Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend

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Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend combines all the fabulous flavors we associate with fall.  All the fabulous flavor with anti-inflammatory health properties to boot! Use Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend anywhere you would use pumpkin pie spice.

I have to say, I kept procrastinating writing this post. Not because I was concerned about the recipe, its effects, safety, or flavor. I just couldn’t figure out what to call it!

You see, I have always called this my ACV Cider Mix. When I first started incorporating more natural remedies into my life, I started with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). ♥I Love ACV!♥ I would heat water then mix it with honey and ACV. Everywhere you look on Pinterest, someone has a recipe for an ACV drink. Some with lemon, cinnamon, etc. Along the way, my super fabulous hair stylist, Danielle, had shared the blend she uses to combat inflammation and that formed the basis of my recipe. So Thank You Danielle for the inspiration!!!

So, as I learned more about anti-inflammatory foods, herbs, and spices, I decided to try mixing up a blend of spices that would be healthful for my body and might taste good. Wow! My experiments were awesome! This spice mix made my simple ACV and honey taste extremely reminiscent to hot apple cider!!! As a diabetic, I don’t get to have juice any more, let alone hot apple cider! Yum! My “medicine” just got a lot tastier. Hence the ACV Cider Mix name. However….

I’m not really using this in my ACV anymore. Partly because its been summer, so who wants Hot ACV Cider in the middle of July? Also, I have been cutting back on the sugar even more as I combat Candida Overgrowth. Now, I’m just mixing one tablespoon of vinegar in about 6-8 oz of water and gulping it down. (I do mean gulping, too. Better to just get it over and done with! Like a bandaid.)

Okay, so, what am I using the Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend on now?

Now, just because I haven’t been drinking ACV Cider, doesn’t mean that I have been letting my Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Mix just sit on the shelf gathering dust.  Nope! Not this girl.

Primarily, I am using the Fall Spice Blend on gluten free toast with almond butter.

Say, Wha??????

Yep. You heard me right! Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend is the bomb on toast with nut butter!!! In fact, when I run out, I get a little pouty about it! I’ve been known to hurry up and mix up a batch first thing in the morning just so I can have my toast. Good thing its so easy to make. This is super impressive since I usually haven’t had my coffee yet!!! 😉

Gluten free toast with Almond Butter and Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend. Yum! Breakfast of champions 🙂

Okay, where on earth did you get the idea to put the Fall Spice Blend on your toast?

So, little story time. 😉

I was telling my friend Ami about the ACV Cider blend (with turmeric) that I had been using in my ACV. She told me she loves Turmeric and has always put it on peanut butter toast with honey. I have to confess, I thought she was totally CRAZY!

But… the thought kept swirling through my head. About three or four days later, I decided to try the Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend on some peanut butter toast. What did I have to lose? If it was gross, I could throw away the toast and make some more, right? OMG!!! It was totally awesome!

Now, I eat Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend Almond Butter toast every single day!

Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend Ingredients

I like to buy my ingredients in bulk (see the bags) and reuse old spice containers.

Spices and herbs can be expensive. I buy most of my herbs and spices at Natural Grocers in their bulk section. Typically folks with food allergies/sensitivities should avoid bulk due to the potential for cross contamination but Natural Grocers packages their bulk in resealable baggies. The price is WAY more reasonable. I like to reuse old spice jars. I also really like these little jars-I use them for spices I use a lot. Like this Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend!

So, lets chat for a minute about the health benefits of these spices in our Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend:

Turmeric

Turmeric is that yellow spice that you find in curry. The curcuminoids in Turmeric, specifically curcumin, is a strong antioxidant and has strong anti-inflammatory effects on the body. There is a whole host of conditions that Turmeric can help with from Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, Crohn’s to headache’s, colds, fibromyalgia, depression, lupus, kidney problems and many more. (Source)

Cinnamon

Most everyone is familiar with cinnamon but you may not be aware of its anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant effects or potential to lower blood sugar in Diabetics or reduce insulin resistance, may help cut the risk of heart disease, cholesterol and blood pressure, or even treat fungal or bacterial infections. (Source)

Ginger

Most people have heard about some of the health benefits of ginger. Ginger also has very strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on the body. Ginger has a long history of use for nausea, sea-sickness, and overall digestive issues. My husband uses candied ginger for tummy aches. Ginger can also lower blood sugar and improve heart disease risk factors. I really enjoy making an infusion of ginger then using it with black tea, honey, a cinnamon stick, and lemon I’m feeling sickly. Ginger can also assist with menstrual cycles, reduce cholesterol, improve brain function and may help prevent certain cancers. Overall, ginger is quite the powerhouse and it tastes great too! (source)

Cloves

There are a whole host of potential applications for cloves such as pain, toothache, dry socket (after tooth extraction), upset stomach, nausea, gas, diarrhea, hernia, inflammation, and cough. Clove may also help lower blood sugar in Diabetics. Most people have heard of using clove oil for gum/tooth pain but not any of the other potential uses for clove. As with most natural ingredients, there are a lack of scientific data to support the use of clove but anecdotal evidence exists for hundreds of years. Personally, I just like the taste 😉 (Source 1) (Source 2)

Nutmeg

Nutmeg also has a host of potential applications medically. It can help detoxify the body, improve brain health, pain relief, promote digestion, assist with oral health, treat insomnia, and help fight leukemia. Fun fact about nutmeg, it is one of two spices that grown on an evergreen tree known as common nutmeg. The tree produces nutmeg a seed and the dried reddish hull of the seed is known as mace. Isn’t that cool? Honestly, when I made this blend, I didn’t know any of these facts about nutmeg. I just thought it would taste good in the blend and it DOES! (Source)

Black Pepper

Black pepper seems like a super weird addition to the Anti-inflammatory Fall Spice Blend but it is totally in there for a reason. Our bodies have a hard time actually absorbing and using the curcumin in turmeric. In order for our body to actually use the beneficial compounds we need to either add piperine or healthy fat. Although, I can’t stand pepper (gasp!), it is a necessary component of the blend. Feel free to adjust the amount to your liking but if you want to get any health benefits from the spice make sure to include it. (Source)

A funnel makes it easier to fill your jar with your Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend.

Notes on using Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend

I believe in using a holistic approach to incorporating healthy foods into our diet. When I can, I try to slip in extra healthy ingredients in my cooking. Like adding parsnips, zucchini, and squash to soups or adding in some chia and flax seeds into yogurt parfaits. That said, you would have to consume a fairly large amount of this blend to get the full daily “doses” for these spices. However, I believe that every little bit counts so if I can slip in some ACV, honey, and anti-inflammatory spices into my day then Woohoo! 🙂

If you are looking to use these spices in a medicinal way, I would look for supplements, tinctures, etc as an easier method to consuming medicinal quantities. Of course, you would want to consult your medical professional as there are some medical conditions and medications that might be contraindicated for high quantities of some of these spices. As mentioned before, I am not a medical professional nor pretend to be one. I’m just a regular gal trying to be more healthy and live more naturally.

Other Uses for Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend

So, where else can you use Anti-inflammatory Fall Spice Blend?

• Use Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice blend anywhere you would use pumpkin pie spice.
• Breads, cookies,and baked goods. I used the Fall Spice Blend in some gluten free banana bread recently and it was AMAZING! (Note: the husband and son, who regularly turn up their nose at my ACV Cider, thought the Banana Bread was awesome!)
• Try using Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend in the crunchy topping for fruit crisps or cobblers.
• Fall Spice Hot Toddy. Mix Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend with lemon, Myers Dark Rum, honey and hot water. Nothing warms you up better on a cold, wet day. Yum!
• ACV Cider

Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend

Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend combines all the fabulous flavors we associate with fall.   All the fabulous flavor with anti-inflammatory healthy properties to boot!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Total Time 5 mins

Course Condiments Spices and Sauces

Ingredients

  

• 1 Tablespoon Turmeric, ground
• 1 Tablespoon Ginger, ground
• 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon, ground
• 1 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg, ground
• 1 1/2 teaspoon Cloves, ground
• 1/16 teaspoon Black Pepper, ground

Instructions

 

• In a clean spice jar, combine all ingredients.
• Shake to combine. Enjoy!!!

Notes

A funnel is really helpful when combining your mixture in the spice jar!

Further Reading about the ingredients in Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend

• 10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric
• Healthline 10 Proven health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin
• Healthline 10 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Cinnamon
• Healthline 11 Proven Health Benefits of Ginger
• MedlinePlus Clove
• Organic Facts 13 Surprising Benefits of Cloves
• Organic Facts 9 Surprising Benefits of Nutmeg
• NutritionFacts.org Why Pepper Boosts Turmeric Blood Levels

Now that it is October, my hot ACV Cider sounds so much more appealing. In fact, in the process of writing this post and taking pics, I made up a cup of hot ACV Cider. Yum! I think I just fell in love again as I am sitting here drinking it. 😉

I hope you love this Anti-Inflammatory Fall Spice Blend.  Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions.  If you try this recipe, please snap a pic and share on Instagram #naturallyliz

~Naturally yours~

Liz