12 Herbs & Spices to Boost Your Immune System & Improve Your Health

In recent times, there has been a steep rise in numerous viral and bacterial infections. In the last 10 years or so we have seen new diseases like ebola, SARS and now Covid-19. New diseases are creating new challenges. Sometimes it becomes too late before proper medicine is developed. When there are no proper cure and treatment available and doctors are still struggling to develop a vaccine, you will have to work on improving your immune system so that you are less prone to new diseases. For example, the world is now suffering from Corona Virus and there is no proper cure for this disease. In situations like this, we will have to go back to correcting our eating habit and include herbs and spices in our food that makes us internally strong.

If you are interested in using herbs and spices to improve your health and do not want to use synthetic supplements, here are some herbs and spices that provide you immunity and makes you resistant to various disease.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a herb as well as spices. You can use turmeric as a food color and taste enhancer as well as use it as a herb for treatment and cure of various conditions. The yellow color and the medicinal benefit of turmeric are due to the compound called curcumin. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-cancer, anti-HIV, anti-fungal, anti-diabetic, wound healing, lipid-lowering, anti-parasitic, antispasmodic properties. Turmeric is good for your stomach and liver. The best way to use turmeric is by adding it to your food, mostly vegetables, and salad. You can also drink turmeric-milk.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is not just an ordinary spice to enhance your food flavor. Regular use of cinnamon can lower your blood sugar levels and blood pressure level, thus improving your liver, pancreas, and heart health. Cinnamon is antioxidant, antiseptic and anti-diabetic. If you are battling with diabetes, start drinking cinnamon tea three times a day. Cinnamon tea will also help you manage your blood pressure.

Ginger

Ginger makes you prone to cold, cough, and upset stomach. Ginger is a good spice and herb to manage acid reflux and inflammation. Ginger helps in improving mobility and reducing pain in people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Ginger improves your immunity significantly. You can regularly use ginger by adding to your food or simply drinking ginger tea.

Clove

If you are looking for something that has a very high level of antioxidant properties, then you should choose cloves. You can use clove to manage dental problems or acidity. You can add cloves to your tea or chew 1-2 cloves after the meal.

Fennel

You can use fennel for various purposes, but the most common uses are battling digestive problems including heartburn, intestinal gas, bloating, and loss of appetite. A hundred grams of fennel seeds contain 31 calories, with 7 gm carbohydrate, zero mg cholesterol, 414 mg potassium, among other beneficial nutrients like vitamin A, calcium, and dietary fiber. Imagine the benefits you can get from fennel.

Peppermint

Peppermint can help you battle fever without any medications. Fever is a common symptom of most of the viral infections therefore, you can start drinking peppermint tea to avoid getting infected.

Fenugreek

Do you have diabetes or hypertension? Start using fenugreek, it will lower your blood sugar levels and blood pressure levels. Fenugreek also helps in reducing body temperature when you have a fever. You can also treat acid reflux, heartburn, and gastrointestinal inflammation through fenugreek.

Coriander

You can use coriander for various conditions, from diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, spasms of the intestine, diarrhea to vaginal discharge in women. Coriander leaves are a great source of magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, protein calcium, iron, manganese, dietary fiber, and Vitamin C and K. Green coriander leaves or coriander seeds can help you cut down LDL cholesterol, manage diabetes and hypertension.

Cardamom

If you have a weak digestive system, try to use cardamom regularly as it works as a digestive stimulant that can deal with acidity, digestive disorders, and flatulence.

Tulsi (Indian Basil / Holy Basil)

Tulsi is a very important herb when it comes to improve your immunity and make you resistant to bacterial and viral infection. Tulsi helps with cold, cough, and upset stomach.

Amla (Indian Gooseberries)

Amla improves immunity giving you extra strength to fight bacterial and viral infections. Amla is also good in diabetic conditions. Amla helps lever detoxification and managing blood pressure. Rich in vitamin C, amla serves as a free radical hunter and protects healthy cells.

Paprika

Paprika is a nutrient-rich spice. It can help with improving vision and lowering cholesterol levels. Studies have suggested that paprika might have anti-cancer properties.

Conclusion

Well, you cannot improve your immune system just by eating these herbs and spices just in one or two days, however, in order to get maximum benefits you have to make sure you include these in your daily menu.