Antioxidants are like bodyguards for your health. They are tiny substances in plant-based foods that help your body defend against harmful free radicals. These free radicals are connected to health issues such as diabetes and cancer.
HOW DO ANTIOXIDANTS WORK?
In the process of generating energy, your body produces “free radicals” as by products. While our body produce antioxidants to fight these free radicals, we also need to consume them to avoid a deficit. For every 1800 calories per day, you should aim for at least 8,000 units. If you’re eating closer to 2500 calories per day, you want at least 11,000 units.
When free radicals outnumber the antioxidants in your body – your body comes under oxidative stress and the antioxidant units required increases.
The oxidative stress can occur due to the following reasons:
- Air pollution
- Lack of sleep
- Cigarette smoke
- Alcohol intake
- High blood sugar levels
- High intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids
- Bacterial, Fungal, or Viral infections
Prolonged period of oxidative stress has been linked with:
- Rapid ageing
- Diabetes
- Hardening of the blood vessels
- Autoimmune diseases – Rheumatoid Arthritis, Type 1 Diabetes etc.
- High blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s
- Cancer
BEST SOURCES OF ANTIOXIDANTS
Although various foods, such as fruits and nuts, possess antioxidant properties, spices and herbs stand out for their rich content of flavonoids and polyphenols, providing a thousand times more antioxidants than nuts and fruits. Incorporating just a few grams of spices into your daily diet is sufficient to meet your antioxidant needs and can work wonders for your health.
Did you know: Antioxidants in 5 grams of turmeric = 150 g of pomegranate arils
Here’s a graph demonstrating the comparing the antioxidant levels among fruits, nuts, and spices :
A few antioxidants-rich spices that you could use to spice up your health this winter are:
However, the quality of antioxidants and the culinary and health benefits provided by spices depend on various factors including origin, processing, and packaging.
WHY PLANIT SPICES
- Best Origin: Planit spices are high-grade spices sourced from the single best origin. These origins have a history of thousands of years and offer the most suitable climate to produce spices rich in antioxidants, providing a taste experience in their purest form, unique to that particular environment.
- Cold-Grounded in Small Batches: Spices are rich in volatile compounds that offer multiple health and culinary benefits. These compounds can be destroyed even at moderately high temperatures. All Planit spices are cold-grounded in small batches to preserve the maximum flavor and aroma.
- Signature Blends: Our Signature Blend range is the result of years of experimentation by expert chefs. These formulations are inspired by masala recipes used in the royal kitchens of Persian, Mughal, and Awadh emperors. Naturally, our spice blends feature more ingredients. For instance, our garam masala boasts 23 spices, compared to the 11 found in mass-produced brands. We not only include spices of the highest quality but also incorporate forgotten and hidden gems like paan ki jad, Chandan powder, and saffron to deliver an authentic spice experience.
- Honestly Priced: Planit masalas get used in minuscule quantities and punch above their weight in terms of the flavor they add to our dishes and the benefits they deliver to our bodies. Due to this, our masalas give you double the servings than mass brand masala and cost far less. Here’s a comparison of our Planit’s Garam Masala vs Mass brand Garam Masala.
- Packaging: Our spices are packed in dark, resealable packs that protect the spices from sunlight and moisture, preserving their properties.
A great spice blend offers you the best of both worlds - flavor and health. Don't compromise on either benefit by settling for mass-manufactured products!