PHOTOS:^ GETTYIMAGES(^7)Pro TipsFlavor
Boost!
Too much sodium in your
diet can lead to high blood
pressure and potentially
harm your heart. Try these
seasonings to add a healthy,
tasty spin to your meals—
no salt shaker required.Basil
TASTE Slightly spicy and
highly aromatic.
BEST USES With seafood,
poultry, and vegetables—it
even complements sweet
summer fruit. Basil leaves are
easily bruised, so tear them
by hand. Or stack larger leaves
together, roll into an oblong
tube, then slice into ribbons.Chili Pepper
TASTE The flavor depends
on the type of pepper. It can
range from bright and hot
to fruity to smoky.
BEST USES Capsaicin, the com-
pound that gives chili pepper
its heat, may boost metab-
olism, increasing the ability
to burn calories. It might
also help suppress appetite.Rosemary
TASTE Aromatic, with a mix of
pine and lemony sweetness.
BEST USES Add to a marinade
for grilled steak or chicken,
or mix with potatoes before
roasting. To separate leaves,
run your fingers along the
stem, pulling the leaves
off in a downward motion.
Discard the stem.Turmeric
TASTE Pungent and slightly
bitter, with an earthy aroma.
BEST USES See page 41 for
the latest health information
on turmeric. When cooking
veggies, try tossing them in olive
oil and turmeric before roast-
ing, or make “golden milk” by
simmering dairy or plant milk
with a teaspoon of turmeric.Cilantro
TASTE It has a clean, slightly
citrusy flavor and a cooling
effect on the palate.
BEST USES An ideal balancing
element in spicy dishes,
it’s often paired with Asian,
Caribbean, and Latin
American fare. Chop
coarsely, and don’t bother
removing the stems.Cinnamon
TASTE Complex and woody,
with sweet and hot flavors.
BEST USES A daily half-teaspoon
may help control blood
sugar, cholesterol, and trigly-
ceride levels in people with
type 2 diabetes. Mix into your
morning coffee, sprinkle
over cereal, or include some
in a spice rub for grilled meat.84