[mk_blockquote style=”quote-style” font_family=”none” text_size=”12″ align=”left”]“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates[/mk_blockquote]
It’s a pretty safe bet you’ve heard this quote from Hippocrates before, but have you really thought about it?
In a world where there is a magic pill for just about anything, we think it’s time we got back to basics. Instead of looking everywhere but our plates for an answer, we say it’s time we take note of what we’re putting in our mouths. Let the food we eat each day support our bodies to be the healthiest, fittest and most nourished they can be.
Are you with us?
Now, let’s get a bit more specific. There are some pretty amazing culinary herbs and spices that you can use to improve blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, support your immune system and digestion plus some with fat burning thermogenic properties (yes please!).
Lower your blood sugar levels
High blood sugar levels dramatically increase our chances of diseases like Type 2 diabetes. Aside from a balanced diet incorporating low GI foods, we can also help to keep those blood sugar levels down by including certain herbs and spices in our diets. Look out for basil, fenugreek, cinnamon, oregano, clove and sage.
Try our savoury breakfast cake; herbed cream cheese (basil & oregano) or cinnamon honey apple & chia seed porridge (cinnamon).
Reduce inflammation
Inflammation can flare up in any many parts of the body. You might suffer from tender, swollen or stiff joints in one or more places. This can eventually lead to the loss of function. Aside from the joints, inflammation can also be associated with flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, pain, headaches, loss of appetite and muscle aches). You can help reduce your inflammation by including certain herbs and spices in your diet. You’ve probably already heard about the benefits of turmeric in this area, but also be on the look out for ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper and clove.
Try our coconut, turmeric & ginger fish, Malaysian vegetable curry (turmeric, ginger, garlic + omegas!) or mango, turmeric & ginger smoothie (turmeric & ginger).
Support your immune system
Of course, we want to support our immune system! This system is our defence against the world and we need to keep it in tip-top shape to avoid sickness and disease. What’s on our plate is the perfect place to start when we are looking to boost immunity and there are some particular herbs and spices you should try. So look for black pepper, cayenne, garlic, ginger, liquorice, rosemary, thyme and oregano.
Try our Malaysian vegetable curry, brown rice (onion, garlic, black pepper, cayenne) or carrot, coriander and coconut soup (ginger, black pepper + vitamin c!).
Aid digestion
When it comes to digestion, fibre and hydration are kings, but you can also keep your gut healthy with certain herbs and spices. Our gut health is probably more important than you think, affecting so many of internal systems. Directly though, good gut health can help with issues such as bloating, gas, constipation and inflammation. Be on the lookout for fennel, turmeric, ginger, coriander and peppermint.
Try our Thai chicken meatballs, mee goreng with choi sum & bok choi (coriander & ginger) or carrot, coriander & coconut soup (coriander).
Burn fat!
A diet rich in whole foods alongside an active lifestyle is the best way to lose weight, this isn’t news. But, we can help ourselves along this journey by introducing a few herbs and spices that have metabolism-boosting or thermogenic properties. Look for ginger, chilli, mustard, garlic, cayenne, cinnamon, turmeric and cumin.
Try our spiced breakfast beans, feta mint pesto (chilli & cayenne) or spiced carrot, quinoa & chickpea salad (cumin).
Is anyone else hungry?
You can make the most of these healing herbs and spices without the effort of cooking by ordering your meals right to your door. Check out the full Chef Good menu here.
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