by Carol Shaw-Sutton

Created on: January 18, 2009   Last Updated: January 28, 2009

It used to be believed that garlic and onions were somehow evil, "born out of the cloven hoof of the devil" it was even said, strangely enough. Today, we think differently about the wondrous and healthy properties of garlic (onions are almost as good for you as garlic by the way), and scientists haven't even discovered all of garlic's numerous healthy properties yet. It was also once believed that tomatoes were dangerous by the way, and now we know they are the complete opposite, since lycopene is so popular and even lauded in its more popular form - ketchup!

We are lucky that despite a few "old wive's tales" concerning the examples mentioned, herbs and spices have always been revered and treasured in most cultures. There isn't a civilization I cannot think of that has not incorporated at least a fair amount of herbs and spices into its traditional dishes. For instance, red chili peppers (capsicums), so popular not only in Asian cooking but also Mexican and South American, is now known to be very healthy; cayenne pepper is noted to be one of the best spices you can eat, in fact, it's been said that taking a little straight from the spice jar every day can work wonders because it helps the blood to flow to all areas of the body. There is even a "Cayenne Pepper Cure" devoted solely to this wonderful spice.

Other herbs and spices are also known to possess extremely beneficial antioxidants, like cinnamon and oregano, for example. Both also contain strong antibacterial properties, especially oregano. Cinnamon is popular in Indian dishes, although most people like it in hot drinks like eggnog or cookies, while oregano is traditionally Italian, so it's quite easy to incorporate herbs and spices into one's daily cooking. A sprinkle of oregano in Italian pasta sauces or even pizza is both delicious and good for you; it can also be used to relieve various respiratory problems and it forty-two times more powerful as an antioxidant than apples.

A few more examples that are popular would include turmeric, again, often used in Indian food. This wonder spice, which has a very mild flavor, is a super antioxidant and has a pleasant sunny color when added to rice. It is currently one of the top recommended spices to use in cooking because of its potent strength. It is also said to be a great anti-aging spice and can help fight against dementia and Alzheimer's. In India, the people apply it directly on cuts and burns because it is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, and

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