Spicy boost to increasing HDL levels and more, Tara’s input will be appreciated.

[Sir-Voor]

Beside eating the right foods and exercising, I’m finding using right spices and oils not only add flavor but can also dramatically increase the health benefits of foods.
I’m using spices to deduce inflammation, increase antioxidants, and now I’m looking to improve my HDL level.

I read Fenugreek is a good spice but I question the source, so Tara could you confirm this to be true or not? It sounds like a tasty spice.

Oregano and dried Basil also help HDL, and spices turmeric, garlic powder, ginger powder, onion powder are good for IF-inflammation factor, antioxidants and HDL.

Tara could tell me if I’m on the right track using spices to boost my healthy eating, and if there any spices you would recommend to avoid or add. As well as any other health benefits spices help.


My current favorite spices are;

Spice (area of benefit)

Onion powder (IF, HDL) possibly antioxidants
Garlic powder (IF, HDL) possibly antioxidants
Cinnamon (antioxidants )
Turmeric (IF, HDL, antioxidants)
Ginger powder (IF, HDL) possibly antioxidants

And mainly just for favor with vary mild or no health benefits are freshly ground pepper corns and paprika.

[Bob698]

Fresh oregano and basil are a little more subtle than the dried stuff but once you try them you never go back.
The plants are very hearty and grow well indoors or outside.
An old trick was to buy fresh basil in the produce isle, check to see if the plant had roots attached, then jam it in a large pot full of potting soil as soon as I got home. A healthy basil plant can grow over 8 feet tall so plan ahead.

[justacowgirl]

I have to agree with bob...fresh is the way to go. I can't imagine using ONION POWDER; whoa that stuff is nasty. And, I don't want to know how they process it.

I grow all kinds of herbs and you can buy fresh or grow inside or out depending on where you live...oregano grows like a weed...whole organic garlic is readily available and we eat tons from our garden.

Sage, summer savory, basil, dill, thyme; you name it. They all add kick to your life.

I think you have to consider that the amounts of herbs you are using are pretty small...relating to any amount of healthful benefit. But I certainly would be using fresh if I wanted healthy. And I do!

Justacowgirl and afarmer

[Sir-Voor]

I agree fresh is best, when it comes to taste.
But when it comes to IF health benefits powders rule, I don’t know about dried.
Nor do i know which is best of HDL or anti-oxidants
The only reason I posted dried basil is because that is what was listed at the site I found.

Now here is what I have found on onions and garlic in regards to just IF;

Onions, powder = 100grams/IF:11,761
Onions, dehydrated flakes = 100grams/IF:11,314
Onions, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt = 100grams/IF: 466
Onions, raw = 100grams/IF:234

Garlic, powder = 100grams/IF:31,193
Garlic, raw = 100grams/IF:3,576

Like all diet stuff I’m thinking that using a balance is likely best, so why not use both when you have time? And there is nothing wrong with using just powders and dried when you don’t have the time.

On onion powders I have tried both “white onions, granulated” and “toasted onions, granulated” and they are vary different I can’t say one is better, it all depends on what your making as to which is better for the dish.
Next time I order spices I’m going to have to get both white and toasted minced/dehydrated and try them.

I just started researching good HDL spices, and have not started using oregano or basil yet, but I can tell you that there are two different types of each at Penzeys.com to get deferent flavors/strengths.
And you can buy them much cheaper there then at a supermarket.

[justacowgirl]

Well...............I looked up a bunch of IF tables because I have never even heard of this before...and it makes sense that ground, processed and condensed foods like garlic powder and onion powder would have more of whatever..because usually cooks have to use considerably more fresh in a recipe to obtain the same flavor as dried.

HOWEVER!! 1 small fresh onion seems to have an IF rating of 174 and that would be about 1/3 of a T of onion powder. I would eat three onions fresh anyday before I would succumb to injesting a tablespoon of onion powder.

So, I will keep making nice fresh meals with lots of fresh ingredients that I grow in my garden that I know contain no chemicals or additives and have had no processing except the process of pulling them from the ground and putting them in the root cellar.

**It appears you could avoid the whole subject by injesting 1 T of salmon oil daily at 1875 IF per T. Then you could eat fresh!!

Justacowgirl

[Sir-Voor]

WOW Justacowgirl, you totally missed the point.

I never suggested not eating fresh, nor ingesting spices like you would a pill.

I have learned that by adding spices to your recipes that not only do you dramatically improve/change the flavor but also can boost the healthiness of them.

NOTE: I said boost, spices will by no means turn an unhealthy diet into a healthy diet.

IF is just a numerical way to rank foods that are good/bad in an anti inflammatory diet, and the goal of a anti inflammatory diet in not to never eat inflammatory foods.

According to The Inflammation Free Diet Plan by Monica Reinage ( it is a great book that I recommend) the average person should have a daily score of 50, and I person a inflammation health issue (like MS) daily score of 200. Considering inflammation of the blood/brain barrier allows the immune cells to get into the brain, I’m guessing an anti inflammatory diet is good for us.
I have no proof of that, it just makes senses to me and a anti inflammatory diet is a good healthy diet anyway.

There are recipes where fresh just don’t work as well, for example fried zucchini.
I now use olive oil instead of butter, add some garlic powder, onion powder and Hungarian Sweet Paprika or Smoked Spanish Paprika.
To me diced garlic and onions would not be what I want, and there is no way to grow your own paprika and have it nearly as good as Hungarian’s can grow it.
To be 100% clear I know that there are recipes where fresh is best, diced garlic and onions is great in chilies and meatloaves for example.

I have never seen chemicals or additives added to spices, unless your getting some cheap supermarket spice mix. Just like any food you have to read the ingredients, spices are no different.


P.S. went to international food market this past weekend and found some fenugreek seeds (that are for planting or eating) and some dried leaves. Should be interesting.

[justacowgirl]

When I fry zuchinni I use olive oil and fresh garlic and lots of onions in the pan prior to adding my zuchinni. I dice my herbs up and add them to the mix when I add my zuchinni. Anytime garlic is called for I use fresh. Sorry; but I am a garlic lover and you can't differentiate between garlics (there are hundreds of wonderful varieties that each have a different flavor) if you buy a powder. Yuck.

I don't think I missed your point. I think that you are substituting a porcessed ingredient for fresh..I just don't believe that it in anyway is as nutritious.

If you are finding out that spices and herbs and oils add flavour to your foods good for you! But, I don't know where you've been all your life.

And yes, you can't always grow it all..like cinnamon or paprika. Certainly we all use those in recipes where we cannot obtain fresh.

As for the Inflammatory index. I read it. I read a bunch of them on the net. And, I still say that you are substituting a higher level of processed powders to obtain the same result you would obtain from using the appropriate amount of fresh.


You will not convince me at any point that substituting a powder is a more healthful way to eat that eating fresh.

However; if you like it ...have at it. I applaud you for getting out of the McDonald's lane.

I bet you use Bisquick.

Justacowgirl

[hunterd]

sparky,
i don`t have any appts. today, so this is my entertainment. lol. just having fun with this/these posts

[Sequoia]

Although I agree that fresh is almost always best, I do think there's a place for dried foods (not just limited to herbs & spices).

I'm half Swiss (really!), so neutrality is part of my makeup.

I will say, though, that one thing to consider with dried herbs & spices is that many of them have been irradiated, and some people prefer to steer clear of irradiated foodstuffs as much as possible. It's just another factor to consider.

[hunterd]

sorry to make light of the forum.i gree that fresh always tastes better, and as a farmer(really, vege farmer no less), i have to be in cowgirls corner on this one. i`m a garlic fan and use many cloves a week. onions too, love them!!!!!
but with that said when i run out of fresh (no root cellar), i use powder and it`s not bad at all. i can understand sir-voor`s point too, and think it`s valid also.
to each his/her own.

dave
ps.- what does flax oil do?

[justacowgirl]

Justacowgirl, I had to think hard, reread, and read this whole thread before I validated your post. Some of your comments are uncalled for. ("But, I don't know where you've been all your life." and "I bet you use Bisquick.") You folks are allowed to discuss the pros & cons of ingredients but I respectfully ask that you keep such comments to yourself.

If you could have seen me you would have known that my comments were tongue in cheek..if I offended I apologize..sometimes it is difficult to have dry humor over the internet.

J

[Sequoia]

If you could have seen me you would have known that my comments were tongue in cheek..if I offended I apologize..sometimes it is difficult to have dry humor over the internet.

Even if you're not normally a fan of emoticons, a can go a long way toward making your intentions clear when you're being humorous, especially in a thread where there's some disagreement going on.

My own online humor tends to be dry, too, and I've had it misfire more than once.

[Sir-Voor]

I no longer get offended, it simply is a worthless emotion. I have learned the hard way hummer rarely comes across in forums as intended, so I shy away from using it.

And to answer the question where have been, that simple. Living in the American Midwest eat the typical Midwestern diet, good old country comfort food.
that is until a few years ago when I reached about 220bls and had to start blood pressure meds, then I started eating right and got to 185 and cut my PB med in half.
This year I'm guessing thanks to Ampyra clearing my brain fog I’m focusing on updating my diet, so far I’m at 175bls and feeling healthy.

Considering there are now shows like biggest loser and a whole network for food/cooking, I feel comfortable saying I’m not the only American changing their diet to live healthier.

Last year i upped my BBQing skill, this year spices and who know what is next. I'm just enjoying the trip.

[nutritiontara]

Is FRYING food mentioned in the Inflammation Free Diet Plan? I think that would be a strong recommendation.
Olive oil is certainly less inflammatory than vegetable oils (omega-6). Try stir frying in water or broth and adding olive oil after you take the food off the heat.

[Sir-Voor]

I have been so busy lately I have not had time to properly read Monica Reinagel’s book.

I’ll have to look it up, until then and even if it does.
I will do like I do with all things diet and go with Balance! Balance! Balance!
A mixture of raw, steamed, fried, grilled, smoked cured, and what ever cooking methods there are.

Now unless when cooking you get above the oil’s smoke point, I don’t think the IF will change.
But by cooking with some foods the food’s IF I think will increase, but antioxidants will decrease.

And olive oils is not the only good oil, Canola has a high IF had a higher smoke point

Here is a list of IF for some other oils, (-) are the bad IF oils.

Olive oil, salad or cooking /100grams / 536
Almond oil /100grams / 459
Corn and Canola oil /100grams / 399
Grapeseed oil /100grams / (-618)
Tomatoseed oil /100grams / (-430)
Vegetable corn oil, industrial and retail all purpose salad or cooking /100grams / (-363)


Now as http://diet.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Infl...Free_Diet_Plan points out inflammation causes problems for people with Multiple sclerosis.

Also diet is not the only thing you should be doing, exercise, not smoking, healthy weight, manage stress are thing we should be doing for a good none inflammatory healthy life style.

P.S. I sure did not know that smoking would effect inflammation, I don’t smoke and this is just anther reason I’m glad Illinois has restaurants, bars, and casinos none-smoking.