According to the World Health Organization “Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. Mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life.
If you like spice, you are most likely familiar with the cayenne pepper. This long, thin red pepper is a member of the Solanaceae family whose peppers run from mild to super-hot. This family includes sweet bell peppers, jalapenos, serranoes and the notoriously hot ghost peppers.
Tumeric is a spice that belongs to the ginger family. It is native to SE Asia and has been used in India for thousands of years as a spice enhancing the flavor of many foods. It has also been used for many health reasons especially with problems with digestion, skin, and joints.
As a child, whenever I would have an upset stomach, my mother would give me ginger ale and soda crackers. I never realized, growing up, that it was the ginger in the ginger ale, that helped me recover. As an adult, I have kept ginger ale in my refrigerator, to have if I was nauseous, seasick, or just felt like by digestive system needed a boost.
Did you know that garlic dates back almost 3,000 years? Yes, that is right. Cloves of garlic were found in King Tut’s tomb. Medical texts from the ancient civilizations of India, Rome, Greece, Egypt, and China mention garlic.
What makes garlic beneficial to your health?