Cooking with fresh herbs and spices can add an incredible depth of flavour to your favourite dishes. But beyond taste, fresh herbs and spices offer a number of health benefits that can help improve your overall wellbeing and diet.
The first benefit of cooking with fresh herbs and spices is that they’re high in antioxidants. Antioxidants are important for promoting good health as they help to neutralize the free radicals in our bodies that can damage our cells and contribute to a variety of diseases. Many herbs and spices, such as oregano, rosemary, thyme, and turmeric, are particularly rich in antioxidants. This makes them a great addition to any dish, as their antioxidants can help protect your body from illness.
One of the primary benefits of cooking with fresh herbs and spices is that they are bursting with flavour. Many herbs and spices offer a unique and intense flavour, and can be used to bring out the natural flavours of other ingredients in a dish. For example, adding fresh herbs such as oregano, thyme, and rosemary to a dish adds a woody, earthy flavour. On the other hand, fresh spices such as turmeric and cumin can add a bright, bold and spicy flavour.
In addition to taste, herbs and spices are also a great way to add a nutritional boost to your meals. Many herbs and spices are high in vitamins and minerals that are important for our health. For example, turmeric is an excellent source of vitamin B6, iron, and magnesium. Similarly, cumin is a great source of vitamins A and C, potassium, iron, and calcium. By adding these herbs and spices to your meals, you can help boost your daily intake of these essential vitamins and minerals.
Herbs and spices are also a great way to reduce the amount of salt and fat you use in cooking. Many recipes call for a lot of salt and fat in order to add flavour, but these can both be replaced with herbs and spices. This means that you can still enjoy a delicious and flavourful dish without having to add extra salt and fat. In fact, many herbs and spices, such as rosemary and oregano, can even help reduce the amount of salt needed in recipes.
Finally, herbs and spices are an excellent way to add some colour to any dish. Herbs and spices come in a wide variety of colours, from the bright yellow of turmeric to the deep purple of rosemary. By adding these vibrant colours to your dishes, you can make them look more attractive and appealing.
In conclusion, cooking with fresh herbs and spices offers a range of benefits, from added flavour to nutritional boosts to reduced salt and fat. As such, incorporating fresh herbs and spices into your cooking can be an excellent way to improve the taste and healthfulness of your meals.
