Spices aren't just good for heating up your favourite curry dish or adding a taste bud tingling oomph to your food - they are also packed with excellent health-boosting agents too.
These disease-battling spices not only fight inflammation, curb hunger and keep your gut happy, but they help maintain your overall health - not to mention injecting a touch of vibrant colour to your dinner plate.
Take a look at our round-up of the best spices that keep you feeling fiery.
10 Ways To Spice Up Your Life
10 Ways To Spice Up Your Life(01 of11)
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Cinnamon(02 of11)
Cinnamon isn't just a great way to sweeten up your pastry or morning coffee, it also has great weight-loss properties, too. According to a recent study by Diabetes Care, a simple teaspoon of cinnamon a day rapidly reduces blood sugar levels, as well as cholesterol by 26%, meaning it helps protect against diabetes, weight-gain and cardiovascular disease. (credit:Flickr:S. Diddy)
Paprika(03 of11)
Hot and spicy paprika contains capsaicin, whose anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects may lower the risk of cancer (also found in cayenne and red chili peppers). (credit:Alamy)
Black Pepper(04 of11)
The staple in all our kitchen cupboards, black pepper contains piperine component (which creates its pungent taste) as well as boosting the metabolism by as much as 8% for sveral hours after ingesting. Freshly ground pepper packs the most piperine. (credit:Alamy)
Mustard Seeds(05 of11)
These spicy-tasting mustard seed not only pack a punch on your taste buds, but helps boost the metabolism. This helps the body burn fat quicker - by up to 25% and around 45 calories per average meal. According to a recent study by Oxford Polytechnic Institute, the mustard seed's thermogenic property is best as burning off the fat. (credit:Alamy)
Cayenne(06 of11)
The main ingredient in the cayenne pepper is capsaicin, which is known for its fat-burning abilities and thermogenic properties. These stimulate the central nervous system to produce heat in the body, that goes onto increase calorie burning. A recent study featured in the Journal of Obesity found that these type of spices increase fat oxidation, which ramps up energy and stimulates the nervous system - all beneficial to helping the body shed weight. (credit:Flickr:blumenbiene)
Turmeric(07 of11)
Thanks to its preventative and curative ingredient, curcumin, a rich anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, turmeric is best at reducing inflammation in the muscles and joints. This spice is also believed to be a great breast cancer-preventing food and is more effective than over-the-counter pain killers, like aspirin and ibuprofen, according to the American Institute for Vedic Studies. (credit:Alamy)
Coriander(08 of11)
According to the Digestive Disease and Science, coriander rapidly decreases the painful symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Coriander contains an anti-spasmodic agent that helps relax contracted digestive muscles, which cause stomach cramps. It's also good at relaxing the artery, which subsequently helps lower blood pressure. (credit:Alamy)
Fennel Seeds(09 of11)
Fennel can be classed as a vegetable, herb or spice but whatever you label it, it's anti-inflammatory agents provide pain relief for menstrual cramps. Fennel contains a liquorice-tasting oil called anethole and phytoestrogen, an oestrogen-like compound. This is proven to reduce menstrual cramps and is as strong as an over-the-counter ibuprofen. (credit:Alamy)
Ginger(10 of11)
Ginger has long been used as a spice which helps ease all types of nausea. Previous studies from the University of Michigan and National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, found that ginger reduces the release of vasopressin - the key hormone that plays a role in motion sickness. Ginger also has great gastric mobility abilities, and aids healthy digestion. (credit:Alamy)
Oregano(11 of11)
Oregano is a major source of thymol and carvacol - two antibacterial agents that fight off infection. It's also packed with super strength anti-oxidants, so much so, it has quadruple the amount of antioxidants found in blueberries. (credit:Alamy)