Thermogenic spices
This is a message from Provida member makemeover_2005 I thought you might enjoy.
Thermogenic Spices -- such as ginger, cayenne, mustard and cinnamon -- raise your body temperature and kick your metabolism into high gear. In fact, studies show that some of these seasonings triple the body's ability to burn calories for fuel rather than store them as fat. A handful of spices and condiments - Cayenne, dried mustard, cinnamon, cumin, ginger, dill, garlic, fennel, cloves, bay leaves, coriander, parsley, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice are all metabolism boosters, so they will speed up weight loss. Use them liberally to make food more palatable.
Ginger: The dried rhizome of ginger contains approximately 1-4% volatile oils. These are the medically active constituents of ginger and are also responsible for ginger's characteristic odor and taste. The aromatic constituents include zingiberene and bisabolene, while the pungent constituents are known as gingerols and shogaols. The pungent constituents are credited with the anti-nausea and anti-vomiting effects of ginger. In humans, ginger is thought to act directly on the gastrointestinal system to reduce nausea. Ginger has been shown to reduce the symptoms of motion sickness associated with travel by boat and, to a lesser extent, car. Two double-blind clinical trials have found that ginger may reduce nausea due to anesthesia following surgery, although one trial could not confirm this benefit. A preliminary trial has suggested ginger may be helpful for preventing chemotherapy -induced nausea. While ginger is a popular remedy for nausea of pregnancy, it has only been clinically studied for very severe nausea and vomiting known as hyperemesis gravidarum. This condition is life threatening and should only be treated by a qualified healthcare professional. Because ginger contains some compounds that cause chromosomal mutation in the test tube, some doctors are concerned about the safety of using ginger during pregnancy. However, the available clinical research, combined with the fact that ginger is widely used in the diet of certain cultures, suggests that prudent use of ginger for morning sickness is safe in amounts up to 1 gram per day.Ginger is considered a tonic for the digestive tract, stimulating digestion and toning the intestinal muscles. This action eases the transport of substances through the digestive tract, lessening irritation to the intestinal walls. Ginger may protect the stomach from the damaging effect of alcohol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen) and may help prevent ulcers. Ginger also supports cardiovascular health. Ginger may make blood platelets less sticky and less likely to aggregate. However, not all human research has confirmed this.Ginger extracts have been extensively studied for a broad range of biological activities including antibacterial, anticonvulsant, analgesic, antiulcer, gastric antisecretory, antitumor, antifungal, antispasmodic, antiallergenic, and other activities. Gingerols have been shown to be inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis. Danish researchers at Odense University have studied the anticoagulant properties of ginger and found that it was a more potent bloodclotting agent than garlic or onion. The same research group studied the potential use of ginger in the treatment of migraine, based on the long history of ginger use for neurological disorders by practitioners of India's traditional medicine system known as Ayurveda. The researchers proposed that ginger may exert migraine-headache-relieving and preventative activity without side effects. Other scientific studies show that gingerol, one of the primary pungent principles of ginger, helps counter liver toxicity by increasing bile secretion. Ginger has potent anti-microbial and anti-oxidant (food preservative) qualities as well. A recent study, furthering ginger's reputation as a stomachic, shows that acetone and methanol extracts of ginger strongly inhibits gastric ulceration.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is an ancient herbal medicine mentioned in Chinese texts as long ago as 4,000 years. It has a broad range of historical uses in different cultures, including the treatment of diarrhea, rheumatism, and certain menstrual disorders. Various terpenoids found in the volatile oil are believed to account for cinnamon's medicinal effects. Important among these compounds are eugenol and cinnamaldehyde. Both cinnamaldehyde and cinnamon oil vapors are potent anti-fungal compounds. Preliminary human evidence confirms this effect in a clinical trial with AIDS patients suffering from oral candida (thrush) infections that improved with topical application of cinnamon oil. Antibacterial actions have also been demonstrated for cinnamon. The diterpenes in the volatile oil have shown anti-allergic activity as well. In addition, water extracts may help reduce ulcers. Test tube studies also show that cinnamon can augment the action of insulin. However, use of cinnamon to improve the action of insulin in people with diabetes has yet to be proven in clinical trials.Culpepper's Herbal advises a daily draught of cinnamon in "any convenient liquor" against scurvy. USDA studies have found that using half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly reduces blood sugar in diabetics, and improves cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The effects, which can even be produced by soaking cinnamon in tea, also benefit non-diabetics who have blood sugar problems. There is also much anecdotal evidence that consumption of cinnamon has a strong effect in lowering blood pressure making it possibly useful to those suffering from hypertension. The USDA has three ongoing studies that are monitoring the blood pressure effect.There is concern that there is no knowledge about the potential for toxic buildup of the fat-soluble components in cinnamon (anything fat-soluble could potentially be subject to toxic buildup), however people have been using the spice as a seasoning safely for thousands of years. There are no concluded long term clinical studies on the use of cinnamon for health reasons.
Cayenne: First discovered in South America, cayenne, commonly referred to as chili pepper, paprika, or red pepper, can now be found growing in many regions of the world and has become popular as both a food and as a medicine. Employed by medical practitioners for centuries for its medicinal actions, cayenne has been used in connection with numerous conditions including stomachaches, cramping, gas, and some circulatory disorders.Cayenne has been used for much of recorded history as a medicinal herb used to relieve gastrointestinal disorders such as stomachaches, cramping and gas, and other circulatory related syndromes. Today many take cayenne internally to help improve blood circulation, while others apply cayenne to the skin, as a counterirritant, to treat pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis.It is also believed that capsaicin, the active ingredient in cayenne, may offer possible benefits for those with Fibromylagia in much of the same way it does for people suffering from arthritis pain. To relieve Fibromyalgia, a cayenne cream is applied directly to painful joints and muscles. However, using cayenne externally, as noted previously, can cause a burning sensation and is quite painful if it gets in your eyes.Research indicates that cayenne may also be quite useful when used in connection with migraines. For migraines, cayenne is applied as an ointment to the inside of the nostrils; however, this can cause severe discomfort for some people.A few studies suggest that chemical compounds in cayenne have the ability to increase the body's heat production, whereby increasing the rate of metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. Additional research also indicates that cayenne increases production of epinephrine and norepinephrine which together decrease appetite. For dieters it has been suggested that adding 6 to 10 grams of cayenne to a meal or 28 grams to an entire day's diet reduces hunger after meals and reduces calories consumed during subsequent meals.
Thermogenic Spices -- such as ginger, cayenne, mustard and cinnamon -- raise your body temperature and kick your metabolism into high gear. In fact, studies show that some of these seasonings triple the body's ability to burn calories for fuel rather than store them as fat. A handful of spices and condiments - Cayenne, dried mustard, cinnamon, cumin, ginger, dill, garlic, fennel, cloves, bay leaves, coriander, parsley, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice are all metabolism boosters, so they will speed up weight loss. Use them liberally to make food more palatable.
Ginger: The dried rhizome of ginger contains approximately 1-4% volatile oils. These are the medically active constituents of ginger and are also responsible for ginger's characteristic odor and taste. The aromatic constituents include zingiberene and bisabolene, while the pungent constituents are known as gingerols and shogaols. The pungent constituents are credited with the anti-nausea and anti-vomiting effects of ginger. In humans, ginger is thought to act directly on the gastrointestinal system to reduce nausea. Ginger has been shown to reduce the symptoms of motion sickness associated with travel by boat and, to a lesser extent, car. Two double-blind clinical trials have found that ginger may reduce nausea due to anesthesia following surgery, although one trial could not confirm this benefit. A preliminary trial has suggested ginger may be helpful for preventing chemotherapy -induced nausea. While ginger is a popular remedy for nausea of pregnancy, it has only been clinically studied for very severe nausea and vomiting known as hyperemesis gravidarum. This condition is life threatening and should only be treated by a qualified healthcare professional. Because ginger contains some compounds that cause chromosomal mutation in the test tube, some doctors are concerned about the safety of using ginger during pregnancy. However, the available clinical research, combined with the fact that ginger is widely used in the diet of certain cultures, suggests that prudent use of ginger for morning sickness is safe in amounts up to 1 gram per day.Ginger is considered a tonic for the digestive tract, stimulating digestion and toning the intestinal muscles. This action eases the transport of substances through the digestive tract, lessening irritation to the intestinal walls. Ginger may protect the stomach from the damaging effect of alcohol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen) and may help prevent ulcers. Ginger also supports cardiovascular health. Ginger may make blood platelets less sticky and less likely to aggregate. However, not all human research has confirmed this.Ginger extracts have been extensively studied for a broad range of biological activities including antibacterial, anticonvulsant, analgesic, antiulcer, gastric antisecretory, antitumor, antifungal, antispasmodic, antiallergenic, and other activities. Gingerols have been shown to be inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis. Danish researchers at Odense University have studied the anticoagulant properties of ginger and found that it was a more potent bloodclotting agent than garlic or onion. The same research group studied the potential use of ginger in the treatment of migraine, based on the long history of ginger use for neurological disorders by practitioners of India's traditional medicine system known as Ayurveda. The researchers proposed that ginger may exert migraine-headache-relieving and preventative activity without side effects. Other scientific studies show that gingerol, one of the primary pungent principles of ginger, helps counter liver toxicity by increasing bile secretion. Ginger has potent anti-microbial and anti-oxidant (food preservative) qualities as well. A recent study, furthering ginger's reputation as a stomachic, shows that acetone and methanol extracts of ginger strongly inhibits gastric ulceration.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is an ancient herbal medicine mentioned in Chinese texts as long ago as 4,000 years. It has a broad range of historical uses in different cultures, including the treatment of diarrhea, rheumatism, and certain menstrual disorders. Various terpenoids found in the volatile oil are believed to account for cinnamon's medicinal effects. Important among these compounds are eugenol and cinnamaldehyde. Both cinnamaldehyde and cinnamon oil vapors are potent anti-fungal compounds. Preliminary human evidence confirms this effect in a clinical trial with AIDS patients suffering from oral candida (thrush) infections that improved with topical application of cinnamon oil. Antibacterial actions have also been demonstrated for cinnamon. The diterpenes in the volatile oil have shown anti-allergic activity as well. In addition, water extracts may help reduce ulcers. Test tube studies also show that cinnamon can augment the action of insulin. However, use of cinnamon to improve the action of insulin in people with diabetes has yet to be proven in clinical trials.Culpepper's Herbal advises a daily draught of cinnamon in "any convenient liquor" against scurvy. USDA studies have found that using half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly reduces blood sugar in diabetics, and improves cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The effects, which can even be produced by soaking cinnamon in tea, also benefit non-diabetics who have blood sugar problems. There is also much anecdotal evidence that consumption of cinnamon has a strong effect in lowering blood pressure making it possibly useful to those suffering from hypertension. The USDA has three ongoing studies that are monitoring the blood pressure effect.There is concern that there is no knowledge about the potential for toxic buildup of the fat-soluble components in cinnamon (anything fat-soluble could potentially be subject to toxic buildup), however people have been using the spice as a seasoning safely for thousands of years. There are no concluded long term clinical studies on the use of cinnamon for health reasons.
Cayenne: First discovered in South America, cayenne, commonly referred to as chili pepper, paprika, or red pepper, can now be found growing in many regions of the world and has become popular as both a food and as a medicine. Employed by medical practitioners for centuries for its medicinal actions, cayenne has been used in connection with numerous conditions including stomachaches, cramping, gas, and some circulatory disorders.Cayenne has been used for much of recorded history as a medicinal herb used to relieve gastrointestinal disorders such as stomachaches, cramping and gas, and other circulatory related syndromes. Today many take cayenne internally to help improve blood circulation, while others apply cayenne to the skin, as a counterirritant, to treat pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis.It is also believed that capsaicin, the active ingredient in cayenne, may offer possible benefits for those with Fibromylagia in much of the same way it does for people suffering from arthritis pain. To relieve Fibromyalgia, a cayenne cream is applied directly to painful joints and muscles. However, using cayenne externally, as noted previously, can cause a burning sensation and is quite painful if it gets in your eyes.Research indicates that cayenne may also be quite useful when used in connection with migraines. For migraines, cayenne is applied as an ointment to the inside of the nostrils; however, this can cause severe discomfort for some people.A few studies suggest that chemical compounds in cayenne have the ability to increase the body's heat production, whereby increasing the rate of metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. Additional research also indicates that cayenne increases production of epinephrine and norepinephrine which together decrease appetite. For dieters it has been suggested that adding 6 to 10 grams of cayenne to a meal or 28 grams to an entire day's diet reduces hunger after meals and reduces calories consumed during subsequent meals.
posted by Liz Maxson @ 4:56 PM
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