Our ghar ka masala dabba is not just an ordinary thing, it carries stories, healing and all the nostalgia within it.
Spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander, chili, mustard, and fenugreek, perhaps a secret blend only Dadi knew how to use in an authentic way not to make food but to add healing powers to our meals.
It was a treasure chest of wellness, chemical-free treatments, and nostalgia. And for every clove-scented memory, there’s a lesson waiting for us today. Let’s revive all those memories and understand the therapeutic benefits of these spices.
1. Turmeric: Golden Healer of All Time
Nostalgia: Haldi doodh is still non-negotiable in many Indian homes. “My mother would hand me a warm cup every night, especially in winter,” shares Priya from Mumbai. “It wasn’t just for healing, it was her way of saying, ‘I care.’”
Healing Properties:
- Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is scientifically proven to be anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Try to use organic haldi for better taste and wellness.
- It supports digestion, reduces joint pain, and even improves mood.
How to Use Today:
- Add a pinch to your warm milk at night.
- You can also combine this ritual with a calming Online Yoga Class to relax and restore after a long, hectic day.
2. Cumin & Coriander: The Everyday Digestive Duo
From the time of our all-time favorite jeera aloo coriander-spiced sabzi, these spices have made space in every home-cooked meal. The simplest recipe when nothing makes sense, right?
Healing Properties:
- Cumin aids digestion, helps with bloating, and boosts metabolism.
- It also has a cooling effect on the body and can ease indigestion in many ways.
How to Use Today:
- Start your morning with jeera water or sprinkle roasted cumin-coriander powder over your curd for lunch.
- Follow it up with a 15 minute gentle stretch, or you can also join online yoga classes in Mumbai to support digestion naturally.
3. Mustard Seeds & Fenugreek: The Spice of the Season
We all love that sharp pop of mustard seeds in oil for tadka, right? That slight bitterness of fenugreek in the kadhi or dal. These small habits do not just carry taste, they carry tradition.
Healing Properties:
- Mustard seeds are rich in selenium and magnesium, which help reduce inflammation.
- It also helps regulate your blood sugar levels, aids in lactation (after delivery for women), and supports hormonal balance as well.
Daily Tip:
- Riya from Thane shares, “I have started adding fenugreek to my soups after attending my online yoga classes in Mumbai. It has worked wonders for my digestion, and I feel more energetic now.”
4. Chilli Powder: Spice with Benefits
You can add just a small dash of these chilis to every curry so you’d feel the soft warmth of the flavor and not the burn.
Healing Properties:
- Chillies contain capsaicin, which helps boost metabolism, relieve pain, and support immunity.
- It’s even rich in vitamin C.
How to Use Today:
- Sprinkle just a pinch over dal or sabzi or have it with your salads.
- You can also make fermented pickles with it to improve your immunity.
5. The Secret Blend: A Family of Healers
Each family had their own “magic masala,” a secret recipe passed from grandmother to mother to daughter. The beauty of this is that it’s never written down anywhere; it’s always remembered by heart.
Healing Properties:
- Often a mix of cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and nutmeg, each spice had a purpose. They improved digestion, reduced stress, and enhanced immunity.
- From fiery and flavorful chutney to comforting metkut, every Maharashtrian household prepares their own podi, it has a burst of flavor, love, and homemade healing.
“Our masala dabba was my Dadi’s pharmacy. No fancy labels, just homemade healing and natural nuskhas to cure our daily issues,” says Meera, 62, from Mumbai.
Nourish with Food, Flourish with Movement:
Our ghar ka masala dabba is more than a kitchen staple!
It’s a diary of care, of tradition, of healing passed down through love. When paired with daily movement through an online yoga class, these spices become not just a part of your meal, but a part of your daily well-being as well.
So, start small with a warm, healthy meal and a little movement. That’s where real wellness begins.
