When it comes to food, the more flavourful, the better and what makes it even tastier is when the flavour flav comes with benefits. Welcome to the power of spices. We’ve created a list of some must have spices you need in your pantry to help you grow and glow and some scrumptious recipes to go along with them. Whether you’re in the mood for salty or sweet, it’s never a bad idea to sprinkle in some self-love to keep your wellness journey moving along beautifully.

Here’s some of our favourite spices:

Cinnamon:

This one reminds us of all of the cozies and comes with some seriously impactful benefits. It contains anti-inflammatory heal plus antioxidants and antimicrobial properties to fight harmful agents, illnesses and diseases in the body.

Cinnamon Recipe:

Healthified Apple Crisp from Minimalist Baker

Image from Minimalist Baker 

Garlic:

We love it for it’s great taste and here’s why we love it even more. We said love since it’s great for protecting your heart to fight against potential diseases and improves your heart/ cardiovascular health.

Garlic Recipe:

Cilantro-Lime-Garlic Cashew Cream from Oh She Glows

Image from Oh She Glows

Ginger:

Known for it’s little bit of kick, ginger is an ideal spice for when you to speed up the healing of a cold and to combat nausea. It’s also an amazing natural way to beat heartburn by clearing your stomach quicker and reducing inflammation.

Ginger Recipe:

Vegan Gingerbread Trifle from hot for food

Image from hot for food 

Turmeric:

Bright just like it’s benefits, turmeric if filled with power. It’s well known for it’s anti-inflammatory properties that helps decrease pain that comes from inflammation in various parts of your body and helps soothe discomfort.

Turmeric Recipe:

Coconut Brown Rice from Living Lou

Image from Living Lou

There’s tons of reasons to love salads, from the benefits to nice colours and of course the great flavours. The one item that always brings that extra touch to your salad is the dressing and there’s endless ways to create them. Dressing are great because it can take a plain salad to the next level to make it a lot more enjoyable. They themselves bring in their own benefits because they’re made with nutrient rich ingredients.

Benefits of popular salad dressings ingredients include:

• Lemon/ Lime: filled with immune boosting properties while it helps cleans and detoxify
• Olive Oil: loaded anti-inflammatory ingredients that help your blood flow smoothly
• Garlic: helps you fight off colds and flus from it’s powerful antibacterial elements
• Apple Cider Vinegar: contributes to a healthy digestion while bringing a skin and hair glow

We’ve put together a list of 5 salad dressings that are promised to add a flavour boost to whatever greens you have in your bowl. Feel free to switch up the ingredients to something similar or even altering between fresh and dry herbs, depending on what you have around. They’re all super easy to make!

Sweet And Spicy Almond Lime Dressing from Running on Real Food

Bring an asian inspired taste to your greens with this dressing that hits tons of different flavour points in just one bite.

Ingredients:

• 5 tbsp almond butter
• 1 tbsp packed fresh cilantro
• 1/8 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 3 large cloves garlic, peeled
• 2 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 3 tbsp water

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a high-powered blender or food processor and mix well.
2. Makes approximately 1 cup.

Mustard Dill Vinaigrette from hot for food

Switch up your typical dressing to this tangy mix of fresh dill and zesty mustard.

• 1/3 C cold-pressed olive oil
• 2 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1 tsp agave nectar
• 1/8 C fresh dill fronds
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Directions:

1. If you want a really creamy dressing, use a blender to combine all the ingredients. You could also just whisk this together or shake everything up in a jar. If you aren’t using a blender, be sure to finely chop the fresh dill before adding it to the rest of the ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to serve the salad.

Oil Free Green Goddess Salad Dressing from This Healthy Kitchen

Basil meets creaminess with this oil free dressing that’s filled with healthy fats from avocados.

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon Dijon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon pure maple syrup or honey
• 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions: 

1. In a small glass jar, combine Dijon, salt, maple syrup, vinegar, and lemon juice. Finely chop garlic or grate with a microplane and add to the jar. Top with lid and shake well.
2. Add poppy seeds and olive oil, cover and shake well. Refrigerate until ready to use. May keep up to three weeks if kept chilled.