Antioxidant Levels Higher for those with SPICE in their Life!

Antioxidants are those nutrients in whole foods that keep
diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer away. When you
think about antioxidants, fruits and vegetables usually come to
mind. But those aren't the only foods where these health boosting
nutrients are hiding.

New research shows that herbs and spices also pack a powerful
punch when it comes to antioxidants. A USDA study looked at
nearly 40 common herbs and spices to test their antioxidant
activity. Oregano emerged as the leader of the pack.

Researchers found that oregano has 3 to 20 times more antioxidant
activity than the other herbs studied. In fact, it has more than
many fruits and vegetables. Oregano has 42 times more antioxidant
activity than apples, 30 times more than potatoes, 12 times more
than oranges and 4 times more than blueberries. But that's not
the only herb or spice that can improve your health. Dill, thyme,
sage, rosemary, ginger and even peppermint have high antioxidant
levels too.

The main ingredient in curry is Turmeric, from which a spice
called Curcumin is derived. Sally Frautschy, Ph.D., is a
researcher from UCLA who has done extensive testing on Curcumin.
She says that “we accidentally found out that it blocks every
single step in Alzheimer's pathogenesis and it kills nearly every
cancer cell in the lab.” In India, curry is part of the staple
diet; they also have the lowest rates of Alzheimer's disease in
the world.

Marcia Herrin, R.D., a nutritionist at the Dartmouth Medical
School says "practically every herb and spice that's been studied
has some health benefit," herbs and spices are loaded with
antioxidants, but we may not be getting those benefits as much as
we could. Herrin says Americans don't use many herbs and spices
compared to the rest of the world.

Researchers also say that many of these herbs are only absorbed
by the body when they're eaten with fat, so recipes that include
healthy fats, like those found in Heart of Gold, a delicious
plant oil blend available only from Hook Up With Health, Wholefood Farmacy.

Hook up with Health by SPICING up your life today!