Cooking foods with a tablespoon of chopped red or green chili pepper can boost your metabolic rate. The effect is probably temporary, but if you eat spicy foods often, the benefits may add up. Also use other spices and seasoning to add flavour and gain health benefits.

• Asafetida (Hing) – A strongly aromatic spice that should be kept away from other spices till required for cooking. Helps against neuromuscular diseases and against respiratory ailments and gives relief from pain.
• Black pepper (Kali Mirch) – tastes hot and zesty. Produces an
  increased flow of saliva and gastric juices. Aids digestion.
• Bay Leaves (Biryani Patta): Bay leaves give off a pleasing and sweet aroma when added to the recipes. Wilted and dried leaves indeed are strongly aromatic and can be stored for months. Its dried fruit (berries) can also be employed as a flavoring agent in the cuisines. It contains many notable plant derived compounds, minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. Has antiseptic, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties and helps digestion. Fresh leaves are very rich source of vitamin-C, very good in folic acid. An excellent source of vitamin A and B- complex. Also a good source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, selenium, zinc and magnesium. It has astringent, diuretic, and appetite stimulant properties. Also used to soothe stomach ulcers and help relieve flatulence and colic pain and in the treatment of arthritis, muscle pain, bronchitis and flu-symptoms. The lauric acid in the bay laurel leaves has insect repellent properties.
• Chillies (Mirchi) – tastes hot and smoky. Helps stimulate the release of pain reliving endorphins. Green Chilli is rich in vitamins and Phyto-nutrients like Carotene, Lutein and Zeaxanthin. It not only adds a spicy flavour but also brings a number of health benefits including increasing your metabolic rate and improving your immune system. As it has a lot of flavour without calories, it is also recommended for diabetics. Its endorphins also improve your mood. You may also use red chillies and chilli powder. It triggers the body’s cooling mechanism and is hence used more in hot climates.
• Cloves (Lavung): has an aromatic sweetness. Its high vitamin – ‘C’ content helps it to absorb non-heme iron from foods and has bio-chemicals that offer anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It promotes enzymatic flow and aids digestion, protects the liver, boosts the immune system, helps control diabetes, protects against oral diseases and It is also effective against asthma and its decoction can be taken as an expectorant. Clove oil also helps decrease depression.
• Cardamom (Elachi) – is rich in various mirco nutrients and has high vitamin and mineral content and anti-mircobial, anti­depressant, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and anti-carcinogenic properties. It strengthens digestion, helps improve cardiovascular health, blood circulation and acts to detoxify blood, control cholesterol levels, cure urinary tract diseases, asthma and respiratory diseases and is also a good remedy for nausea, hiccups and stomach disorders. Helps prevent papillomas (small skin growths). It is also used to treat infections in teeth & gums. It’s seeds and pods can be chewed as a breath freshener.
• Cumin (Zeera) – tastes earthy, warm and nutty. A good source of iron and keeps the immune system healthy. Used as treatment for sleep disorders, indigestion and hypertension. Helps in weight loss. Contains melatonin to make you sleep better and other essential oils to keep you stress free. Has anti-congestive and expectorant action. Contains many minerals and vitamins, oxygenates the brain and helps fight cancer. Also available as black zeera with a stronger aroma and sweeter taste. It is used in cooking.
• Carom (Ajwain) – Also a good source of iron and helps keep the immune system healthy. Helps treat respiratory diseases and is also good for muscular pains. Should not be used in excess as it can cause dryness of the eyes.
• Curry Leaves (Karipatta): Good for seasoning, for improving They contain many vitamins and minerals which increase blood flow, reduce cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Cinnamon: Tastes hot and sweet. It is a good flavouring agent with many health benefits. Cinnamon reduces high levels of blood sugar by up to 30 percent and reduces arthritis pain and acts against urinary tract and bladder infections. Cinnamon, even in small doses, has a substantial effect on glucose levels (up to 24 percent or more). At about 4 gms (one and a half teaspoons) per day it can lower not only the blood glucose but also LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Cinnamon also makes you feel full faster because it slows the rate at which food exits the stomach. DON’T use too much Cinnamon, as it has other active substances that can hurt you, such as: – Coumarone, a potent blood thinner. Individuals already using a blood thinner should consult their Physician before using cinnamon. Use no more than 4 gms per day, as few dashes in your tea or coffee throughout the day and sprinkled as a flavouring agent on food.
• Coriander (Kothimeera / Dhaniya): Leaves and seeds are an excellent appetizer and also good for health. They have many components of essential oils, minerals and vitamins providing anti-rheumatic, anti-arthritic, and anti-inflammatory and also anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-allergy and detoxifying It acts as a diuretic, reduces cholesterol and stimulates and protects the liver, controls diarrhea and blood pressure. Helps against anemia and ensures proper menstrual cycles for women and helps cleanse and stimulate the kidneys. Also helps in lowering fever and treating digestive disorders. It stimulates the pancreas and helps control diabetes. Its oil is used as treatment for conjunctivitis and other eye problems.

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