Al-Hadeeqah Holistic Awareness

The "star" of the infamous five-spice, a mixture popular in Chinese cuisine; star anise is an aromatic dried fruit of an evergreen Magnolia tree. You can find it growing in warm subtropical climates of its native land of southern China and northeast Vietnam. Today, it is cultivated in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. It is described as sweet and often equated to the taste of licorice. It is said to be slightly more bitter than this commonly-confused herb known as common anise (or anise seed). Both share a similar flavor profile due to an organic compound called anethole, which is responsible for the licorice-like taste. [ 1 ,2] Health Benefits Star anise has wonderful benefits surrounding immunity health and fighting off viral infections. It can also help prevent cellular damage in the body by providing it with antioxidants like vitamin C (which also assists with immunity). It can help prevent the flu, not only with the mentioned antioxidant qualities but ...

Upon hearing the word 'mustard', the first thought that may come to mind is that bright yellow paste trailed on many comfort foods. Before it has become the popular condiment that people have come to know and love, however, it starts out as something a bit more humble: the mustard seed. Mustard seeds come from pods that are produced by a flowering plant that can grow up to 6½ feet tall. Today they are commonly grown in several countries: Canada, Hungary, U.S, India, and Britain. It is related to other great veggies such as collards, Brussel sprouts, and cabbages. These are all part of the Brassica family. Out of the 40 different species of mustard, only three types are typically used: Black, Brown, and White mustard. Each of these having different roots as mentioned by Dr. Mercola on his website: Black mustard (Brassica nigra) :  This plant produces black mustard seeds and are revered in the Middle East and Asia Minor, where they are originally fro...

Belonging to the Apiaceae family (relative to parsley and fennel), the dried fruit of the caraway is a pungent spice with origins in Central Europe. It is a common sight in rye bread and meat dishes in many cuisines especially throughout Eastern Europe. [ 1 , 2 ] It has popularity in North Africa; where it is used in a common chilli paste called Harissa (recipe below) Because of its appearance, caraway "seeds" are commonly confused with anise and fennel seeds. All of these are related, with many similarities, but each offers their own set of flavor and health benefits.                                Anise Seeds                                                               Fennel Seeds      Health Benefits...

Gathered from the Cilantro plant, coriander seed is a staple in many cuisines across the globe. Its origins are not entirely clear, some saying that it is originally native to China whilst others claim its roots began in India. What is apparent is the appreciation of its flavor. You can experience it in soups, curries or even some desserts. This aromatic spice makes an excellent addition to any spice cabinet. Benefits: Menstrual Support One of coriander's highlighted benefits is its support for healthy menstrual function. It helps regulation by stimulating endocrine gland function, in turn, maintaining the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. This also assists in reducing pain, discomfort, and excessive flow during this time. [ 1 ] HBP & HBS These seeds are also known to help in 2 of the most prominent health issues in the states: high blood pressure and high blood sugar.[ 2, 3 ] Due to this, it is told to those who actually...

Black and Green Cardamom The aromatic "Queen of Spices" native to southern India, is ranked as the most expensive spice after vanilla and saffron. Prized for its inciting flavor, cardamon is a popular ingredient in both curries and spice mixes throughout Southern Asia and the Middle East. Its versatile flavor profile makes it an easy star in both sweet and savory dishes.  This ancient spice has quite a history dating back at least 4,000 years.  Chewing the pods to keep the breath fresh was a practice of the ancient Egyptians whereas the ancient Greeks and Romans once used cardamom as the main ingredient in aromatic oils and perfumes. [ 1 , 2 ] Benefits Being delicious and aromatic is just the tip of the iceberg for cardamom.  We see that chewing the pods for clean breath was an early method of usage; achieved by the antimicrobial properties contained in it. This particular property is very useful as it does not inhibit the life and growth of healthy bacter...

                      Photo Credit: Bunchofgrapes This common household spice had an amazing journey through history. Native to southern India, Black pepper has made its way to many different tribes and countries by trade. It is actually dubbed "one the most traded spices in the world". This once highly prized spice had set explorers seeking its pungent flavor across the seas as it was an expensive item at the time. How expensive? Roughly 500 years ago, it was worth its own weight in gold and used as currency in some areas.  It was the symbol of fine cookery and whoever had an abundance of it in his possession was considered wealthy. [ 1 , 2 ] Cultivation Photo Credit: Devadaskrishnan Whole black peppercorns that we purchase at a grocery store are dried fruits of a flowering plant that can grow up to 33ft tall. They start off as green berries bunched much like grapes and are picked when they are jus...

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Backstory of Cinnamon There are over 250 identified species of cinnamon, but only two commonly used varieties. The most popular and cheaper kind is called Cassia (Chinese cinnamon) which is grown in Southern China. Its more expensive and rarer relative grown in Thailand and Sri Lanka is Ceylon. With both having similar health benefits, Ceylon is said to have the upper hand due to the lack of a compound called coumarin. This compound has been linked to liver issues when consumed in large doses. Consequently, it is recommended for one who wishes to supplement with cinnamon to do so with Ceylon. [ 1 ] Some of its Health benefits Whether using Cassia or Ceylon, Cinnamon contains effective healing properties such as immune stimulation and anti-inflammation. One of the most popular is controlling blood sugar. In one study, patients who were utilizing cinnamon (cassia) have shown to have a reduction in fasting blood glucose levels. [ 2 ] It also contain...