The spices of life

It's worth incorporating herbs and spices into your diet. Not only they give taste to your food but many of them also have special health benefits.
Curry spices have especially impressive nutritional credentials.
A compound called curcumin, found in the yellow spice turmeric, could help prevent age-related mental decline and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Chillies contain a compound called capsaicin that makes them hot. It has an anti-inflammatory effect when applied as a cream. Scientists are looking into whether chillies in the diet have a similar effect.
Ginger can be effective against nausea.
Cinnamon could help balance your blood sugar and reduce blood pressure.
Many curry spices, such as turmeric, cumin and paprika, as well as thyme and oregano, are high in salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin. Salicylic acid also appears to reduce the risk of bowel cancer.
But this isn't an excuse to overindulge in oily curries, use these spices in low-fat Asian dishes or to spice up a vegetable-rich chilli.