Spices

Origin of Spices

Spices have been present in history since the beginning of time. Even before recorded history, the ancient Egyptians preserved their mummies with herbs and spices.

On the other hand, there are various references to herbs and spices throughout the Bible, to the point that they were thought to grow in the Garden of Eden and were therefore especially prized.

In 500 BC, Chinese and Korean ships traded spices; not long after, the Spice Route spread from Europe to Asia, and finally to the Americas.

The spice trade meant wealth and power. For this reason, it has been one of the tasks to which all societies have dedicated themselves the most, and especially those that developed on both shores of the Mediterranean.

As Europe passed the so-called Dark Ages, Indonesian, Arab, Chinese, and Indian merchants were profiting from its trading empire.

Europe entered the spice trade during the Crusades, which only increased the popularity of spices. In the 1600s, the Dutch formed the East India Company, which became one of the most powerful trading companies in history.

Benefits of spices

Spices can bring us many benefits in many different aspects. We would like to point out some of them:

More digestive dishes: Adding certain spices to your dishes in moderation, such as pepper, cloves or cumin, favors digestion, since they stimulate the production of gastric juices. In addition, they protect the digestive system from possible bacterial infections and reduce fermentation and gas.

They help burn calories: This is due to the thermogenic effect on the body, which stimulates the metabolism. And especially hot spices, which are those that have a substance called capsaicin, such as pepper, chili or chili. Seasoning your dishes with spices, which hardly provide calories, also helps you keep hunger at bay, as they accentuate the flavor of food and are more satiating.

They relieve stress. Several investigations show that the consumption of different herbs and spices can protect us from stress and prevent or reduce cell oxidation, reducing the risk of suffering from diseases and improving overall health. Also.

They help control cholesterol and triglycerides. Spices owe much of their properties to their high content of vitamins and minerals.

Salt substitute. Even if you don't have any problems with hypertension, it is advisable to reduce the amount of salt in your dishes. And a good way to avoid "eating bland" is to add spices, ideal for flavoring and making fish, vegetables, rice, pasta... Spice salt more appetizing.