Fall Superfood Spotlight: Spices

Did you know the change in seasons calls for a change in your eating? A healthy diet in the fall and winter months looks very different than in the spring and summer. In hot and humid months, your body needs cooling hydrating foods such as cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce, while in cooler temperatures it looks for warmth and comfort.

Support yourself in the fall by adding spices to your meals. Naturally warming, spices also promote digestion; boost the metabolism; and contain antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that help keep your immune system boosted.

Here is our list of the top 5 medicinal spices to add into your fall menu:

• Cayenne Pepper – the heat you feel with this spice is real! Great for boosting the metabolism and blood circulation, the capsaicin in cayenne pepper also helps alleviate pain and inflammation, lowers cholesterol levels and prevents blood clots.

Add this spice to your soups, sautés and egg dishes for that extra kick! Want a new and fun way to enjoy cayenne pepper? Try our Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters! Made with toasted almonds and 70% pure bittersweet cacao, these treats are not only delicious, they’re packed with magnesium and antioxidants, too. Topped with a pinch of Celtic sea salt and a hint of cayenne pepper, they’re the perfect combination of sweet & salty!

• Cinnamon – rich in antioxidants, cinnamon is categorized as one of the healthiest foods in the world. Known for its ability to support blood sugar balance and improve insulin sensitivity, cinnamon also helps curb sugar cravings. When using large amounts of this spice, look for Ceylon, not Cassia, cinnamon—this will keep your liver healthy and protected from the potentially-damaging amount of coumarin in Cassia cinnamon.

Often added to oatmeal, baked goods and the infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte, we use Ceylon cinnamon in our NEW Protein Breakfast Rounds, Sweet & Spiced Maple Pecans, Chai-Spiced Popcorn and Anti-Inflammatory Seasoning Blend. You can also add a sprinkle to your coffee grounds before brewing to promote a more balanced—and tasty—buzz!

• Garlic – classified as Mother Nature’s natural antibiotic, garlic has powerful antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Great for boosting the immune system and warding off colds, flu and infection, garlic also helps lower cholesterol levels. Plus, its warming properties enhance the metabolism and aid digestion.

We incorporate garlic into our seasonal Cleanse and Family-Friendly Soups and Garlic & Sea Salt Grain-Free 4-Seed Crackers. Plus, try our immune-boosting Flu Bombs that contain garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper and additional superfood ingredients for a fast-acting, natural cold and flu remedy.

• Ginger – ginger is another powerhouse herb for the immune system with antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Helpful for clearing the sinuses, ginger also helps break up phlegm in the lungs and improves respiratory health.

Here’s two easy ways to incorporate ginger into your daily diet: 1) drink a mug of warm lemon water steeped with fresh ginger first thing in the morning and 2) sip on our Garlic & Ginger Infused Bone Broth throughout the day. Both are great habits to incorporate in the colder months to keep your immune system strong and ready to fight against pathogens.

• Turmeric – topping the list of anti-inflammatory foods, turmeric is a superstar for fighting aches, pain, redness and swelling. It also assists in blood sugar balance, repairing damaged tissues, and preventing heart disease, Alzheimer’s and even cancer.

To maximize the health benefit, always consume turmeric with a sprinkle of black pepper—the piperine in black pepper boosts turmeric’s curcuminoids (healing components) by up to 2000%! Want to add more turmeric into your regime? Check out our Inflammation Fighter Smoothie, Moroccan Spiced Grain-Free 4-Seed Crackers and Turmeric Chai tea!

Spices are so much more than just a flavoring agent—they contain unique medicinal properties that assist digestion and detoxification, boost immunity, rev the metabolism and fight against a wide range of illnesses and diseases!

Not sure where to start? Check out our five varieties of Health-Boosting Seasoning Blends. Make meal prep easy, and enjoy our blends on everything from roasted veggies to chicken and fish—just 1 teaspoon of these blends packs up to 40% of your daily recommended intake for antioxidants!