HEALTH TIPS FROM CHEF RICK

Health is one of the most important things in life. Eating healthy foods keeps you healthy and disease free. Many diseases may start in your stomach so you should keep your stomach healthy in order to live longer. Herbs and spices are also healers that have wide actions on the body's systems.

Eating more fresh vegetables, herbs and spices can help to make the body a healthy one. Garlic has a wide range of health benefits. It not only acts as an internal purifier, but also keeps cholesterol down. Garlic also reduces blood clotting and blood pressure. Cinnamon strengthens the gums. Sage with its astringent and antiseptic actions helps heal mouth ulcers. In fact many herbs from mint to cloves have antiseptic or antibiotic actions. Cloves oil is strongly antiseptic due to the high percentage of phenol (84-95%), it has been used as an effective remedy for toothache. Just recently, there was a study done on the turmeric, which is widely used in India in mostly every dish.

Study indicated that Indian people have lower rates of Alzheimer's disease. Turmeric has properties that help control it. It is also an anti-inflammatory and heps fight infections. In India turmeric is also used to put on a wound and given to ill persons stirred in ilk. Oats calm the nervous system down. Carrots aid the function of the liver. Rice water is rich in Vitamin B and commonly used to treat vomiting and diarrhea. Black Pepper stimulates the taste buds and helps promote gastric secretions. Chillim an alkaloid (capsaicin) up to 15% pungent principles, carotenoids, flavonoids, vitramin A and C. It is also a heart and circulatory stimulant. It is used externally in ointments, to treat in muscular pain, arthritis. Internally, cayenne (chilli) is a major circulatory stimulant. Its influence reaches every organ.

Chilli is useful at the onset of a cold. It causes sweating and supports the body's defense system. Small quantities will also help stimulate a debilitated appetite. Cariander is good for the digestive sstem reducing flatulence. There are a few examples of herbs and spices and their medical properties.