(Courtesy of Kate Gabrielle)
Wait. Isn’t that what girls are made of?
You better believe it!
Yet today, I decided I’m not going to focus on the sweet part. Although, when it comes to my brand new baby granddaughters, that my friends, goes without saying. Sugary sweet! ☺
No, I thought I would take a moment to focus on Spice.
And no, I’m not talking about the Spice Girls. I’m talking about adding a little zest and zing to those blustery, wintery days. I’m talking about something that will make everything nice, something special for those day’s when the wind howls and heavily darkened clouds pepper the endless sky.
Burrrr. Baby, it’s cold outside.
Yeah, it is. And that’s my point.
Colder weather means saying goodbye to the summery things we love. Bright beautiful flowers. Tender green leaves on trees. And all our favorite fruits and vegetables that keep our health at an optimum.
(Fruits and Vegetables — Image by © Fukuhara, Inc./CORBIS)
Part of the reason why we love those gorgeous colorful produce is because of their deep vibrant color. But did you know it is the color that gives fruit and vegetables their rich antioxidant character?
Antioxidant, you say? What exactly is that?
It’s a Spicy buzzword denoting a substance that inhibits oxidation. And oxidation my friend leads to nasty harmful molecules called free radicals. Yeah, they’re rad man. They’re so powerful they can spread and cause infection and disease.
Like a cold. Or the flu. Or something more serious, which I hope is not the case with you.
But here’s the cool part.
When we add those antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies into our daily diet, it will strengthen our ability to ward off infection and fight disease.
Say wahoo to antioxidants! They’re almost as sexy as Kale. Oh wait. Kale is loaded with antioxidants. See what I mean? Sexy!
But what do we do now that those beautiful fresh Superfoods we ate over the summer are gone?
We spice things up!
That means, instead of eating Peppers, Berries, Cherries, Cucumbers and juicy Beefsteak Tomatoes, we make the switch to more understated winter varieties of fruits and vegetables. Several which are known to be the most powerful antioxidants to compliment our cold weather foods.
(Curtesy of Brian Snelson)
And that includes Spices. Spices so valuable, they brought Christopher Columbus across the ocean blue.
Did you know spices and herbs are among the highest of antioxidant foods? This in turn helps to lower the risk of inflammation, cancer, degeneration and other diseases.
Including the common cold, which is very common indeed!
Think warm flavors such as Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice, Ground Ginger, Cardamom, Cloves, Peppercorns, Rosemary and Sage. Any one of those lovely spices on a chilly day can pack more antioxidant punch than our highly coveted Blueberries!
(Curtesy of Emsi Production)
So warm up the soup, casseroles and stews people! Make your own chai tea with loads of yummy spices like Cloves, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Anise, Peppercorns and Vanilla Bean. Dash the Cinnamon on those sweet potatoes and squash. Rub Rosemary and Sage on that succulent roast.
Because even though girls may be sugary sweet, it’s the spice that makes everything nice.
Nice and healthy, that is.
So what do you think? Are you ready to add a little Zest and Zing to your blistery winter days? What do you do to Spice things up in your neck of the woods? Do you prefer soups, stews or casseroles? What is your go to recipe to warm things up? Tea anyone?
Cheers everyone! I hope that life is treating you well. And, as always, thank you so much for all your support and wonderful comments!
Karen
I certainly do miss those walks around the farmers market and loading up on locally grown produce during the summer. But I’d be happy to have some sweet potato chili or a cup of chai tea on this cold wintry night. Great post, Karen!
Denise D. Young recently posted..Sunday Summary
Ooh, Sweet Potato Chili, Denise? That sounds amazing! I want that recipe. Thanks for mentioning that soup. It’s definitely healthy and guaranteed to warm us up. I raise my cup of Chai to you! 🙂
Excellent post, Karen. Everything you say here is part of what I’ve learned in my health and wellness coach course. Turmeric has proven to have numerous health benefits and is considered one of the best, if not the top, spice. I love the photos, too!
Lynn Kelley recently posted..Kissed by an Angel – Our Labor of Love
Thank you Lynn. I bet that course was an eye opener. I am glad you were able to be educated in the wellness field. You’ll be great as a coach. And yes, I forgot to mention the Turmeric. lol. Actually, Turmeric is an excellent anti-inflamatory. I think that’s why it’s considered one of the best. So stay healthy girl and throw those spices in with your meals! ((Hugs)) 🙂
I forgot to mention that turmeric is absorbed much better when used with black pepper, so I’ve been sprinkling both on my salads to get the full benefits of turmeric. Yes, it’s also an anti-inflammatory. Amazing, huh?
Lynn Kelley recently posted..Kissed by an Angel – Our Labor of Love
Interesting. Thank you Lynn so much for sharing that information. So black pepper helps the absorption of Turmeric. That, I didn’t know. Yes, that is amazing! Well, I guess we’ll be sprinkling in a little black pepper with our Turmeric from now on. See, you’re already coaching us on the ways of wellness. Thanks girlfriend! 🙂
I’m a big fan of using herbs and spices in everything I cook. Tumeric is one of my go to favorites and it’s supposed to be very, very good for us.
Fun post and congratulations on the brand new grandbabies!
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Patricia recently posted..Have You Ever . . . ?
Aw, thank you Patricia! I am loving those grandbabies to pieces, they are that adorable. And yes, the Tumeric! So glad you incorporate herbs and spices into your meals. They are so good for us. I think that’s why you seem so healthy. Keep it up. 🙂
Don’t forget Turmeric! This post made me want to make a huge pot of soup! Yummy.
Thank you Amy! Yes, Turmeric. We sprinkle it on almost everything, it is that good for you. Enjoy your soup and stay healthy! Tis the season. 🙂
A good reminder. When I’m lazy, my go-to tea is Celestial Seasons Bengal Spice. The cinnamon makes it sweet. Please don’t tell me it has something bad in it. Cheers —
Hi Julia! I’m not familiar with the Bengal Spice tea, so no worries my friend. But it sounds delish. And who doesn’t love cinnamon? Cheers right back atcha! 🙂
Great advice … and brilliant photos!
Thank you Patricia. I looked high and low for those photos. lol. But they do make those spices and veggies look so inviting, don’t they? Keep it warm and spicy! 🙂
Brilliant post and info, Karen!
I was told turmeric is a really good one for warding off the ailments, too 🙂
You are so right Yvette. Turmeric is a wonderful spice that has a lot of anti-inflamatory benefits. So keep eating that Turmeric and don’t forget to introduce some of those other spices mentioned for optimum health. Take care. 🙂
Ooh, I love warm spices. I grew up on chai, so I tend to crave it I’m not feeling well. I love how fortifying and tasty it is. 🙂
Hope you’re feeling better!
Well how smart are you by listening to what your body is telling you August. Heat up that Chai tea. And yes, finally, I am feeling much better. I’m drinking the tea. ((Hugs)) 🙂
Vanilla bean, huh? Now there’s a good reason to drink my husband’s peppermint-vanilla moonshine!
Herbs, yes, but I did not know spices contained antioxidants. So bring on the spicy chili – and thanks for educating us, Karen!
Jennette Marie Powell recently posted..How to Train Your Brain (Maybe)
Oh hey Jennette, now that sound awesome! Peppermint-vanilla moonshine is sure to warm your inners. I had no idea spices contained antioxidants either my friend. Enjoy the chili and stay healthy! 🙂