Research on Herbs, Spices, and Metabolic Health

Fun Fact! A 2023 scoping review in Nutrients searched for clinical trials on culinary doses of common herbs and spices and metabolic health, identifying 1738 papers and 142 relevant studies. Most dried herbs and spices were studied at doses of 1 to 6 g, which the authors describe as representative of amounts used in cooking, with fenugreek a notable exception.

Cinnamon had the most studies included in the review, with 41 studies, followed by ginger (24) and fenugreek (20). The review found no relevant clinical research on mint, oregano, parsley, or thyme. According to the authors, cinnamon, fenugreek, and ginger showed the most promise for glycemic control, though more research is needed. No adverse effects were reported at the doses used.

Source: Mackonochie M, Rodriguez-Mateos A, Mills S, Rolfe V. A scoping review of the clinical evidence for the health benefits of culinary doses of herbs and spices for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. Nutrients. 2023;15(23):4867. doi:10.3390/nu15234867