Herbs & Spices Can Slow Down Aging

It wasn't until I quit sugar in another lifetime (10 years ago) that I began liberally experimenting with and appreciating enticing spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, dill weed, turmeric, oregano, thyme, fennel and sage.

Nowadays, spices play a huge role in my meals, allowing me to have fun while alternating spices, although cinnamon and cloves, such as I just had on my goat's milk yogurt this morning, tend to be among my favorites.

Well, it's time for all of us to spice up our foods.

Spices are not only rich in antioxidants, but they are "potent inhibitors of tissue damage and inflammation caused by high levels of blood sugar," (meaning they can help people with diabetes), according to a new study from researchers at the University of Georgia.

The study, which was published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, found that common spices not only contain antioxidants, but they also protect against the formation of a "really nasty compound," as my friend nutritionist Jonny Bowden, Ph.D. put it.

Jonny was referring to the aptly titled AGEs (for advanced glycation end-products). In addition, spices contain high levels of inflammation-inhibiting antioxidants called polyphenols.

“Because herbs and spices have a very low calorie content and are relatively inexpensive, they’re a great way to get a lot of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power into your diet,” said study co-author James Hargrove, associate professor of foods and nutrition in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Study co-author Diane Hartle, PhD gives simple advice:

"If you set up a good herb and spice cabinet and season your food liberally, you could double or even triple the medicinal value of your meal without increasing the calorie content."

What tickled my curiosity about this study is that Dr. Hartle says that she bought the spices from Wal-Mart of all places!

For my part, I'll stick to getting organic spices from Whole Foods and other health food stores.

Check out the spicey follow-ups from WedMD, nutritionist Jonny Bowden, Ph.D. and Life Extension Update.