Benefits of Pumpkin Pie Spices

November is here, and the fall season is finally in full swing. For many people, this means one thing – pumpkin spice everything. From lattes to candles, pumpkin spice is everywhere and will be until the first hints of winter show up in December. For those that aren’t part of the pumpkin spice trend, it usually refers to all the spices that can be used in a pumpkin pie, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger.

Whether you aren’t a fan of pumpkin spice or basically live inside a pumpkin pie all fall, there are a few surprising health benefits of these spices that put pumpkin spice on an even higher pedestal! Here are a few of the perks of the pumpkin pie spices:

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has a number of different medicinal properties; it can help lower cholesterol, maintain your arteries’ health, prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets (due to anti-clotting agents), and can even help manage blood sugar levels.

Ginger

Ginger is a natural remedy for stomach woes, such as for nausea or other forms of upset stomachs. It can also be used to help improve the absorption of essential nutrients in the body. Ginger is also often used as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a great herb to use if you suffer from sleep issues, such as insomnia, as it has been shown to promote better sleep. It also helps process oils, myristicin and macelignan, that have been shown to reduce the degeneration of neural pathways and cognitive function in the brain (things that lead to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease). Nutmeg can also help with digestion.

Allspice

Allspice is the lesser-used herb on this list; it is often used to treat and prevent growing infection, as well as helping to aid in digestion. It can also help relieve colds, chills, bronchitis, and even depression due to its antioxidant properties. In certain cases, allspice can act as a mild pain reliever. Finally there is allspice.