Spice Up Your Health with Cinnamon, Turmeric and Fenugreek

Three Powerful Spices to Help Lower Blood Sugar

In addition to adding tons of flavor to your food, many herbs and spices also have medicinal properties, providing a double whammy when it comes to flavorful food that is good for you, too!

These three powerful spices can help lower blood sugar, which is important in preventing and controlling diabetes, keeping your energy levels steady, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek seeds are small and deep yellow in color with an awesome sweet-savory flavor going on. They’re often used in Indian dishes like curries, where they add color, flavor, and a host of medicinal benefits. Fenugreek seeds are high in fiber, which slows glucose absorption (meaning sugars don’t hit your bloodstream as quickly ) so you get a slow, steady stream of energy release, rather than a quick burst of energy followed by a huge crash. Fenugreek also helps stimulate insulin, the hormone that helps your body get sugar out of your bloodstream and into your cells for energy.

How to use it:

• Mushroom Masala with Fenugreek from Cook Republic
• Acorn Squash with Fenugreek Seeds from Indian Simmer
• Lentil Meatballs with Fenugreek Sauce from Feasting at Home

Turmeric

Turmeric is often praised for its medicinal benefits – and it sure does have a lot of them! Turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and recent studies suggest it may also be protective against type 2 diabetes by reducing long-term blood sugar levels. Getting these benefits is pretty simple, too. You can find turmeric either fresh or powdered and throw it into numerous dishes, from curries and marinades to scrambled eggs, smoothies, or teas and lattes.

How to use it:

• Turmeric Milk from Nutrition Stripped
• Carrot Ginger Turmeric Smoothie from Minimalist Baker
• Chia Fresca with Pineapple and Turmeric (from me!)
• Chipotle Chili with Tempeh and Butternut Squash (from me!)

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is one of the most commonly used spices. I know I can’t make a bowl of oatmeal without a sprinkle of cinnamon! But did you know that in addition to being earthy and sweet, cinnamon is super good for you?

There are lots of different types of cinnamon out there ranging in price and quality. Surprisingly, the regular grocery store cinnamon (called cassia cinnamon) is the type with the most health benefits! Much like fenugreek, cinnamon helps increase insulin activity, which in turn helps lower blood sugar levels and keep long-term glucose levels in check.

How to use it:

• Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats from Well Plated
• Oatmeal Raisin Energy Bites from Fannetastic Food
• Cinnamon Apple Quinoa Salad from Love and Zest

Of course, herbs alone can’t undo the damage of a consistently unhealthy diet. Nor can they reverse your diabetes. But if you’re already on the right track by eating a clean, balanced diet, adding these powerful herbs to your daily routine can boost all that work you’re already putting into your health – while adding lots of flavor, too!