Not only does cooking with a variety of seasonings enhances the flavor of your recipes, but it also seems to improve your health. These plant-based products are rich in polyphenols and antioxidants that help reduce inflammation, fight disease, and in the case of diabetes, control blood sugar levels.

The next time you are at the grocery store, you might want to stock up on these four herbs and spices.

#1 Cinnamon

This sharp, fragrant spice is popular in baked goods. But, did you also know that it helps lower blood sugar levels and slows the digestion of carbohydrates? It appears to work primarily by improving insulin sensitivity. Just half a teaspoon of cinnamon daily does the trick. Moreover, cinnamon also acts as an anti-inflammatory.

#2 Turmeric

Another powerful anti-inflammatory you should keep in the kitchen is turmeric. This bright yellow-orange spice contains a lot of curcumin, an antioxidant that helps keep inflammation under control. Many diabetics develop complications from chronic low-level inflammation such as circulatory system and heart problems. You might want to use turmeric to make up a lot of curries or in mustard on sandwiches and hot dogs.

#3 Fenugreek

Both the seeds and the leaves of this plant are used in Indian recipes, such as butter chicken. However, it also offers medicinal benefits. Fenugreek has been found to improve the function of insulin, which can help lower blood sugar levels. About one gram of this plant per day is what you need to see the impact.

#4 Ginger

Almost everyone knows about the stomach soothing effects of ginger, but this fragrant root also offers some potential benefits for diabetics. It appears to help improve the uptake of glucose by muscle cells, which is very important for type 1 diabetics as no insulin is needed for this type of sugar absorption. Ginger also helps increase the amount of insulin in the blood by up to 10 percent.