by Heather | Mar 5, 2019 | baking, challenges, cooking, Tips
Conquer the Spice Rack!
[Question for you!] What can add tons of flavor while at the same time help to maintain your blood sugar AND reduce inflammation…. all without adding a single calorie!?
Spices and herbs!
This week we’re going to show our spice racks some love and get rid of all our gone-by spices.
If you’re like most people, you might not even be able to remember when you bought some of those jars!
While old spices don’t technically “spoil,” they will lose flavor and strength which will change the taste of your food in a not-so-great way!
Here’s a guideline for how long spices last:
✨Whole spices (like cloves and/or cinnamon sticks) will stay fresh for about 4 years.
✨Ground spices (like cumin, paprika and tumeric) last for 2 to 3 years.
✨Dried herbs (like thyme, basil and rosemary) will keep for 1 to 3 years.
Toss anything that’s not working for you! If you notice that you’re getting rid of nearly full jars of spices, consider going to a natural foods store that sells bulk herbs and spices and replenishing your spice rack with smaller amounts to avoid waste.
Although it can be tempting to show off your spices in your kitchen, they’ll last longer if you store them in a cool, dark cupboard and keep their containers tightly closed when you’re not using them.
Are you in? Let me know! (these are mine …. be sure to share your finished project in a pic!)
by Heather | Apr 11, 2016 | cooking
Spicy Challenge
During the Middle Ages, spices like pepper and nutmeg were so valuable that they were worth more than gold!
Even though their monetary value is a lot lower these days, they are still equally incredibly beneficial for our bodies!
Adding spices to your meals enhances the nutritional value without having to add sugar, sodium or fat. Just be careful to avoid spice mixes that contain the words “natural flavors.” (no one ever knows what that means- and it’s not well regulated.)
Your challenge is to add 3 extra spices into your food this week. Here are a few great options that are incredibly good for you:
- Turmeric is a yellow-orange colored spice commonly used in Indian dishes. Its active ingredient – curcumin is known to reduce inflammation in the body, improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy in cancer patients, and is suggested as a treatment for patients with depressive disorders – it can boost production of feel-good hormones such as serotonin, which helps ease depression and stress.
- Cinnamon is a uniquely aromatic spice with a sweet, woody flavor. It’s rich with natural antioxidants such as polyphenols and can actually help lower blood sugar levels. Cinnamon even outranks some of “Superfoods” in antioxidant activity.
- Garlic is praised for its potent smell and strong flavor, and is amazing for more than just keeping the vampires away. Garlic has been used to fight cancer, infections, and even a common cold!
When used long-term, garlic has been shown to reduce total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which helped many people who were at risk for cardiovascular illnesses.
Do you accept this SPICY challenge? For more healthy living information call to schedule your nutritional consult today!!
Yours in good health,
Heather
Health Coach & AFAA Certified Personal Trainer
FitEffex@gmail.com
(508) 523-6143