Spices give your recipes a flavor boost. Do they give your body a nutrition boost as well? Here's a quiz to find out how much you know about spices. Answer each of the following statements true or false.
1. One recent study shows that consuming 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon after meals reduces blood sugar levels by as much as 29 percent in some people.
2. In some studies, regularly adding cinnamon to your diet can reduce total cholesterol.
3. Mustard seed lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides, and raises HDL (good) cholesterol.
4. Ground red pepper causes blood clots.
5. Oregano raises HDL (good) cholesterol.
6. Ginger calms your stomach and reduces formation of blood clots.
7. Peppermint raises LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Source: "WomenHeart's All Heart Family Cookbook" by Kathy Kastan and Suzanne Banfield (Rodale, $29.95, 301 pages)
Answers: 1) True; 2) True; 3) True; 4) False. In fact, it can help dissolve clots. 5) True; 6) True; 7) False
