5 Holiday Spices with Health Benefits: How Cinnamon, Nutmeg & More Boost Your Wellness

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Although the rich, warming spices that make up a Gingerbread Loaf are usually used for their flavor more than their health benefits, cinnamon, ginger, star anise, cloves and cardamom have empirically-studied healing capabilities. These powerful spices will actually make you healthier, while helping your holiday dishes and drinks taste more delicious. If you want to learn more about 5 common yummy holiday spices that will help boost your health, keep reading!

 

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1. Cinnamon 

Cinnamon is one of the most recognizable and widely used spices, especially during the holidays. Whether you use it as a base flavor in your homemade cinnamon rolls or you use it to add some extra flavor to your gingerbread latte, you're also getting some bonus killer health benefits.

Cinnamon has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine, treating a vast array of ailments. Cinnamon has been "put to the test" in many current day scientific studies and has been shown to help protect against conditions like heart disease, diabetes and even neurodegenerative diseases. Cinnamon is jam packed with powerful antioxidants, including polyphenols that help fight oxidative damage and reduce inflammation.

This holiday season, don't hold back with the cinnamon! Try adding it to your baking, cooking and your teas.

 

Here are some amazing cinnamon teas that heal year round: Sleek and Slender, Joint Support, Detox Chai, Liver Cleanse, and Blood Pressure Support

 

2. Ginger

Nothing is better than the smell of something super ginger-y baking in the oven on a cold, Winter day. The warming, cozy spice is used during holiday baking for its delicious flavor, but it might having an added benefit of helping your digestion.

Ginger and ginger extract has been shown to help improve a number of gastrointestinal issues, including digestion, nausea, bloating, gas and an overall stomach health. The amazing meals with family during the holiday season can also come with an upset tummy, so incorporating ginger might help you feel better!

If you're interested in learning more about the health benefits of ginger and want to know what to combine it with, check out our post on Ginger Tea Combos that will keep you healthy all year-round.

 

Our favorite teas with ginger: Bye Bye Bloat, Inflammation Relief, and Detox Chai

 

3. Star Anise

Star anise has a warm, sweet, slightly spicy flavor that brings depth to both sweet and savory dishes. The beautiful star-shaped spice is known for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and it can help support digestion, reduce bloating, and ease discomfort after heavy meals.

 

Enjoy star anise in these delicious teas: Joint Support, Detox Chai, Bye Bye Bloat

 

 

4. Cloves

This versatile holiday spice can be used to add dimension to hot teas and lattes, to season pot roasts or to bring a spicy warmth to baked goods. Cloves are sweet and aromatic, but also have some incredible health benefits.

Here's a fun fact: cloves are the most antioxidant-packed common spice. They have a very strong flavor, so even just a tiny pinch to stewed pears and apples or to your gingerbread latte will do the trick. 

We don't recommend eating tons of sugary baked goods, but if you do choose to bake this holiday season, cut out some of the sugar and add a pinch of cloves. Cloves have been shown to help regulate blood sugar in individuals by increasing the secretion of insulin and improving the function of the cells that produce insulin.

 

Find cloves in these yummy chai teas: Joint Support, Detox Chai

 

 

5. Cardamom

Cardamom has an intense flavor that has a slightly sweet note that some compare to mint. It can be used in both sweet and savory recipes. Cardamom is a precious spice that is both refreshing and awakening. It’s related to both ginger and turmeric, and provides similar benefits to digestion. Cardamom has also been shown to protect the liver, reduce anxiety and promote healthy blood sugar levels.

 

Incorporate cardamom teas into your holiday season: Joint Support, Bye Bye Bloat

 

Enjoy a Healthy Holiday Season

The holidays are a perfect opportunity to bring more intention and nourishment into your rituals. Spices like cinnamon, ginger, star anise, cloves, and cardamom do more than make your kitchen smell amazing; they support digestion, calm inflammation, and help your body feel balanced during a season that tends to be anything but balanced.

Whether you sprinkle these spices into your baking, simmer them into your meals, or brew them into your daily tea, each one adds a comforting layer of wellness to your holiday routine. And if you want to enjoy these healing spices in the easiest and most delicious way, reach for teas that already include them in perfectly balanced blends.

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you have an amazing holiday season full of laughs, memories and delicious chai.

If you liked this, check out How To Avoid Feeling Bloated and Puffy During The Holidays

 

Disclaimer: The information on this website has been compiled from published sources and is provided only as a guide. While every effort has been taken to ensure that information published on this site is correct and up to date, this is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any illness. Also, although all of our teas are generally regarded as safe, please consult your doctor before trying any herbal remedies, especially if currently using medication, pregnant or breastfeeding.