Spices for natural health and beauty

Good moro friends and spice consumers. Happy new year and the very best to you all!

2012 resolutions are being bandied about willy nilly here at the Spicery towers, amongst them: Toby is resolving to go on holiday (to 'somewhere at the edge of Europe because it's all east meets west there'), Music Chris is getting himself fit (classic), Le Tom is promising to spread more cheer, (a welcome but I suspect short lived plan) and James is resolving to give Tom a chance, an idea we have been unitedly pushing for perhaps a year now. (Maybe Tom will finally get to be 'Head of stapling things to other things' - his ultimate dream).

If you're doing the January health kick malarkey spices and herbs should play a big role, I'm a huge advocate of the enormous health benefits they give. Many spices are thought to have anti carcinogenic properties, are high in antioxidants and can lower blood sugar aiding in the control of diabetes, (that's just skimming the surface, there's pretty much a herb or spice for every ailment) .



Post Christmas indulgence-wise fantastic detoxing spices include:

GINGER (fresh or ground) - boosts circulation
BLACK/ TELICHERRY PEPPER  -boosts circulation, eliminates toxins, helps in quitting smoking (I don't know how but studies say so)
JUNIPER - eases water retention, helps prevent liver damage
TURMERIC - amazing liver detoxifier
ALLSPICE/ PIMENTO - a powerful antioxidant and all round healer

Allspice berries, (it's not a mixture of 'all spices' which causes some confusion)

BLACK/ ROYAL CUMIN - strengthens the immune system, aids digestion
CHILLI - increases fat burning, gets rid of headaches

You can reap the benefits of these spices by adding more of them to your everyday meals, if you're not sure how to, please feel free to get in touch or check our website for ideas. (emma@thespicery.com)

Curries can be super good for your health too, as long as it's a homemade one - easy on the oil, fatty meat and sugar, and high in spices - (here's some you could try: king prawn madras, Goan chicken xacutti or Keralan fish curry) or concoct your own, (if you're being uber healthy try brown rice, it's nutty and releases energy slower than white so you don't get peckish so quickly).

A good detox bath can be made by infusing some olive oil (or another oil such as sweet almond) with crushed juniper, crushed black pepper, lemon and rosemary and adding it to the tub.

We also make a detox drink ('this time I mean it' ) which gives you a hefty boost of goodness to kick start your January.

As always we wouldn't dream of making suggestions to you without diving headfirst in ourselves, so in the name of health and beauty we have taken a page out of Lush's book and are concocting our own beauty boosts and health helpers.

3 facemasks - hibiscus, rose and lavender - with varying degrees of turmeric, which in hindsight was a rubbish idea.

Lyndon facemasking Bella (our newest team member - she stays hidden in the office all day, then emerges to be assaulted with homemade face gunk. Lucky girl).

Le tom and me the only 2 foolish enough to smear turmeric over our faces. Neon nightmare.

Lizzie forcing a smile.

Even James didn't escape, in fact he turned out to be converted, with the softest, silkiest skin he'd ever had.

Clearer, softer skin all round, and luckily no turmeric stained faces. Result. Soon to be available for the natural beauty addicts amongst you.

Until next time, enjoy your Friday night curry and have a lovely weekend!