Herbs and Spices as General Medicinals
The idea that herbs and spices have medicinal
value is an ancient one, and grounded in fact:
plants are virtuosos of biochemical invention,
and have been the original source of many
important drugs (aspirin, digitalis, quinine,
taxol are just a few). The health effects of
plant foods in general are discussed above, p.
- Herbs and spices, with their
specialization in phenolic and terpene
compounds, are notable for three broadly
helpful tendencies. Phenolic compounds often
have antioxidant activity; oregano, bay leaf,
dill, rosemary, and turmeric are among the
most effective. Antioxidants are useful both in
the body, to prevent damage to DNA,
cholesterol particles, and other important
materials, but also in foods, to slow the
deterioration in their flavor. Terpenes don’t
prevent oxidation, but they do help reduce the
body’s production of DNA-damaging
molecules that can cause cancer, and help