Today’s Solutions: December 05, 2025

Turmeric tends to get all the attention when it comes to anti-inflammatory spices, but don’t overlook these five other spices that functional food expert Kanchan Koya Ph.D. touts as her favorites for fighting off inflammation.

Cayenne

Cayenne is a great choice for spicy food lovers, as it will certainly add a bit of bite to your dish along with anti-inflammatory power. This hot spice is also a great source of phytonutrients, as well as potassium and magnesium.

Black pepper

If you want to max out the benefits of turmeric, then black pepper is key. As nutritional psychiatrist Uma Naidoo, M.D., tells mindbodygreen, black pepper “enhances the absorption of curcumin 20-fold,” which is turmeric’s active compound. That said, the active ingredient in black pepper, piperine, has also been linked to fighting inflammation, so grind that fresh black pepper onto your dish for some extra anti-inflammation action.

Sumac

Sumac may not have a deep-rooted history in the West, however, it’s been used in Eastern cultures for centuries. This may be because it’s a rich source of phytonutrients as well as antioxidant compounds, both of which have anti-inflammatory properties.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg brings thoughts of winter holidays cozying up next to the fireplace, but you should really be using it year-round for its anti-inflammatory compounds called monoterpenes, specifically sabinene, terpineol, and pinene.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is also widely known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, but according to Koya, you should be careful about which kind of cinnamon you use, especially if you consume cinnamon daily. Ceylon cinnamon has a lower concentration of coumarin, which could be detrimental to your liver in large quantities, which makes it safer than Cassia cinnamon for everyday use.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

Europe’s low-carbon future: Denmark’s North Sea oil field is now a carb...

Once a symbol of fossil fuel extraction, the remote Nini oil field in the North Sea is preparing for a new role: storing millions ...

Read More

Grace Richardson makes history as first openly gay Miss England: ‘I’ve achiev...

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When Grace Richardson took the stage at the Miss England final in Wolverhampton, she wasn’t just chasing a ...

Read More

World’s first hydrogen-powered cargo vessel to set sail in Paris this year

In a world's first, a commercial hydrogen-powered cargo vessel will make its maiden voyage later this year. Developed by French shipowner Compagnie Fluvial Transport ...

Read More

A guide to self-kindness: transforming negative self-talk into positive affir...

As we go through the motions of daily life, it's tempting to listen to our inner critic's constant commentary. Negative self-talk, or the constant ...

Read More