Chili peppers, cinnamon, and red pepper are the three bestselling spices in the U.S.; oregano, parsley, and basil are the most favored herbs, according to researchers from the University of Illinois.

But many other herbs and spices are gaining favor lately. Around 40% of people now say they like ginger and rosemary. And 33% are wild for dill and cumin.

That's a great trend for the culinary arts and for your health because a study in the Journal of Nutrition, conducted by researchers from Penn State, found that adding just 6 grams of a blend of basil, bay leaf, black pepper, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, ginger, oregano, parsley, red pepper, rosemary, thyme, and turmeric to a high-fat and processed-carbohydrate meal lowers levels of body-wide inflammation hours later. 

Now this doesn't give you permission to eat heart-stopping, cancer-triggering, high saturated fat and processed-carb foods. But it is great news, because chronic inflammation is associated with elevated blood glucose, LDL cholesterol levels, and obesity.

Defeating inflammation — which is implicated in the development of some cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia — is essential for restoring your health.

So next time you're in the kitchen, cook up some rice and beans for taco night or grill a salmon or sea trout. Season generously with your homemade blend of this spice and herb mixture. You'll be rewarded with great flavors as you cool down the inflammation that's threatening your healthy future.