A recent Third Age newsletter discusses the medicinal impact of common spices, citing Victoria Zak’s book “The Magic Teaspoon.” For instance:

* A diet rich in cayenne-spiced chili can protect against the formation of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.

* When you add a teaspoon of cinnamon to contaminated apple juice, the E. coli can be reduced as much as 99.5 percent in three days.

* Oregano is an anti-oxidant.

* Rosemary has phytochemicals that can help in the treatment of arthritis.

* Turmeric is an antioxidant that can protect against cancer, lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and increase insulin sensitivity.

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