven’t tried a few of these listed here but will in the future.
Such wonderful things herbs and spices, love their aroma and what they infuse into each dish.
Growing garlic is really great. You get medicine from your home itself. Thanks for the amazing round up.
Good to know! When I go to a Chinese restaurant, I asked for them to deep fry plenty of garlic cloves and pour them over spinach with soy source. That way I eat more than a clove of garlic.
Awesome selection of herbs and spices here. I like the photos and you explained in detail.
I must start eating more raw garlic every day and recommend it to my friends . It is simple, cheap and it works!. Just remember to chop raw garlic to accompany your meals everyday.
Super information. How interesting that we think these cooking spices are just to make food taste good. We should have known there would be many nutritional benefits. There is so much to love and enjoy when sticking with nature.
I love all of these spices, and especially ginger, the wonderful aroma that greets you when you enter a house that something baking in the oven using some or all of these spices, is amazing. Thanks for sharing. I bookmarked. Blessings to you.
I enjoy ginger. It seems to be a good spice on anything. It started long ago with Gingerbread Cookies. Thank you for sharing.
Great spices all of these. I must admit I really enjoy using garlic in soups and chili to give an unexpected little hint of flavor you find so tempting. I did not know of all of these great healthful benefits so thank you for providing that information.
Nice article. I’ve always enjoyed garlic, basil and ginger. Not so good for the breath sometimes, but great for health.Thanks for sharing. It made my me hungry all over again this evening. 🙂
Do you think ginger tea (homemade w/ fresh ginger) would be equally beneficial or does it need to be chewed?
Thanks for writing about the benefits of these herbs. I love garlic the most out of those, I usually take it cooked in food.
Great one. Thank you! i live in delaware and we have a store called BYLER’S and the spices are cheaper than walmart and food lion stores
Instead of cooking with garlic I chop it up and top out food with it. This gives us the full benefit and tastes good. We eat little everyday. Another thing that I do is pickle garlic in spices (Indian garlic achar). Sometimes I just fold it up in a piece of bread with lots of olive and eat too…. the olive oil actually gets rid of the smell.
Nice post! A collection of spices, I practically like some of the herbs you post, because of its herbal benefits!. In fact practically had a collection of them in a spice rack
All I can say is… my mouth is watering beyond compare. YUM. I love basil, my favorite herb.
Thank you for sharing natural ways to help digestion. I love herbs, and love to learn more about how they help us to feel better. How great that something natural can help food taste better and be good for you too.
I love this article, and I cook almost everything with lots of garlic. Next on my list, trying to grow it myself. Thanks for the information.
Purchased a decent looking basil plant and a lamp and started i now have 7 basil plants and another six waiting to be planted up. It works. Fresh delicious basil during the winter. Lovely!
You know I found out on my own about ginger! The very things it helps will backfire if you use too much. Isn’t that true of so many things though? All things in moderation. Outstanding article as always. Bookmarked and shared!
I grow a lot of basil, I make a basic pesto and freeze it in ice trays. I also sauté basil in EVOO and freeze it in trays. When I need basil all I have to do is pop out what I need. I have basil all year around never have to buy from the store anymore.
Interesting and informative! I have learned and still learning about basil, garlic and ginger. I like the photos and you certainly presented the post in such professional manner.
I grow garlic in my garden. Thanks for sharing so much information about these valuable herbs.
I have an important question. Can you take holy basil tea if you already have low blood pressure? I drank ginseng tea before and it made me have almost no energy. I think it was the panax. I already have low blood pressure and it lowered it to a dangerous point. Since holy basil is an adaptogen, do I have to worry about it lowering my already low blood pressure? Thanks in advance.
I bought some Ginger yesterday. I have had Ginger ale and Ginger Snaps, when I have to go to the hospital for migraines, they give me Ginger ale. I bought a small piece and sliced and hubby and I both tried a tiny slice, oh….is it hot. but I put some in my coffee and it pretty good. So far no side-effects.
My spices will never expire again! I finally know what I can do with all those spices/herbs that don’t get used much. Thanks!
If my dad knew that someone shares the same opinion with him about ginger he would lose his mind. After trying a fresh piece of ginger, it literally changed his life. It sparked him to write a book about ginger and other herbs and the effects they have on the human body. He eats it daily, like a vegetable, no exaggeration.
What a well laid out and written article. We still underestimate such herbs and spices, don’t we?
Really an informative article, Rebecca! I knew of ginger’s qualities but not of garlic’s.
I started eating piece of Raw Garlic every morning since last month, But I never Knew that these many benefits are comes through and I hope eating raw garlic will not causing any disruptions
My favorite herb is basil. I have sluggish digestion and try to include some of the above mentioned herbs in my menu. I have changed my diet considerably and I use a probiotic. Enzymes from fresh fruits and vegetables are also great for digestive problems. I try to juice carrots daily as they contain a good number of enzymes and phytonutrients and it helps to clean toxins out of your colon
Well written and cited article, Rebecca. I am impressed with the detail of the article. I didn’t realize all the great health qualities our spices and herbs contain.
Holy crap I forgot this is a thing I have a slight cold and now I’m gonna eat some garlic as soon as I get home thanks for the reminder!
I can’t wait to try these. I’d much rather make my own so I know what’s in them. Thanks for some easy to make & delicious recipes.
Very useful and helpful! I like ginger ~ and I’ll keep some in the house, in future
Wow! This is really great information to have handy! We know of all of the healing qualities in certain foods but we tend to forget or overlook the spices! Thanks for this!
FASCINATING! I had no idea about the benefits of basil. Thank you Rebecca, really useful.
I know about a 90 plus person near my house who chews on raw garlic every morning on empty stomach. He is also doing quite a lot of walking every morning. He is totally healthy. No diabetes or hypertension either and no digestive disorders. I do not know about the odour though.
Thank you so much for all the brilliant info! I love ginger. It not only taste good, it is medicinal.
I eat garlic on everything so I’m glad to see it has some benefits other than stinky breath. Great post!
Very interesting information. I drink a cup of ginger tea everyday so I was familiar with ginger and I love garlic, but the information about basil was new to me.
I am really thankful to have found your website, I was praying and asking for some good really advice on herbs and good eating. I have really enjoyed it. Thank you!
Wow great post, I have learned about all the different herbs and spices from my uncle about 25 years ago. He introduced me to them and I never looked back. I cannot remember the last time I have been really sick, my immune system i believe is top notch mainly due to these herbs, spices and supplements.
I have to try ginger tea. I love ginger ale. I used to give it to our kids when they were sick now they won’t drink it at all which is good I guess because it does have to much sugar.
Nice article. I have a question. You heard of a grass that you intake that help cure cancer? I don’t know the name technical of this grass but they called it Dragon Grass. It help cleanse the body and replace cells that are damage during chemo session? Any ideas? It kinda shape like bamboo leaf but thicker and shorter.
This is a very informative and important article. Ginger root did wonders for some issues I had with inflammation a while back. I am proof of its amazing benefits. Great info!
Does normal Mediterranean basil have similar effects, just in a loss potent form? I have a huge basil plant at home.
I found that its antioxidants are really good for mental illnesses, but can it be combinated with antipsychotics?
That was a lot of very interesting information. I am going to give some of the herbs I do not usually use in my cooking a go, just for the extra health benefits
I love roasted garlic on mashed potatoes. My mom is taking garlic oil everyday.
Yes, garlic especially has got lots of health benefits and is used both internally and externally.
I grew holy basil in my backyard and so far it survives the winter in Sacramento area going on the third year.
I have a big beautiful basil plant that loves its spot in the sunny kitchen window. Problem is, it’s getting too tall so I need to trim it way back to fill out from the bottom again. I feel terrible just wasting all those beautiful basil leaves. What are your suggestions for using a large quantities of fresh basil??
There’s no day that passed in my kitchen that I don’t use garlic in cooking. I saute my left-over rice and vegetables with garlic, I apply fresh mashed garlic with little vegan butter on my bread for the toaster, fry nuts with garlic, oh lots to cook using this herb and always accompanied by onion, too. Glad to know the various curing effect of this herb. Thank you.
This is very interesting information. We grow basil in our backyard every year and use it often in cooking.
What a fantastic herb ginger is! My mother reaps the benefit of drinking ginger tea daily – at the age of 72 she is still as fit and healthy as a fiddle. Thanks for all the info.
I have basil growing in my square foot garden in the back of my home. It is pretty, smells good and very tasty. Thanks for an informative article.
It’s always good to hear from a health expert on these things, and even though we have never met, I trust you and your opinions. Thank you for this well-written and informative article, and blessings today and always.
Big fan of Basil. Potential health benefits of consuming basil and provides a nutritional profile life.
I love basil/ tulsi pata. I had basil tea which we all enjoyed today. Its an amazing herb .
Although garlic and ginger are popular spices in Caribbean households, there is so much of this information we do not know. Will share. Thanks
Very useful information Thanks. What would be the average daily intake for these?
Well researched and well written. May have to add more of these to my diet.
I keep a jar of minced garlic mixed in honey and take a TSP each morning. I just read this somewhere and decided to do it. Ive noticed the garlic has now turned into crystallized. Any thoughts on whether this has any effects on the garlics properties?
What about stomach pain after digesting raw garlic? I can deal with the burning in the mouth and throat but if I don’t eat it with anything it feels like its burning a hole through my stomach.
I like to grow garlic myself as well as buying it at the farmer’s market. I found one vendor last year that had 10-12 different varieties.
Recently acquired A LOT of ginger. Ideas on using it? I’ve never used fresh ginger before, wondering if you have some good ideas? I have about 20 pieces of ginger.
I keep fresh ginger root in our freezer wrapped in foil. It is easy to take out and grate when frozen to be used in various cooking methods. My husband and I enjoyed some pickled ginger just yesterday when dining in a Chinese restaurant. Nice to know that there are so many health benefits!
Isn’t having basil fresh from the garden lovely? And the scent when you brush against it! I do different basil varieties around the tomatoes in the summer.
I learned a lot from this article. Now I know to include ginger, basil and garlic as part of a healthy diet.
Who would have thought that the little spices we put in our meals can make a huge difference? I bet this will make people think about how much our body suffers whenever we feed it with something unhealthy.
I bet. I guess that one cake slice will now change your life as a clove of garlic would!
I use ginger a lot. I used it every day when cooking because it helps me a lot with my digestion.
Hmmm………….. I knew ginger is good for digestion and fighting colds but there is so much more to it! Thank you.
I agree that you have to be conscious of what you eat no matter how small it is.
I thought basil was just a garnish. I never really ate them hahaha. Now I definitely will.
Thank you for this information. It’s good to know that the small stuff we put in food is healthy.
A neighbor of mine from India taught me a pleasant way to eat raw garlic. Put a few cloves of raw garlic through a garlic press into a bowl. Add the juice of a fresh lime. Dilute with a bit of water. Chopped tomato or cilantro may also be added to make it more interesting. Serve as a relish over rice, vegetables, or anything you’d like. It’s an easy way to eat a lot of raw garlic. Delicious!
I grow my own basil. Nothing beats getting it fresh.
Okay!! I am getting garlic from today.
I love ginger tea!! I didn’t know it had so many health benefits.
I love basil, I use it on everything!! Glad to know there are all these health benefits to it as well. That’s probably why I’ve stayed healthy all these years.
I need to incorporate these herbs into my diet soon.
My mother used to put ginger and garlic and every dish she used to prepare. It tasted yummy too.
Basil essential oil is great before bedtime. Great stress reliever.
I use fresh basil in pasta!! It just makes it better.
There are so many other herbs and spices in Indian food and that’s why they are so rich in flavor. They use ginger and garlic in almost every dish.
I just hate garlic! But I will try to have basil and ginger.
We have become so diet conscious that we have forgotten to have the food traditional food. And that’s the reason why we don’t use these herbs anymore.
There are so many other herbs like cinnamon, mint, thyme, oregano and many more why aren’t they mentioned here?