The importance of Preparation

Because I love to cook and bake, and am also seeking a healthier lifestyle, I recently subscribed to The Clean Eating Magazine (here). While browsing the latest issue I stumbled upon a very interesting article. The article was about how different spices added to higher fat foods can help to speed up your metabolism.  According to the article, a study by Penn State University found that antioxidant spices (turmeric, rosemary, oregano, cinnamon, etc.) may counteract the way that a high fat meal can raise triglycerides and heart disease risk. THE BOTTOM LINE- if you are cooking a meal that may not be the lowest in fat content try to add some of these spices to help balance things out. Its also a good idea to keep in mind while eating out or attending a dinner party. Here's a link to another article about the same research findings. 

Some examples of antioxidant spices include: basil, cinnamon, clove, cumin, fennel, garlic, ginger, marjoram, mustard seed, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, peppermint, red peppers, rosemary, sage, thyme and turmeric.