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Pumpkin spice lovers everywhere relish seeing October 1 on the calendar. It’s National Pumpkin Spice Day!
Since Starbucks introduced the seasonal blend to its menu items in 2003, it has been an irreplaceable Fall staple. Now people can’t get enough of pumpkin spice lattes, and have even adapted recipes to enjoy it in any form they choose—donuts, cookies, pancakes, bread, marshmallow fluff, granola bars, truffles, and the list goes on.
With its overwhelming popularity, one begs the question, what makes pumpkin spice so addictive? The rich enhancement of flavor, aroma, and color of the recipes it’s added to for sure. Perhaps also the seasonal correlation to Fall, the “Fan Favorite” season? Or its versatility? Maybe the virality alone keeps people coming back for more year after year.
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Whatever the fans’ specific reasons, they’d be happy to know that their Fall flavor of choice also has health-boosting benefits.
Pumpkin spice (which, by the way, contains no pumpkin) is a mix of ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. All five ingredients are infamous for their functions in promoting well-being. Individually they do great for the body, but together they create a wellness blend whose superstar status is rivaled only by a certain “spicy” British girl group.
For starters, ground cinnamon can help lower blood sugar and cholesterol in people with Type 2 diabetes. Some research suggests it can also reduce inflammation and protect against heart disease, as well as cancers and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Historically, finely ground Ceylon cinnamon, or “true” cinnamon, has been used in medicines for its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.
Ginger is also renowned for its health benefits. More specifically, its ability to provide digestive and pain relief. Ginger boasts the ability to improve blood sugar and blood pressure, lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and prevent blood clotting as well. For this reason, many Caribbean and Asian health remedies call for ginger.
The detoxifying properties in nutmeg make it great for skin and organ health. Nutmeg may also improve heart health by relaxing blood vessels and helping the heart work more efficiently. The spice harvested from Myristica trees also improves sleep by increasing serotonin levels, which can help induce melatonin production.
Cloves contain eugenol, which can help reduce pain and inflammation. This component is also the reason clove and clove oil are historically used in oral hygiene. Before popular oral pain reliever gel came around, clove was used as the go-to treatment. The bitter spice is also an immunity booster that helps rid the body of free radicals that can lead to infections and disease.
Lastly, there is allspice. Containing many of the benefits of its partner spices listed above – anti-inflammatory, digestion boosting, immune boosting, etc – allspice can hold its weight in the class of medicinal purpose. However, it can also help cure headaches and migraines, combat stress and depression, and overcome fatigue.
When combined and introduced via healthy vehicles like tea, these spices make a therapeutic, antioxidant blend that can enhance one’s health from head to toe.
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The post Surprising Health Benefits of Pumpkin Spice appeared first on Get Up! Mornings With Erica Campbell.