By Rachel Grumman Bender for YouBeauty.com
Ever add a pinch of cinnamon to your coffee or a spring of rosemary to your famous baked chicken? You may think you're merely making your favorite drinks and dishes more flavorful, but spicing up your meals doesn’t just up the tastiness factor -- it can also be a boon to your health and your beauty.
"The benefits spices offer you in terms of your diet and health are endless," says Elisa Zied, R.D., author of "Nutrition at Your Fingertips." "They can help control blood sugar, protect against inflammation that can contribute to chronic diseases such as heart disease and Type 2 diabetes and may play a role -- directly or indirectly -- in weight management. Spices literally add spice to your life and diet but can also be a simple way to enhance meals and optimize your overall health, inside and out."
Find out which health benefits are hiding in your spice rack and test-drive the top disease-fighting spices with our easy-breezy recipes.
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