Two times a year, I run a Whole Life Challenge for my CrossFit gym. It’s a way to really help people make amazing changes in their life, like I did almost four years ago. I love being able to directly have a hand in improving someone’s life. Someone who may have never even considered changing their diet and exercise routine in the way we are suggesting. Last challenge, we saw some serious life changes taking place before our eyes and it filled my inspiration and motivation tank for quite some time.  This go around, we have more than 40 athletes participating! I am so excited by all the possibilities!!!!

One of the benefits of the challenge is they get a special blog just for the group of athletes, giving the advice, motivation, tips and stories of others before them. I wrote this particular entry for them, but wanted to share it because I know many people starting off eating Paleo don’t use spices to their fullest extent.

The Spice of Life 

One thing you will find as you start to eat cleaner is that spices will be considered one of your best tools!

There is a ton of great info out there about spices and how to use them creatively.  One great resource is Robb Wolf. He suggests getting to know 8 specific spices and herbs to enhance your ‘paleo’ table.

Also it’s important to know some basics about using and storing spices. Here are some general tips about spices from Penzys Spices:

How Much Should You Buy? 

A guideline is to buy a 1 year’s supply of herbs or ground spices and a 1-2 year supply of whole spices.  When in doubt about a spice, smell it. If it smells strong and spicy, use it. If not, toss it!

How Should Spices Be Stored?

To maintain their strong, fresh flavor, spices need to be stored properly. Glass or barrier plastic containers work great. Do not store spices near a heat source! So not on top of your stove, fridge, dishwasher, microwave, or near a sink. Also make sure spices are not kept near direct sunlight.

Some people suggest keeping spices in the fridge or freezer. Whole, crushed or ground chili peppers will stay fresh and colorful longer when stored in the fridge or freezer during the summer months.  And other than Vanilla beans and extract, keeping spices in the cold won’t damage them.

Best of all, did you know that some spices and herbs have some serious health benefits?

Flavors of certain spices can cause the stomach to produce the gastric juices necessary to digest your food, and a teaspoon of chili power or paprika has enough Vitamin A (beta-carotene) to provide 16 % of your daily requirement.  

You can read more about the health benefits of some spices & herbs at WebMD.

Go ahead and experiment with spices as you begin to explore cooking new and interesting dishes! Once you discover how much flavor they add to your food,  you will be left wondering how you got along without them!