Official Review: Discover the Incredible Health Benefits ...

PashaRu · Post by **PashaRu** » 06 May 2015, 10:50

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Discover the Incredible Health Benefits of Adding Spices to your Diet" by Rita S Custer.]

3 out of 4 stars

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In the western world, people often approach health care with a “There’s-a-pill-for-that” kind of mentality. Western medicine is largely reactive, not preventative. Live an unhealthy lifestyle and when something breaks, get it fixed. Because doctors can do anything. Because nothing is impossible these days. Tiny, seemingly magic pills or capsules with nondescript powder in them, taken in certain dosages, will bring about a cure. No effort is required. No understanding of your physiology is needed. Science has rendered that redundant.

Rita S. Custer doesn’t think so. She clearly believes in the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And she highlights a very simple and easy way to do this, in literal ounces: incorporate spices into your diet. In her work Discover the Incredible Health Benefits of Adding Spices to Your Diet, she discusses five different spices, their basic properties, and how they can contribute to overall better health. (I hesitate to refer to this as a book, as there is no publisher, no date of publication, etc., and – in the pdf format in which I received it – it is 19 pages.)

The players in this essay (let’s use that term, shall we?) are turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and fennel. Each spice is discussed separately in its own “chapter.” The author has a good knowledge of each spice, explaining the properties of each one. For example, turmeric is from the root of the curcuma longa plant. “Its skin is deep brown, while the interior of the curcuma longa root is bright orange. When turmeric is dried and ground, it is the orange interior flesh that lends the yellowish color to all the foods that this spice is placed in.” Cinnamon bark contains oils, and the three components found in these oils bring health benefits: cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamyl acetate, and cinnamaldehyde. Cloves also contain essential oils and are rich in antiseptic properties. Fennel contains phytonutrients, which give it impressive antioxidant properties.

Each chapter covers the spice itself, the specific health benefits that can be derived from it, and the best way to buy it. Spices sold in grocery stores are often not in the most potent form and do not bring maximum benefit. For example, cinnamon is best when purchased in its original form – as bark – and ground at home. Whole cloves are better than ground cloves, but if the ground form is purchased, it’s best to get it in specialty or ethnic stores. When buying fennel, “choose bulbs that are bright, solid, firm and clean. They should be green or bright white in color…If the stalks have any flowering buds, this means that the fennel is past its prime and should not be purchased.” There are also a few simple recipes/ideas about how to incorporate spices into one’s diet, and precautions concerning amounts (spices in their original form are much more potent, and could adversely affect preexisting health conditions or react with medications if too much is ingested).

There is an interesting discussion of bioavailability, that is, how much of the food or nutrient will actually be available for absorption and use by the body. For example, since turmeric has a very low bioavailability as a standalone spice, it is recommended that black pepper be added, which significantly increases this particular property of the turmeric.

I found this to be very interesting and informative. The information is presented clearly and logically, and it is a good start for anyone who desires to adopt a spice regimen for better overall health and well-being. There is good, specific information and recommendations for those suffering from specific ailments such as age-related inflammation, arthritis, diabetes, Candida, sexual dysfunction, nausea, joint pain, and blood pressure, to name a few. A few typographical and punctuation errors are sprinkled throughout, including the unfortunate and consistent misspelling of the word "turmeric." This is akin to referring to "Atticus Fink" throughout the whole of To Kill a Mockingbird. It is hoped that the author will correct this.

The scope of this work is necessarily limited by both page count and the number of spices actually discussed – five. If one wishes to adopt a more thorough and effective spice regimen, more information will probably be needed. But what it does, it does well, and reflects an in-depth knowledge of the spices discussed. This is not a “Wow, I can’t believe how amazing that was!” piece of work, but I found it to be well written and informative. I am quite comfortable giving Discover the Incredible Health Benefits of Adding Spices to Your Diet three out of four stars. I recommend this to anyone who is (or wants to be) conscious of eating healthy and/or interested in proper nutrition and natural treatments and remedies.

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Discover the Incredible Health Benefits of Adding Spices to your Diet
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Gravy · Post by **Gravy** » 06 May 2015, 16:50

Nice review.

Maybe she'll expound on it with more spices...
And add herbs.
Very interesting subject.

PashaRu · Post by **PashaRu** » 06 May 2015, 16:56

Thanks, Gravy! I agree, it's a subject I'd like to know more about.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 06 May 2015, 22:39

Great review!

I have my dad taking 1 or 2 grams of cinnamon a day for his blood sugar.

I take low-grade lutein when I remember to, because macular degeneration runs in my family.

I'm aware that turmeric fights cancer, so I occasionally take a turmeric supplement or put some on my Laura's Lean hamburger.

I'm guessing I wouldn't learn too much from this book?

gali · Post by **gali** » 06 May 2015, 23:36

Thank you for the lovely and detailed review.

Post by **bookowlie** » 07 May 2015, 00:06

Wonderful review. It's too bad the author didn't expand the book to include more spices, as Gravy mentioned.

You made my evening with the Atticus Fink analogy.

SimonPhillips · Post by **SimonPhillips** » 07 May 2015, 00:19

Vey good, I agree that Asian herbs are as good for you as any other.

PashaRu · Post by **PashaRu** » 07 May 2015, 06:05

Thanks for the comments!

zeldas_lullaby wrote: I'm guessing I wouldn't learn too much from this book?

For its length, it's actually quite substantive. The main take-away is which particular health benefits can be derived from the spices under discussion. If you already have a pretty good knowledge of that, the rest of the information is interesting but not essential.

bookowlie wrote:You made my evening with the Atticus Fink analogy.

Haha, I even made myself chuckle with that.

TammyO · Post by **TammyO** » 07 May 2015, 11:42

Nice review Pasha. Although it doesn't seem to be a mind-blowing read, it sounds really interesting. One could possibly come away with a new discovery.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 07 May 2015, 11:53

I've actually wanted to write a similar book with all the info I've acquired about supplements, including spices. I don't know if I'm miffed that this author beat me to the punch or that she wrote nineteen pages and called it a book. Either way, to be completely honest, I'm peeved. But not with you, PashaRu.

PashaRu · Post by **PashaRu** » 07 May 2015, 12:57

zeldas_lullaby wrote:I've actually wanted to write a similar book with all the info I've acquired about supplements, including spices. I don't know if I'm miffed that this author beat me to the punch or that she wrote nineteen pages and called it a book. Either way, to be completely honest, I'm peeved. But not with you, PashaRu.

Well, there is no law that says you can't write a book, too. I bet you'd inject your own brand of humor, too. I'd read it. I'd even review it!

At any rate, I'm glad you're not peeved with me. Whew.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 07 May 2015, 13:48

HA HA HA HA.... No, I'm just being crabby. Sorry about that.

I would love for you to review something of mine someday! Likewise, if you're an author.

PashaRu · Post by **PashaRu** » 07 May 2015, 15:01

Crabby-funny is okay. Crabby-nasty isn't.

You're okay.

I'm not talented enough to be an author, unfortunately.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 07 May 2015, 15:36

I'm not crabby-nasty, am I? (Heavens, I'm almost afraid to ask. I have been feeling a little down the past few days. And now my kitten is missing, on top of that.) Trust me, I can be crabby-nasty, but I always feel bad and apologize. 'Cause it's not in line with who I want to be.

Now, I find that hard to believe, PashaRu. Not talented enough to be an author?? Yeah, right.

I won't press you on it, but I really do find it hard to believe.

PashaRu · Post by **PashaRu** » 07 May 2015, 15:46

No, you always seem to be able to find some humor in the situation.

Sorry about your kitten.

My problem with writing (I actually love to write) is that it's difficult for me to come up with a story with a good arc and conclusion. Give me a story and I'll write it. I just have trouble manufacturing ideas. Any pointers?