Why Pumpkin Spice May Actually Be Healthy For You!

Fall is here and that means pumpkin spice is back baby! But besides being a delicious addition to your normal latte, we wanted to find out if pumpkin spice actually has any other benefits for your health!

So, despite its name, pumpkin spice is actually a combination of different spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and ginger. Looking at it that way, you may have already guessed a few of these spices’ body benefits!

Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory root and has digestion boosting elements that make it a commonly used ingredient in natural medicine. You may have noticed that Teami already utilizes ginger in a lot of our natural teas and wellness powders! That’s because it’s also been known to help reduce things like gas, bloating and assist chronic inflammation.

Cinnamon. Not only does this spice smell delicious and give you that sharp Fall aroma, recent studies like this article, “Journal of the Endocrine Society” have supported cinnamon’s part in steadying blood sugar levels. It’s important to note that lower and stabilized blood sugar levels may contribute to improved metabolic health among other benefits.

Now, nutmeg might not be something you hear a lot about in terms of health, but did you know that Nutmeg may help with things like mood swings, anxiety and sleeplessness? Interestingly enough, this isn’t new information as in ancient Greece and Rome, people would use nutmeg as a “brain tonic” to soothe the mind. That’s because nutmeg contains natural adaptogen properties, which adapt as to the body’s needs. Meaning that these properties can work as a natural brain stimulant as well as a sedative, depending on the need of the body. Maybe that explains our feeling of satisfaction and relaxation on that first sip of our morning Fall latte!

Finally, let’s take a look at cloves, an aromatic spice made from the dried flowers of the clove tree. One of the most important compounds found in cloves is Eugenol, an antioxidant believed to lower cell-damaging free radicals and a powerful anti-inflammatory. Cloves are also a great source of beta-carotene which is part of a family of pigments that are rich in antioxidants and vitamins. Carotene (also found in veggies like carrots) contains Vitamin A which is a great nutrient for healthy eyes!

So, with all these benefits you might be running to your nearest coffee shop to cash in on that delicious pumpkin spiced treat. However, it’s important to remember that along with these benefits, pumpkin spiced goodies also come with a lot of processed sugars and chemicals. So, if you’d like to skip the negatives, we’ve created our own at-home recipes here >>> Matcha Pumpkin Spiced Latte + Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

Whichever you choose we hope you’ve learned a little something and enjoy your Fall treats! Love, Teami.