Enjoying Indian Cuisine: Exotic spices with healing benefits

The exhuberant Indian festival of Diwali, which takes place from October 26th through 30th this year, is a great chance to explore the healing benefits of Indian cuisine.

Although "Indian Cuisine" really includes dozens of distinct regional styles of cooking, there are certain spices that we associate specifically with Indian food.  Turmeric (the main ingredient in curry), ginger, cumin, cinnamon, coriander, mustard, and pepper are the most familiar of the classic Indian spices. But as anyone who has ever attempted to cook Indian food at home, the list of "essential" spices can be  quite long! (More on Indian cooking and spices.)

Spices do more than just flavor foods. in the Ayurvedic tradition, spices also balance and heal the body ; food is a big part of the healing arts. In the Western tradition, research has confirmed that many spices have potent biological activity. To list just a few:

• Turmeric (the main ingredient in curry) has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, comparable to the effects of hydrocortisone.  It's effective in reducing symptoms of irritable bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. It's also a potent antioxidant and has cancer-preventive properties.
• Ginger is also a potent anti-inflammatory, acting through the same biological mechanism as the COX-2 inhibitors like Vioxx--but without the deadly side effects. Ginger is also an anti-coagulant, which helps keep the blood from forming clots and also soothes irritated stomachs and nausea.
• Cinnamon helps lower blood sugar levels by making cells more sensitive to insulin (similar to the action of antidiabetic drugs).

Because many Indians are vegetarians, Indian restaurants are also a safe haven for vegetarians, who will find plenty to choose from on almost any Indian menu. 

A word of caution

Some Indian food, especially in restuarants, can be extremely high in fat.  To avoid eating too many calories, watch out for fried foods (like samosas or pakoras) and dishes with creamy sauces, like my favorite, Saag Paneer (creamed spinach with cheese cubes).

Eat slowly so that your body has a chance to signal your brain that it is full before you eat too much.  And, as many Indian restaurants offer buffets, keep in mind that the more different dishes you sample, the more you are likely to eat.  Choose a few favorites to savor and leave the rest for your next visit. (More tips for choosing healthy Indian food.)

Plan your own Diwali celebration this year

To sample the best of Indian cuisine and culture, look for Diwali celebrations in your area. (The White House will be celebrating Diwali, but it's probably hard to get tickets!).  I couldn't find any centralized listing of Diwali celebrations around the world but found several local events by googling "Diwali" and my city.

Or, plan your own celebration with some of these great recipes on our sister site Epicurious.com

Indian Spiced Carrot Soup with Ginger   (See ND's nutritional analysis)

Indian Shrimp Curry (See ND's nutritional analysis)

Curry Dusted Scallops with Pea Puree (See ND's nutritional analysis)

Happy Diwali!