Most gut health routines focus on what to cut out. Sugar. Gluten. Dairy. Carbs. Very few ask what’s missing.
Spices are usually treated as optional. Something you add for taste, not for digestion. But herbs and spices don’t just add flavor. They actively support how the body adapts to stress (hello, adaptogens), maintains balance, remains resilient, and stays well-regulated.
Radhi Devlukia, plant-based chef and NYT best-selling author of her cookbook Joyfull, puts it beautifully when she talks about the Ayurvedic approach to cooking that she leans on for plant-based nourishment.
“In Ayurveda, spices are considered medicine. They aren’t just flavor; they’re functional. A pinch of the right spice can support digestion, reduce inflammation, balance blood sugar, and help your body absorb nutrients more efficiently. Adding spices is one of the simplest upgrades you can make to your diet.”
Essentially, with a pinch of this and a pinch of that, you can uplevel your diet and your health in a major way.
Radhi tells us that spices are tiny, everyday healers hiding in your kitchen cabinet.
“Even a pinch of the right spice can support digestion, calm inflammation, balance blood sugar, and help your body actually use the nutrients you eat. Think of turmeric for soothing inflammation and supporting radiant skin, cumin for stoking your digestive fire, cinnamon for balancing your blood sugar levels, and fennel for cooling and calming an irritated gut.”
Every spice is an antidote.
“Beyond their individual benefits, spices act as gentle prebiotics, feeding the beneficial bacteria in your microbiome and helping create a more diverse, resilient gut environment. It’s one of the simplest ways to support your health without adding another supplement to your routine,” Radhi breaks down.
If your spice rack is a little less than robust, Radhi helps demystify the process of stocking up with an easy way to build up your collection.
“One of the easiest places to start is a classic Ayurvedic blend called CCF— coriander, cumin, and fennel. Steeped as a warm morning tea, this trio works in harmony to wake up your digestion, reduce bloating, support detoxification, and bring your system back into balance. It’s a small ritual with a surprisingly big impact.”
Spices are that overlooked addition that does far more than their size suggests. They work in the background, influencing digestion in small, repeatable ways.
Try Radhi’s simple CCF recipe at home.
The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that Poosh, LLC (“Poosh”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. The opinions and content included in the article are the views of the author only, and Poosh does not endorse or recommend any such content or information, or any product or service mentioned in the article. You understand and agree that Poosh shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.
