The Indian food Taipei - How Spices spices are 'Special' for human being?
- Marcus Taipei
- Aug 31, 2015
- 5 min read


Spices to save your life. In today's modern science the acclaimed 'Genius' also admits the ultimate power of spices and herbs, as weapons against illnesses from cancer to many biggest disease. “We’re now starting to see a scientific basis for why people have been using spices medicinally for thousands of years,” says Bharat Aggarwal, Ph.D., professor at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Aggarwal who born & grew up in India, where spices tend to be used by the handful, incidence of diet-related diseases like heart disease and cancer have long been low. But when Indians move away and adopt more Westernized eating patterns, their rates of those diseases rise. While researchers usually blame the meatier, fattier nature of Western diets, Aggarwal and other experts believe that herbs and spices—or more precisely, the lack of them—are also an important piece of the dietary puzzle. “When Indians eat more food, they’re getting much fewer spices than their traditional diet contains,” he explains. “They lose the protection those spices are conveying, So that's why it is very important to keep some portion of spices in your daily diet by any source of eating."
.The health benefits of spices and herbs To advance the science of spices and herbs, McCormick created the McCormick Science Institute, an independent research organization where researchers are looking at antioxidants as well as other health-promoting advantages offered by consuming more spices and herbs. Antioxidant power. Research has shown that antioxidants are substances -- found in foods like fruits and vegetables --that may protect cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation. Antioxidants can protect you against heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Antioxidants include beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, selenium and vitamins A, C, and E. Anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers are investigating the unique protective properties of spices and herbs, and their role in possibly reducing inflammation. Inflammation has been identified as a precursor to many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, allergies, and Alzheimer's to name a few. Spices and herbs can be included in an anti-inflammatory diet to not only add flavor but to also assist in healing the body. Weight loss. Researchers are exploring the potential of spices to boost metabolism, promote satiety, aid weight management and enhance the overall quality of a diet. The capsaicin in peppers are believed to have metabolic boosting properties. In addition, if the food you eat is flavorful and satisfying, there is a good chance you will eat less and consume fewer calories, too. 天然辛香料對健康的好處 天然辛香料」不但成分天然,也能促進健康;從改善食慾到醫療藥用,大人小孩都能受益。你喜歡哪種天然辛香料?你知道它有什麼功用嗎?一起來關心。 近來在媒體報導中,經常聽到關於「天然辛香料」的討論,由於對健康有益,又是純天然物質,一時間蔚為風尚。到底什麼是「天然辛香料」?辛香料是指味道辛辣的香料,而天然辛香料,自然就是指無添加任何化學物質,也非化學合成的辛香料。我們平日所吃的菜餚中,常會添加天然辛香料,例如:蔥、薑、蒜、辣椒等,不但能增添菜餚的色、香、味,使菜餚更好吃,還含有許多對健康有益的物質,有助於維護體內環保,因此相當受歡迎。 常見的天然辛香料 我們生活中會用到哪些天然辛香料呢?以下逐一介紹: ●八角: 在天然辛香料當中,八角最令人熟悉,通常作為調味香料使用,具有健胃、治胃寒嘔吐的功效。它的氣味與大茴香相似,果殼類似星狀,並且有八個角,可說是「物如其名」,具微甜味和刺激性的甘草味,如果孩子胃口不好、食慾差,可以用八角滷一些滷味,通常可令他們食指大動。 ●薑: 《本草綱目》提及,﹁薑,可蔬,可和,可果,可藥」;可蔬,是指嫩薑因質地脆嫩,辣味不烈,可醃製成滷菜食用,開胃生津;可和,意為薑可當作烹飪菜餚的調味料,在製作餡料和湯時,薑也是必不可少的香料,它能去除肉腥味,並有增香提味的作用;可果,表示薑還可以加工成各種小吃,具有開胃健脾的功效,薑餅、薑糖等製品,是國內外兒童都喜歡的零食;可藥,則說明薑具有不菲的藥用價值。 ●蒜: 香料中氣味最「嗆」的就是蒜,蒜 之所以會臭,主要是因為含有「愛力茵」(Alliin)的成分,當蒜受到切割、研磨或搗碎,而接觸到空氣時,「愛力茵」便會氧化成為味道濃重的「愛力辛」(Allicin)。蒜除了含有多種營養成分,能夠增強人體精力,還具有強烈的殺菌效果,加入菜餚中烹調,可殺死肉類中的細菌;蒜還可以治療皮膚病,直接榨汁外敷,就可以治療香港腳、頭皮癬等。由於蒜的殺菌成分分子較小,容易被細胞快速吸收,並且不會產生「抗藥性」,使其具有極高的藥用價值。 ●辣椒: 辛香料中兒童最怕的,首推辣椒,辣椒對腸胃的刺激性較大,所以兒童不宜多吃。由於辣椒顏色鮮豔,又具有特殊的風味與香氣,時常用於菜餚配色、提味,有些愛吃辣的人,甚至每餐都要加辣椒才行。辣椒含有辣椒素(Capsaicin),具有刺激食慾、禦寒、防腐去腥及殺蛔蟲等功效,還可刺激腎上腺素分泌,加快新陳代謝,因此也具有瘦身的功效。 ●胡椒: 西方菜餚中常添加的胡椒,在航海大發現時代,曾是價比黃金的高級香料,它具有和辣椒類似的功效,卻沒有辣椒那麼嗆辣,不但能開胃、刺激食慾,還可刺激大腦運作,從而增加胃酸分泌。胡椒的辣味比較溫和,較適合兒童食用,可以在菜餚中適度添加,促進兒童食慾。 善用天然辛香料,裡外都健康 天然辛香料因為具有特殊的香氣和味道,又大多含有能促進食慾、刺激腸胃的成分,加入菜餚中不但能增添美味,也能幫助消化。辛香料中所含的辣味物質,多具有殺菌效果,外敷可以治療皮膚病,內服可以維持腸道健康,所以適度攝取,對健康有很大的幫助。 薑的氣味芬芳,藥性溫和,外用可以強壯髮根、幫助血液循環、加快身體代謝,因此添加薑汁的洗髮精可有效改善落髮,加入保養品中則可減輕筋骨痠痛、健體塑身,讓許多愛美的女性趨之若鶩。辣椒製成的入浴劑,能幫助排汗、活血,也是愛美女性的減肥利器,而加入辣椒素製作的痠痛藥膏,則能快速活血化瘀 生活中有了天然辛香料,在飲食、保健、美容和醫藥上,都有很大的幫助,由於成分天然,更讓人使用時無後顧之憂,不但大人喜歡,孩子也能受益。善用天然辛香料,可以改善生活,讓生活更富情趣也更健康!
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