Spice up your autumn menu

Herbs and spices not only make bland food more exciting, some of them also boast unexpected health benefits.

Ginger is a common ingredient in Asian cooking, but it has also been used as an herbal medicine to treat stomach ailments for thousands of years. Nowadays, it is commonly used to treat nausea and stomach upset. Try grating some fresh ginger into a stir-fry.

Cumin, which is used in curry powder, is good for digestion and is also used to relieve bloating.

Herbs and spices might also make you less inclined to use extra salt, and limiting your sodium intake can help prevent high blood pressure.