• Replace salt with herbs. Herbs such as oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley and garlic can bring out the natural flavors in a meal.
• Use fresh garlic. Garlic can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. "For maximum benefit, you need to have about three medium cloves of garlic per day. Dry garlic, or garlic left out too long, loses its healthy benefits," said Zick.
• Eat rosemary. Rosemary is an antioxidant that is thought to improve memory and possibly help prevent cancer.
• Fight colds with basil, oregano and rosemary. The essential oils in these herbs may be able to fight against colds and flu.
• Treat chronic coughs with thyme. "The health benefits of thyme are unique. It has been traditionally used to treat coughs, even whooping cough," said Zick.
• Eat turmeric for back pain. Researchers have found that a substance known as curcumin that is found in turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric can be used alone, and is added to curry mixes.
• Fight cancer with curry. Curcumin has also been shown to shrink pre-cancerous colon polyps.
• Use "warming spices" to lower blood pressure. "Warming spices," including ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, pepper, and cayenne pepper, bring blood from the center of the body to the skin. According to Zick, this disperses blood throughout the body more evenly, which may decrease blood pressure.
• Eat ginger to soothe your stomach. Substances called gingerols in ginger can help control nausea.
• Replace sugar with spices. Add spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to sweet snacks instead of sugar.

    Spices have long been known to exude great health responses in the body.  Scientists at the University of Nottingham recently proved that capsaicin - the ingredient in chili peppers that causes a burning sensation - can even kill cancer.
 
   But, be sure to consume everything in moderation, in particular, overuse of garlic may lead to a garlicky body odor.  Yikes!