Sweet potatoes are a staple for Thanksgiving dinners, but the vegetable deserves the spotlight year-round. Sweet potatoes contain dietary fiber, vitamins and other essential nutrients. They also offer several health benefits, such as improving digestion. Health benefits of sweet potatoes While some people use the terms “sweet potato” and “yam” interchangeably, the two are not related. Yams have a drier texture ...

Most people associate cranberries with Thanksgiving, but there are lots of good reasons to eat cranberries year-round. Perfect as a snack or a main dish, cranberries are a nutrient powerhouse. With just 50 calories and four grams of sugar per cup, cranberries are low in calories and sugar, especially when compared to other fruits. Cranberries have also been linked to a ...

Turmeric is the rhizome, or underground stem, of Curcuma longa, a plant that belongs to the ginger family. Dubbed the “golden spice” because of its brilliant yellow color, this edible herb is well-known for its many health benefits. As a culinary ingredient, turmeric is widely known as the spice that gives Indian curry its signature hue. It is also promoted as a dietary supplement ...

There are dozens of proven health benefits when you consume the wonderful spice known as cinnamon. Cinnamon is now the second most popular spice – after black pepper – in the United States and Europe. As a spice, it is used either in powder form or whole, as pieces of bark. It has been prized for its medicinal properties for thousands ...

Nutmeg is a popular spice for these cold nights. Not only is this wonderful spice aromatic, it also has a wonderful variety of health-supporting properties. While categorized as a spice, nutmeg is actually a seed from the fruit of the Myristica fragrans tree. This is an evergreen tree native to the rainforests of the Moluccas in Indonesia, known since antiquity as ...

It may sound like allspice is a premade blend of spices, but it’s actually a single spice. Allspice has a unique flavor profile that is often described as a blend of up to four different spices, hence the name. The spice is also used in folk medicine due to its potential health benefits. Allspice, also called Jamaican pepper, newspice or pimienta, is the ...

Cranberries are fruits full of various nutrients and antioxidants. They can provide various health benefits when added to a balanced diet. Cranberries are considered a superfood because of their high nutrient and antioxidant content. Nutrient profile of cranberries One-half cup of chopped cranberries contains: 25 calories 0.25 grams (g) of protein 0.07 g of fat 2 g of dietary fiber ...

Pumpkin is a popular autumn and Thanksgiving dinner ingredient. It is a nutritious, versatile vegetable that’s full of a variety of nutrients, including dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and beneficial antioxidants. Many of the health benefits of pumpkin are focused on its fiber content and micronutrients, including beta-carotene and vitamin A. Pumpkin: A natural source of vitamin A Pumpkin is a type of ...

Cinnamon is a popular spice known for its pleasant scent and sweet and warm flavor profile. It’s often associated with fall and Thanksgiving in the U.S. and is a common ingredient for various sweet and savory dishes around the world. What is cinnamon? Cinnamon is a fragrant spice that is made by cutting the stems of cinnamon trees (Cinnamomum verum). The ...

Nutmeg is a popular spice used on eggnog, desserts and various baked goods. But did you know that nutmeg also offers some health benefits and contains beneficial antioxidants? What is nutmeg? Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is a spice that is commonly used in baked goods, holiday treats, ethnic cuisine and different beverages. Nutmeg is produced by grinding nutmeg seeds from a ...