- ALLERGY, RESPIRATORY
- Traffic, Dust Linked to Asthma in Kids
- Climate Change Could Sting Allergy, Asthma Sufferers
- Keep Asthma, Allergies at Bay for the Holidays
- ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
- Massage Therapy Helps Those With Advanced Cancer
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- Insight on Herbals Eludes Doctors, Patients Alike
- ANIMAL CARE
- Animals Respond to Acupuncture's Healing Touch
- Separation Anxiety, Canine-Style
- Safe Toys for Dogs
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- Occupational Therapy Plus Exercise Benefits Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis May Raise Risk for Vertigo
- Extra Pounds in Mid-Life Affect Later Mobility
- CANCER
- Strenuous Daily Workout May Keep Cancer at Bay
- Vitamin C Shows Promise as Cancer Treatment
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- Hospital Volume Imperfect Gauge of Cancer Surgery Outcomes
- Undoing the 'Big Baby' Trend
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- CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
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- Smog Tougher on the Obese
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- COSMETIC
- Gum Chewing May Cut Craving for Snacks
- Science May Banish Bad Hair Days
- Get Sugared!.... Its a sweet choice for hair removal
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- Vitamin K Slows Insulin Resistance in Older Men
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- Patients' Photos Help Boost Radiologists' Accuracy
- DIET, NUTRITION
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- Prenatal Exposure to Traffic Pollution May Lead to Asthma
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- EYE CARE, VISION
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- FITNESS
- Fliers Can Keep Blood Clots at Bay
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- Consciousness Helps the Mind and Body Work Together
- GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS
- Intestinal Bacteria Trigger Immune Response
- New Guidelines Issued for Management of IBS
- Traditional Nonsurgical GERD Treatments Not Impressive
- GENERAL HEALTH
- Pesticides and How to Affordably Eat Organic or Reduce Pesticide Consumption
- Less Education May Mean Poorer Health
- Kids More Apt to Smoke If Mom Did While Pregnant
- HEAD & NECK
- Many Children Will Outgrow Headaches
- Ski Helmets Encouraged for All
- Zen May Thicken Brain, Thwart Pain
- HEALTH & TECHNOLOGY
- The Internet Is Becoming One-Stop Shopping for Health Help
- Save Your Aging Brain, Try Surfing The Web
- Using Light Therapy to Silence Harmful Brain Activity
- HEART & CARDIOVASCULAR
- Irregular Heartbeat Tied to Alzheimer's Disease
- Brown Rice Tied to Better Heart Health in Study
- Chinese Red Yeast Rice May Prevent Heart Attack
- INFECTIOUS DISEASE
- Viral Infection Might Trigger High Blood Pressure
- Surgical Masks Could Prevent Flu, Maybe
- Poor Restroom Cleaning Causes Cruise-Ship Sickness
- KID'S HEALTH
- Help Your Kids Stay Active
- Keep Safety in Mind While Your Kids Are Cooling Off in the Water
- Too Many Infants Short on Vitamin D
- MEN'S HEALTH
- Strenuous Daily Workout May Keep Cancer at Bay
- Physical Activity May Prolong Survival After Colon Cancer
- Low Vitamin D Levels May Boost Men's Heart Attack Risk
- MENTAL HEALTH
- Consciousness Helps the Mind and Body Work Together
- A Simple 'Thank You' Brings Rewards to All
- 17 Ways to Create the Perfect Workday
- PREGNANCY
- Acupuncture May Relieve Acid Indigestation In Pregnancy
- Placebo Acupuncture Tied to Higher IVF Pregnancies
- Exercise As Well As Acupuncture, May Ease Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- SENIORS
- Friends, Not Grandkids, Key to Happy Retirement
- For Older Walkers, Faster Is Better
- Boost In Elderly Population Will Be Felt Worldwide
Spices, Herbs Boost Health for Diabetics
By eHolistic.com Published: 10/17/2008
By Randy Dotinga
HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Spices may do more than flavor your food: New research suggests a shake of this and a pinch of that could also boost the health of diabetics.
Researchers bought 24 herbs and spices and found that many appear to have the power to inhibit tissue damage and inflammation brought on by high blood-sugar levels in the body.
The study didn't examine the direct effects of spices on diabetics. Also, spices are typically used in small amounts, making it unclear if those who eat them would get much benefit.
Still, "this gives people a tool to work with in terms of keeping their health as they want it to be," said study co-author James Hargrove, an associate professor at the University of Georgia.
Hargrove and his colleagues were intrigued by spices because they're rich in antioxidants, which are thought to protect cells from damage. "One can put a lot of antioxidant power into meals by using spices" without making people fatter, he said. "Because of the way they're prepared, herbs and spices tend to have low calorie contents."
In addition, spices are cheaper than many other food products, he said.
The researchers decided to look into the anti-inflammatory properties of spices. "We said, 'Let's just go to Wal-Mart, get all the McCormick brand spices we can find, and check those. That was as complicated as our study design was."
The findings appear in a recent issue of the Journal of Medicinal Food.
In laboratory tests, the researchers found that many of the spices and extracts appeared to inhibit a process known as glycation, which has been linked to inflammation and tissue damage in diabetics.
The spices that seemed most likely to help diabetics included cloves, cinnamon (previously pegged as a possible blood-sugar reducer), allspice, apple pie spice and pumpkin pie spice, Hargrove said. Top herbs included marjoram, sage and thyme.
Other spices and herbs were "still rich compared to other foods" when it comes to the effect, he said.
Lona Sandon, national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, said that while research does suggest that spices are high in antioxidants and may reduce blood-sugar levels, it's difficult to make recommendations about how much to use.
Even so, "I say add as much herbs and spices as your taste buds and tummy can take," she said. "They add flavor and fun to foods without adding calories or fat. Their potential for promoting health outweighs any risks, unless, of course, you have an allergy to a particular spice."
More information
Learn about the history of spices from the University of California at Los Angeles.
SOURCES: James Hargrove, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Foods and Nutrition, The University of Georgia, Athens; Lona Sandon, ME.d., R.D., assistant professor, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, and national spokeswoman, American Dietetic Association, Dallas; June 2008, Journal of Medicinal Food
Last Updated: Oct. 17, 2008
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