A few years ago, a poll conducted by a hot sauce brand claimed to prove that people who like spicy food are spicier when it comes to romance. We’re not sure that holds up, but we are sure that when it comes to enjoying spices -- and not just hot ones -- the more the merrier, and healthier.
Two studies on the effect of America’s favorite spices on triglycerides and blood pressure have found that when folks who are overweight and have elevated cholesterol enjoy a daily dose of a mixture of dried basil, bay leaf, black pepper, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, ginger, oregano, parsley, red pepper, rosemary, thyme and turmeric, they register lower blood pressure and healthier levels of lipids.
The first study in the journal Food and Function found that individually, cinnamon, cloves and turmeric were most effective in lowering triglycerides. When combined, cinnamon, cloves and turmeric delivered powerful results.
The second study, presented at NUTRITION 2021, found that eating about half a tablespoon of the dried spice mixture daily for four weeks lowers both systolic (top number) and diastolic (lower) blood pressure. Seems the spices relax your blood vessels. The systolic number went down 2.2 mmHg and the diastolic went down 1.6 mmHg. That’s enough to help protect your blood vessels from damage and reduce the risk of stroke. (One study found lowering systolic blood pressure by 1 mmHg cuts the risk by 5%.) So spice up your food and you’ll spice up your health -- and, who knows, maybe your love life too.
You still need a good daily dose of DHA omega-3s
In 1993, the Bee Gees crooned in “Omega Man”: “I’m the Omega Man/Stand tall and understand/Everybody needs a plan.” That could be the theme song of omega-3s these days. When a study came out in Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy saying that high doses of fish oil are correlated with the onset of atrial fibrillation (a heart rhythm disorder that can lead to stroke), people started discounting the amazing benefits of DHA omega-3s. That’s a mistake, and we’re standing tall with a plan about how to get the benefits.
First, let’s review what an ample supply of dietary omega-3 DHA from salmon, sardines, sea trout, herring and anchovies can do for you. There’s no dispute that it helps lower your risk for heart attack, coronary heart disease and death from CHD and cardiovascular disease. It’s also good for the brain. It helps protect the brain from stroke and dementia, and can ease symptoms of mild depression. A study in Translational Psychiatry even shows that adolescents with higher levels of DHA at age 17 are 56% less likely to become psychotic at age 24.
As for taking omega-3 supplements: A new study finds children born to moms who took DHA-rich fish oil while pregnant have faster processing speed when solving complex problems and better results in attention tests at age 10. For moms-to-be and the rest of you -- especially if you don’t eat fish -- we recommend you ask your doc about taking low- or moderate-dose supplements made from algal oil. That’s fish’s source of omega-3s too.