Health Tips
Conseils Santé
Cloves (whole)
Clous de Girofle
Cloves are traditional to many cultures. Europeans decorate and perfume their homes with pomanders made by studding an orange with cloves and letting it cure dry. The pomander will effectively keep your cupboards and drawers fresh and moth-free.
Clove is the traditional remedy for toothache. Pressing a clove or two on the affected tooth will provide relief. Keep for 30 minutes in the mouth.
Coriander Seeds
Cotomili en Grain
Coriander is commonly known as Dhania in the India or Cilantro in the Americas. It helps digestion, cures flatulence and windy colic. It also has a sedative action.
In traditional Indian medicine, the seeds are used in as a diuretic. Try it: boil equal amounts (a quarter to half teaspoon) of coarsely crushed coriander seeds and cumin seeds in a glass of water. Let cool and drink.
Coriander Powder
Cotomili en Poudre
Coriander tea helps fight migraine headaches. Drink a couple of times per day.To prepare:
Boil one cup of water, add ¼ crushed coriander seeds, and let the brew set for ten minutes. Strain and then add 1-2 teaspoons sugar. For an upset stomach add ½ teaspoon peppermint and ¼ teaspoon rosemary to the infusion. Drink after meals.
Chillies Dried
Piment Sec
Chillies are often used as a circulation booster. The chemical capsaicin, which is responsible for the heat of this spice, is considered a treatment option for osteoarthritis pain. Important nutrients like potassium, manganese, folate and copper are also found in chillies.
Chillies are a great help in the treatment of nasal congestion: a hot spicy curry can bring an immediate relief!
Mustard (Whole)
Moutarde en grain
The mustard seed’s proverbial tiny size (less than 3mm) has been referenced in the texts of major religions. But the small seed also has big benefits for your health.
Mustard reduces stress, fights arthritis and has anti-inflammatory properties. Include a few tablespoons with your next chicken recipe or in your sandwich to reap the benefits. Flavour for fewer calories!
Garlic Dried
Ail Sec
Garlic health benefits are widely recognised and it is indeed a wonderful health resource. It is an antibiotic, anthelmintic food (that kill worms), it relieves hypertension, arteriosclerosis and is also an expectorant.
Lemon juice and parsley helps alleviate garlic breath.
Garlic Powder
Ail en Poudre
Now in powder, the power of garlic is yours… with less odour! Sprinkle over salads, soups, and sandwiches as soon as you feel an itch in the throat to fight back any infection.
You will be surprised how good juiced carrots taste with garlic. Add apples, cloves and ginger too in your mixer for a true health-drink.
Ginger Dried
Gingembre sec
Ginger tea is commonly used to help reduce nausea (e.g. during pregnancy), indigestion and diarrhoea.
Cut ½ inch of ginger root into thin slices. Bring one cup of water to a boil, then add the sliced ginger. Cover it and reduce to a simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain, add honey and lemon to taste.
Also drink prior to travel.
Ginger Powder
Gingembre en Poudre
Ginger’s spicy tang not only peps up your dishes, but can also be a substitute for salt and thus help lower blood pressure.
This drink will get rid of bloating in a natural way: Measure out a teaspoon of ginger and a teaspoon of lime juice into a glass of water or tea (without milk) and mix well.
Cardamom
Cardamome ou « Elaichi »
Cardamom is commonly used as a breath freshener. A few seeds chewed for a brief period will remove foul smell.
Tea brewed with cardamom is efficient in relieving headache caused by indigestion. According to Chinese traditional medicine, cardamom will also cure urinary incontinence.
Vertus des Épices
Virtues of Spices
فضائل التوابل
Cumin / Petit Anis / Zeera
Cumin Tea
Boil 1 cup of water and remove from heat before adding 1 tsp. of cumin seeds, 1 tsp. of fresh coriander and a pinch of salt. Allow the infusion to steep for 20 minutes before drinking. Take this natural medicine after meals to calm digestive disorders including indigestion, heartburn, ulcers, diarrhoea and flatulence.
Thé de Cumin
Faites bouillir une tasse d’eau et hors feu, ajoutez 1 cuillère à café de cumin, 1 cuillère à café de coriandre fraîche (cotomili), et une pincée de sel. Infusez pendant 20 minutes. Buvez ce remède naturel après les repas pour calmer les troubles digestifs (indigestions, brûlures d’estomac, ulcères, diarrhées, flatulence).
Turmeric / Curcuma / Safran
Face cleanser
Mix chick pea flour or rice flour and turmeric powder in equal proportions and store it in an airtight bottle. Add a little yogurt, milk, or soy milk to a teaspoon of this powder to make a paste. Apply the paste evenly to face evenly and wait for it to semi dry. Wash the paste off with water. Millions of women in India use this treatment every day to exfoliate and brighten their skin.
Nettoyant pour visage
Mélangez une quantité égale de farine de pois chiches et de curcuma en poudre et réservez dans une bouteille hermétique. Ajoutez du yaourt, lait ou lait de soja à une cuillérée (5ml) de ce mélange pour former une pâte. Appliquez au visage et lavez avec de l’eau lorsque à demi sec. Des millions d’indiennes appliquent ce traitement quotidiennement pour exfolier et s’éclaircir le visage.
Pepper / Poivre
Pepper
Besides adding taste and zest to your foods, this old spice holds so much health benefits such as antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Ethnical cuisines like Korean and Mexican have a load of pepper in their diets, which helped them to ward off bacteria and viruses naturally. To treat a head cold or general congestion, add pepper to your chicken soup.
Poivre
En sus d’ajouter de la saveur à vos mets, cette ancienne épice est tout plein d’atouts pour votre santé tels que antioxydants, vitamines et minéraux. Les Coréens et les Mexicains en raffolent. Ce qui les a aidé à combattre naturellement les bactéries et les virus ! Pour traiter un rhume ou une congestion générale, ajoutez donc du poivre à votre soupe de poulet.
Cinnamon / Cannelle
Your Diet Partner:
Just half teaspoon of cinnamon a day will lower your cholesterol, regulate your blood sugar, and even help you lose weight. Sprinkle it on your foods such as oatmeal, yogurt, soup, and fruits to suppress food cravings. Acts as antiseptic in the intestine.
Votre Alliée Santé:
Rien qu’une demi cuillère à café de cannelle quotidiennement réduit le taux de cholestérol, régularise le taux de sucre, et aide même à mincir. Saupoudrez vos porridges, yaourts, soupes et fruits pour supprimer les fringales. La cannelle est un antiseptique dans l’intestin.
Ginger / Gingembre
Benefits:
Ginger’s spicy taste will most likely eliminate a craving for salt and help in lowering blood pressure.
Measure out a teaspoon of grated ginger and a teaspoon of lime juice into a glass or cup and mix well to form a drink that will get rid of bloating, naturally.
Ginger tea is commonly used to help reduce nausea, indigestion and diarrhoea. Drink prior to travel.
Bénéfices:
Le goût épicé de ce condiment élimine l’envie de sel et aide à réduire la pression artérielle. Mélangez une cuillérée à café de gingembre râpé (ou en poudre) et une cuillérée de jus de citron vert dans un verre d’eau pour une boisson qui supprimera les ballonnements de façon naturelle.
Fried Onion / Oignon frite
Virtues:
Onions combat atherosclerosis and other heart-attack risks, including high blood pressure.
Onions are high in chromium and allyl propyl disulphide, both of which help regulate glucose, insulin and cholesterol levels; and quercitin, an antioxidant that reduces cancer risks.
Vertus:
L’oignon prévient l’artériosclérose et d’autres risques cardiovasculaires, y compris l’hypertension. Riche en chrome et allyle disulfure de propyle, qui aident à régulariser les taux de glucose, insuline et cholestérole. L’oignon contient aussi de la quercétine, un antioxydant qui réduit le risque de cancer.
Coriander
Commonly known as Dhania in the India or Cilantro in the Americas. It helps digestion, cures flatulence and windy colic. Has a sedative action.
The seeds can be boiled and used as a tea in case of upset stomach or nausea.
Cumin
A good source of Thiamin and minerals (Phosphorus, Potassium, Copper, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Manganese). Cumin is full of flavour and a versatile spice.
Digestive, relieves flatulence. It is also rich in iron and thus very good for lactating, menstruating and pregnant women.
Boil 1 cup of water and remove from heat before adding 1 tsp. of cumin seeds, 1 tsp. of fresh coriander and a pinch of salt. Allow the tea to steep for 20 minutes before drinking. Take this natural medicine after meals to calm digestive disorders including indigestion, heartburn, ulcers, diarrhoea and flatulence.
A mixture of fried cumin and mashed banana helps promote sleep.
Chilli
It is also a good source of Riboflavin, Niacin, Magnesium and Potassium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Iron and Manganese. In small doses, it improves appetite and is also an aphrodisiac.
People use chilli to increase metabolism thus helping with weight loss. Put about and 1/8 of a teaspoon in juice or lemon water to start with.
Drink warm milk or yogurt rather than water to relieve the burn from chillies.
Garlic
A good source of Phosphorus, Selenium, Vitamin B6.
Garlic health benefits are proven and legendary. It is an anthelmintic food (kill worms) and a wonderful health resource. Relieves hypertension, arteriosclerosis and is also an expectorant. The list goes on.
Cardamom
Either the green or brown pods, rich in volatile oils such as borneol, camphor, eucalyptus, cineole, and limonene, to name a few, have an array of healing properties. Cardamom known as Elayti in india, is antibacterial, antispasmodic, a stimulant, a diuretic, and an aphrodisiac.
Chew on cardamom seeds to alleviate bad breath. For a digestive aid, boil 1.5 tsp. of cardamom seeds in water for about 10 minutes. Combine with 2 tsp. of lemon or orange juice and honey, and drink. You may add cardamom to warm milk alongside spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves to make a soothing beverage.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon (native to Srilanka) is one good tasting medicine that can cure multiple ailments.
Acts as antiseptic in the intestine. Calms colic and gastric pains. Cures diarrhoea.
Just a half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day will lower your cholesterol, regulate your blood sugar, and even help you lose weight. Sprinkle it on your foods such as oatmeal, yogurt, soup, and fruits to suppress food cravings.
Cloves
Antiseptic action in the mouth an intestine.
Clove is the traditional remedy for toothache. Pressing a clove on the affected tooth will provide relief. Add some clove powder to your toothpaste and naturally enhance its antiseptic powers.
Placing cloves in your rice storage will keep parasites away.
Cloves are good in healing acne.Grind a few cloves and add some raw milk to the powder. Apply this paste on sore pimples. The anti-bacterial properties of clove will help fight the infection and also prevent it from spreading
Turmeric
In Aryuvedic Medicine, turmeric is renowned for its efficiency as an anti-inflammatory and its benefits for skin (it removes blemishes and drastically speeds up the recovery time for smallpox, chickenpox, hot skin disease and red rashes). It is also a remedy for diabetes and hepatic (liver) disorders.
To use turmeric as a face cleanser: Mix chick pea flour or rice flour and turmeric powder in equal proportions and store it in an airtight bottle. Add a little yogurt, milk, or soy milk to a teaspoon of this powder to make a paste. Apply the paste evenly to face evenly and wait for it to semi dry. Wash the paste off with water. Millions of women in India use this treatment instead of a facial cleanser every day to exfoliate and brighten their skin.
To prepare turmeric tea: Add 1 tsp. of turmeric and 1 tsp. of ginger powder to 4 cups boiling water, reduce to simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Strain the tea into a cup. Add honey to taste and a slice of lemon. Drink only 2 to 3 cups a day
Ginger
Ginger’s spicy taste will most likely eliminate a craving for salt and help in lowering blood pressure.
Measure out a teaspoon of grated ginger and a teaspoon of lime juice into a glass or cup and mix well to form a drink that will get rid of bloating, naturally.
Ginger tea is commonly used to help reduce nausea, indigestion and diarrhoea. Drink prior to travel.
Pepper
Helps in digestion, improves appetite.
Besides adding taste and zest to your foods, this old spice holds so much health benefits such as antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Ethnical cuisines like Korean and Mexican have a load of pepper in their diets, which helped them to ward off bacteria and viruses naturally.
To treat a head cold or general congestion, add pepper to your chicken soup.
Ground pepper keeps the best flavour for about 4 months
Mustard
Improves blood supply to the skin, lungs, pleura and kidneys.
The mustard seed’s tiny size (less than 3 mm in diameter) has been significant and referenced in the texts of major religions.
A gram of mustard powder mixed with water is taken to take care of the problem of acidity, indigestion and any other digestion related problems.
You can use mustard seeds to reduce stress. Include a few tablespoons with your next chicken recipe or in your sandwich to reap the benefits.
If your dog has arthritis: Mix together equal amounts of turmeric and dry yellow mustard. Add 1 tablespoon (2 for a large dog) to a warm cup of chicken broth. Pour the broth over your dog's regular food. Give your dog one dose everyday to alleviate inflammation and pain.