Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice
Annie Bush - October 2024
Inspired by my husband’s love for everything Pumpkin Spice, I wanted to share the actual health benefits of the spices included in this Fall favorite, along with other spices which your body loves!!
Just to get it out of the way: Pumpkin Spice does not include any actual Pumpkin. Pumpkin Spice is a blend of five spices which have amazing health, and mood-improving benefits.
Why Does Pumpkin Spice Have Such a Positive Effect on Your Mood?
According to research done at Johns Hopkins University, it is the scent of the spices which invokes certain memories in certain parts of your brain associated with the Fall, which savvy marketers have taken advantage of. As far as your brain is concerned, when you smell a certain scent, the brain automatically responds with its memory of the scent from the past.
The scent of Pumpkin Spice is often associated with the comforting and nostalgic memories of being with family and friends, and doing certain activities associated with the Fall. Pumpkins are harvested typically in October. Even if you now live in a climate without much seasonal weather change, you can still remember carving pumpkins and going to pumpkin patches as a kid (or as an adult), wearing warm sweaters, curling up in a blanket, snuggling by a fireplace or bonfire, or enjoying all the holidays which begin in the Fall. It is the association between Fall and Pumpkin Spice which makes you feel warm and cozy inside, which contributes to your overall improved well-being.
The scents in Pumpkin Spice are all warming and comforting, so the smell instantly triggers these positive emotions. This is why the smell of these spices are so popular: They make us feel good! When the scent triggers the part of the brain which makes us feel good, it triggers a dopamine response and activates the reward system – your brain then wants more because it makes us feel good and we want to experience it again. According to data from Nielsen, Americans spend more than $500 million on Pumpkin Spice products each year.
Health Benefits of Pumpkin Spice
Pumpkin Spice actually helps make us healthier because it is a powerful antioxidant blend and the spices which comprise it have high ORAC values. To keep it simple, antioxidants protect cells from damage. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity which is a measuring system developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The higher the ORAC value, the higher antioxidant capacity the substance has. The values differ slightly as to what source you use, but I’ll include the approximate ORAC value for each spice. Clove has the highest ORAC value amongst all spices.
Here are the five spices which
make up Pumpkin Spice:
Cinnamon – Warm and sweet, cinnamon has over 40 different beneficial compounds which help balance your blood sugar, promote healthy aging, improve memory and cognitive function, and help support normal cholesterol and blood pressure. (ORAC over 130,000)
Ginger – Adding a little bit of heat, Ginger is especially good for the digestive system, helps protect the body from oxidative stress, and strengthens immunity. Ginger may help protect brain cells from cognitive decline. It has been used for thousands of years for nausea, including if the nausea is caused by vertigo. Word of caution: Ginger has blood thinning properties, so use it with caution if taking prescription blood thinners. (ORAC around 40,000)
Nutmeg – This nutty spice is great for reducing inflammation, helps prevent cellular damage, and protects against chronic diseases. Also, nutmeg may help with brain tissue recovery after a stroke. (ORAC around 70,000)
Allspice – May help to settle an upset stomach, treat nausea, and reduce bacterial infections. Can be used to reduce pain, especially toothaches. (ORAC around 260,000)
Cloves – Earthy and rich, Cloves are one of the most potent antioxidants. Cloves help maintain overall healthy digestive, nervous, and cardiovascular systems. (ORAC over 310,000)
In comparison, the ORAC value for pumpkin is just 483. So, you see you get more antioxidant benefits from the spices, and not the actual pumpkin.
Enjoy Pumpkin Spice All Year Round
Here is where I am going to burst your bubble: You can put Pumpkin Spice on whatever you’d like whenever you’d like any time of year! You do not have to wait until a certain coffee shop announces it is “Pumpkin Spice Season” to enjoy a hot Pumpkin Spice latte on your own. None of the spices used in pumpkin spice are only available in the Fall. It is the marketers who have created a “Fall” image around everything Pumpkin Spice and save it for the Fall because of the brain connection between its scent and the Fall.
If you know the smell of Pumpkin Spice makes you feel better, why would you wait until the Fall to have it? A bottle of Organic Pumpkin Spice is available at most grocery stores for less than $10, and a quick search of the internet yields a multitude of yummy recipes, even one for the Harry Potter Pumpkin Juice!
Other Spices and Herbs Your
Body and Brain Love
Here is a simple, general overview of other spices and herbs your body and brain will love. Both herbs and spices come from plants, but spices are usually dried, and herbs can be either fresh or dried. Experiment with them in your daily eating, use them in the form of essential oils and diffuse them, or apply topically to reduce inflammation locally.
Rosemary – Great for brain stimulation and increasing memory. If your child or grandchild is getting ready for a test, diffuse rosemary essential oil in the area where they are studying. For anyone suffering from declining memory, or to prevent cognitive decline, include rosemary in your cooking, in your teas, or again, diffusing the essential oil delivers it directly to the brain. (ORAC around 11,000)
Turmeric – Great for reducing inflammation and arthritis, calming digestive disorders, and reducing respiratory infections to name a few of its many benefits (ORAC over 100,000)
Parsley – I love parsley and put it in my salads. Parsley has oils which help neutralize carcinogens, and is amazing for your heart, digestion, and skin. (ORAC around 75,000)
Oregano – It is an antioxidant and antimicrobial and has anti-inflammatory properties. It’s beneficial for kidney and lung health. (ORAC over 200,000)
Tulsi - (also known as Holy Basil) – I love my Holy Basil tea. It helps reduce stress and anxiety and helps with memory and cognition. I find myself reaching for it around 3 in the afternoon when I need a calming, mental boost. (ORAC over 67,000)
Thyme – Helps fight bacterial and fungal infections and has been shown to kill off around 120 types of pathogenic bacteria, including those resistant to antibiotics. (ORAC over 27,000)
Basil – I put this in my salad just as I would any greens. Very supportive of the immune system, heart health, digestion, and increases mental alertness when diffused. (ORAC over 60,000)
Sage – May help with memory and cognitive imbalances, managing blood sugar, and lowering LDL cholesterol. (ORAC around 5,000)
I hope everyone enjoys their Pumpkin Spice – all year long – and starts experimenting with other spices and herbs for all the wonderful health benefits nature has to offer.
Annie Bush
