“I cook without seasoning cube (popularly known as Maggie),” he said to me when we first met, and we were discussing our likes and dislikes. Join me as I unveil the 3 must-have spices with health benefits that should be a mainstay in your kitchen.
“What do you mean you cook without seasoning cubes? What then do you use? It is not like we are in the olden days,” I asked and answered for myself because saying I wasn’t shocked was an understatement. However, I remember while growing up, there was a time we had to cook in preparation for breakfast, and we realized we had already run out of seasoning cubes; there was nowhere to buy them as it was as early as 5 a.m. My mum told us, “The concoction rice can still be cooked without seasoning cubes.” Indeed it was cooked, but I never ate out of the rice, and my siblings testified the food was not delicious.
Hearing that coming from a guy was so shocking, and I assumed he didn’t know how to cook, but instead, he opened my eyes to it by lecturing me, “For my good health, I had to stop the use of seasoning cubes years back, and in its place, I started using Garlic, Tumeric and Ginger.”
“So your stew, vegetables, and other foods are cooked without it?” I asked with mouths wide open.
“Yes, they are cooked without it, and it turns out fine, don’t worry, I’ll cook it for you on your visit to my house.”
Honestly, it turned out to be an excellent idea, I’ve tasted his food, and it turns out to be so good without seasoning cubes, though it takes an excellent cook to manipulate it. I’ve decided not to keep the knowledge of these spices with health benefits to myself; it is more beneficial when we all can live a healthy life.
Are you curious about these spices? Relax, Read, Jot and begin to use.
3 Kitchen main-stay Spices with health benefits
- Ginger,
- Garlic,
- Tumeric.
1. Ginger
Ginger is a plant with its root in Asia. It gives food a tasty and spicy flavor, reducing the number of salty seasonings and high sodium sources. Ginger comes in capsules, lollipops, candies, teas, and dried powdered and fresh forms.
Health Benefits of Ginger
- It treats stomach upset, diarrhea and nausea,
- It curbs motion sickness,
- It helps with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting when it’s used with anti-nausea drugs, though it’s advisable to consult your doctor before taking it while on chemotherapy drugs,
- It aids dieting when taken with water, tea, or eaten raw.
- It helps in fighting cancer.
You can blend the fresh ginger with pepper, and the dried powder can be spiced into the stew, soup, stir-fry dishes, rice, smoothies, tea, homemade salad, and baked foods. But when taken at an excessive dose, it leads to diarrhea, nausea, and heartburn.
2. Garlic
Garlic is a strong-smelling bulb-like onion. It is used for cooking—one of the critical ingredients for the Mediterranean diet. Often heart doctors recommend it, and you can use it for many dishes.
Health Benefits of Garlic
- It protects the heart from changes that cause heart diseases, heart attacks, and strokes.
- It maintains blood vessels to be flexible,
- It regulates cholesterol and triglycerides,
- It helps avoid the formation of blood clots, which is why it’s not advisable for people with blood disorders (hemophilia and bleeding ulcers),
- The Allicin in Garlic helps fight DNA damage that causes cancer.
It comes in fresh and powdered form; you can sprinkle it in stews and soups, including vegetables
3. Turmeric
Turmeric is most common in India for its curry dishes. It adds flavor to food just as ginger does, giving a golden yellow and warm taste.
Health Benefits of Tumeric
- It prevents inflammation in the brain,
- It helps combat Alzheimer’s disease and depression because of the curcumin it contains,
- It improves memory and spirit,
- It reduces the pain and swelling of arthritis,
- It has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
It is generally safe for most people, but it can cause stomach upset or ulcers when not consumed at a minimal level. It comes in fresh and powdered forms as well. You can use turmeric for your Concoction Rice even when there is no pepper, stew, vegetables, eggs/omelets, or stir-fried dishes such as meat, chicken, etc.
How to Use Fresh Ginger and Turmeric
The use of fresh ginger and turmeric might look stressful, but it’s done by Peeling off the skin using the end of a small spoon or peeler, then grating or slicing it. Chop it before adding it to your cooking.
The powdered form requires you to sprinkle with a teaspoon or a tablespoon.
To live healthily is a significant gain. Do not wait until you get married to live healthily; start manipulating this spice in cooking. Eventually, no lady or man will override you with their cooking skills.
My best manipulation of Turmeric and Ginger powder is when I want to do justice to Concoction Rice. All you need is your; salt, turmeric, ginger(powdered form), groundnut/vegetable oil, rice, fresh, ground/blended pepper (preferably not compulsory), and egg, fish, and meat(preferably). Note: there is no seasoning cube.
Recommended: How to Cook Nigerian Coconut Rice
Manipulate this with your cooking skills, then do justice with an iced juice; it will be a cased settled out of court. Cooking doesn’t have to do with gender; try something new today.
If you experiment with this, drop feedback in the comment section.
Live a healthy life.
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See also: Easy Honey Bundt Cake with Glaze Recipe
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