Tired of brewing coffee or tea to beat the blues? There is another way to zest up the mood by including spices in your meals that impart a profound impact on mental health. Yes, you read it right! Who could have thought that the spice tray in our pantry was the key to our anxiety and depression?
Get ready to delve into the knowledge of the spices that can help beat the doldrums!
There are a few spices that boost mood, promote cognitive function, and reduce anxiety and depression. Spices can enhance blood circulation to the brain. The flush of spices is also used to balance out the neurotransmitters that can revamp mood and emotions.
There is also a gut-brain interconnection, as the gut microbiome helps modulate emotional and brain functioning. Spices like ginger, cumin, and garlic help promote a healthy gut microbiome that further enhances mental and emotional well-being.
Turmeric : This spice has been widely used since ancient Indian and Chinese medicinal history. The compound curcumin, which is present in turmeric, is known to improve memory and promote cognitive functioning. It also aids in anxiety and depression as it helps soothe the nerves. It is also rich in anti-inflammatory properties.
Ginger : Ginger contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, and it is also believed to reduce stress and anxiety. It can also abate nausea and vomiting, including post-chemotherapy-induced nausea.
Cinnamon : Cinnamon is used for enhancing digestion and also to boost cognitive functioning. It is also known to improve memory, attention span, and reaction time. It further helps alleviate fatigue and increases the energy quotient.
Cardamom : Cardamom is a multi-purpose spice that promotes a feeling of calmness and tranquillity. It is also well known to enhance cognitive functions like switching between tasks and short-term memory recall.
• POP SPICE INTO BEVERAGES : The flush of spices can also be incorporated into your daily routine by popping a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom into your brewing tea or adding a pinch of pepper or salt to your homemade hot chocolate. These rituals can permeate you with immense satisfaction and pleasure.
• STRESS BUSTERS : Spices like nutmeg, holy basil, and chamomile have been used for generations as medicines and as natural distress relievers. It is known to reduce anxiety, induce relaxation, and improve sleep quality. One can relish them in meals or teas.
• REVEL IN THE HYPERAWARENESS : The spices have also been utilized in mindful and spiritual exercises in the form of incense to calm the nerves and spread soothing energy around the place. They are used during meditation and yoga and as room tranquillizers to bind the aroma and our senses together into a balmy aura.
• SELF-HEALING : The spices are also believed to be used in self-care practices like DIY spice scrubs, body scrubs, aromatic baths, facial masks, massage oils, and cleansing so as to promote the sensory experience and foster self-healing, calming, and grounding energy. A self-care session divulges an amalgamated sense of a healed body, mind, and soul.
Finally, we can say that spices come in an array of varieties, aromas, and flavours that not only provide us with lip-smacking tastes but also with their inert aura to help us soothe our senses and calm our nerves.
So, what are you waiting for? Remember to zeal for the zest of spices any chance you get