Garam masala is a popular spice, especially in Indian cuisine. It’s very famous mainly because of its flavor. Aside from this, garam masala also has a lot of health benefits. Although a lot of people think of garam masala as a spice, that’s not accurate. In fact, garam masala is a blend of different spices. Because of this, it’s more of a spice blend or spice mixture. The number of spices in garam masala would depend on the person making it. Traditionally, people make this spice blend by using seeds and spices. They toast the ingredients, grind them, then mix them all. Garam masala’s appeal is mainly in its flavor profile. It’s made with different ingredients giving it a unique taste. Adding this to a dish would elevate its flavor and make it healthier. Here are some health benefits of this spice blend:
Helps Prevent Different Diseases
Garam masala has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant properties, and more. Because of this, it can help prevent different diseases. One particularly important component of garam masala is cinnamon. This spice is very efficient in lowering the risk of diseases. Also, research shows that this can help reduce the risk of neurological disorders. These include Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Of course, cinnamon isn’t the only important spice in the blend.A lot of spices are frequently underused but, adding them to dishes can improve the health. Since garam masala contains different spices, this means that it includes all the advantages of those spices too. This spice blend can contain 10-30 spices depending on who makes it. It doesn’t matter which ingredients you use in the spice blend. Consuming garam masala would give you access to all the disease-lowering benefits. This is especially true if the spice blend contains cumin, cloves, cardamom, and other healthy components.
Improves Digestion Process
When it comes to garam masala, probably the most well-known benefit to the health is that it improves the digestion process. This is because of the warming effect it has on the body. A lot of people say that warming foods such as garam masala contribute to enhanced digestion. So if you want to get this benefit, try adding the spice blend to your meals.Also, some studies suggest that the warming effect of garam masala may also help increase the metabolic rate of the body. This will definitely improve the health as well. Of course, this effect isn’t limited to garam masala only. A lot of spices have a warming effect on the body and may have similar health benefits as well. So when making your own garam masala, choose your spices wisely so you can get all the benefits you can!
Helps Cholesterol Levels
Garam masala can also help control cholesterol levels. This applies if your spice blend contains cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. Of course, these are the typical ingredients of garam masala.These spices have properties which can help reduce and control the cholesterol levels in the body. This is why adding the blend of spices to meals can prevent diseases which get frequently linked to high levels of cholesterol in the blood.
Prevents Constipation
This blend of spices can also prevent constipation. Since it’s great for digestion, it’s great for constipation too. This also means that many supplements or foods which enhance metabolism will prevent constipation too. According to research, different spices may play an essential role in keeping the gut healthy. Consuming garam masala in meals may result in a faster transit time of the meals in the stomach. That is as compared to eating meals which don’t contain the spice blend.However, there’s a need to conduct more studies to prove this fact. These are just preliminary findings, and so they aren’t statistically significant yet. But since garam masala is excellent for digestion, it’s logical to assume that it will also be helpful in the prevention of constipation.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Garam masala also has anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation in the body can occur because of different reasons. But there are also different ways of treating this condition.One of which is to consume garam masala in moderation. The spices used in this spice blend don’t just make it uniquely flavorful. But the spices, cumin, in particular, can help alleviate inflammation in the body.
Reduces the Risk of Cancer
Various spices are frequently associated with a reduction in cancer risk. Research indicates that garam masala may have an effect on the levels of specific enzymes in the body. This is because it contains different kinds of spices. Theoretically, this effect could also help lower the risk of developing cancer.Cancer research is challenging, and even experts have very little knowledge about the illness, how to treat it, and how to prevent it. This is because the actual process of researching is quite challenging, so solutions don’t come as easily. So concerning this benefit, there isn’t much proof to support the claims. But including the spice blend in the diet will definitely make you healthier.
Oral Health Benefits
We’ve mentioned how garam masala usually contains cloves. This makes the spice blend an excellent remedy to prevent diseases related to oral and dental health. Cloves contain omega 6, vitamins, and calcium too. They are also very useful in easing cavities and toothaches. Also, adding just a teaspoon of garam masala to dishes can help keep bad breath and gum problems at bay.Remember that garam masala contains many spices. Because of this composition, it provides a spicy and sweet flavor. These flavors can stimulate the taste buds to keep them healthy and active at all times.
Beneficial for Diabetics
This spice blend is also beneficial for people with diabetes. One main ingredient of garam masala is cinnamon. According to science, cinnamon has a lot of health benefits. This spice can lower blood sugar levels naturally. Because of this, it can help prevent diabetes or help control it too.Studies have shown that cinnamon can reduce the glucose levels in the blood. Aside from this, it can also enhance the sensitivity to insulin, one of the hormones in the body. In fact, this is a crucial hormone needed to maintain the appropriate glucose levels in the blood.
Provides Calcium and Fiber
Another great benefit of garam masala is that it contains calcium and fiber. These nutrients are vital for the normal functioning of our body. You can consume this versatile masala on a regular basis and get benefited from it.As a benefit, they can help improve the memory and the immunity. They can help keep the cardiovascular system healthy too.
Improves Overall Health
Finally, garam masala helps enhance the overall health. It can have an impact on your health in different ways. This is mainly because of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Additionally, all the spices in garam masala have their health benefits.Individually, the spices in garam masala are all beneficial. According to research, these herbs and spices can make you a lot healthier. This is a fact even though experts and researchers are still performing studies about the health benefits. In fact, some experts also claim that spices are frequently underused. It’s a shame how people don’t recognize the benefits of all the ingredients in garam masala. Consuming the spice blend is one of the easiest ways to improve your health, so it’s worth trying!