SPICES PREVENT HEART DISEASE AND PREMATURE AGING?

According to one of my favourite websites (Dr.Mercola) ....THEY DO!!! Check out this article and my comments (in caps) -

Each spice has a unique set of health benefits to offer, but one study, published in the Journal of Medicinal Foods, found a direct correlation between the antioxidant phenol content of many extracts of spices and herbs, and their ability to inhibit glycation and the formation of AGE compounds, making them potent preventers of heart disease and premature aging.
According to this study, the top 10 most potent herbs and spices are:

1.Cloves (ground)

2. Cinnamon (ground)

3. Jamaican allspice (ground) WE IN JAMAICA CALL THIS SPICE PIMENTO

4. Apple pie spice (mixture)

5. Oregano (ground)

6. Pumpkin pie spice (mixture)

7. Marjoram

8. Sage

9. Thyme

10.Gourmet Italian spice

Choosing Spices for Their Medicinal Benefits

However, when it comes to herbs and spices, you really can’t go wrong. You should let your taste dictate your choices, choosing the flavors that appeal most to you. You can also choose spices based on their health effects. For instance, the following herbs and spices are some of the best for building a strong immune system that functions correctly:
Licorice: Buffers the inflammatory response by increasing steroid output by your adrenal glands; a good buffer if your immune system is over responding to the flu.
Turmeric: ORAC (a measure of antioxidant activity) score of 159,277; general immune system booster due to its high antioxidant capacity, and an anticancer agent as well; turmeric is 5 to 8 times stronger than vitamins C and E, and even strong enough to scavenge the hydroxyl radical, which is considered by some to be the most reactive of all oxidant
Oregano:ORAC 13,970; active agent is rosmarinic acid, a strong antioxidant.
Cinnamon: ORAC 267,536; powerful antimicrobial agent -- found to kill E. coli and many other bacteria, and also has anti-inflammatory compounds.
Cloves:The ORAC grand prize winner at 314,446, highest of all foods tested! Contains eugenol and its mild anesthetic benefits are useful for toothaches and sore throats, also a good anti-inflammatory.
The Huffington Post also recently featured a handy list of herbs based on their health benefits:

* Rosemary and basil for their anti-inflammatory power
* Cumin and sage for their dementia-fighting power
* Cayenne and cinnamon for their obesity-fighting power
* Coriander and cinnamon for their sugar regulating powers
* Lemon grass, nutmeg, bay leaves and saffron for their calming effects on your mood
* Turmeric for its cancer fighting power
* Oregano for its fungus-beating power
* Garlic, mustard seed and chicory for their heart-pumping power
* Basil and thyme for their skin-saving power
* Turmeric, basil, cinnamon, thyme, saffron, and ginger for their immune-boosting power
* Coriander, rosemary, cayenne, allspice and black pepper for their depression-busting power

Another Important Reason to Use Spice-Rich Marinades

BBQ season is nearly upon us in the United States, so I wanted to share a quick tip with those of you who plan to fire up the grill soon.
Grilling is really not a healthy way to cook (ideally you should eat your meat raw or very lightly cooked), but for those of you who aren’t ready to give up cooked meat just yet, marinating meats before grilling or broiling them can reduce heterocyclic amines (according to some experts by 90 percent or more).Heterocyclic amines (HAs) form when food is cooked at high temperatures, and they’re linked to cancer. (In terms of HA, the worst part of the meat is the blackened section, which is why you should always avoid charring your meat, and never eat blackened sections). MY FAVOURITE HENCE THE POSITION I`M IN........ NOTHING USED TO MAKE ME HAPPY LIKE SOME BARBEQUED CHICKEN OR STEAK......IN FACT MY FRIEND THAT DIED LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME GOT THE MOTHER OF ALL GRILLS AND HAD A PARTY TO SHOW IT OFF A FEW MONTHS BEFORE SHE DIED.....
So aside from adding some antioxidants to your food, a spice-filled marinade can also help cut down on the harmful substances created during the cooking process. I recommend preparing your own marinades at home, using high-quality herbs and spices and only natural ingredients (and keep the coating thin to avoid charring).