Cooking without spices is like having a dance party without music; The two just must go together. Aside from adding tons of flavor to any dish you’re whipping up, spices are a low-calorie (usually zero-calorie) way to add a little extra zest to your favorite food. Experimenting with different spices can help your taste buds decide which ones go well together and which ones are better on their own. And to boot, there are tons of health benefits that come with many commonly used spices.

Here are ten popular herbs and spices with their amazing health benefits:

1. Cinnamon

This healthy spice is very commonly added to desserts, sweet treats and dishes, cookies, pancakes, muffins, granola bars and even in a cup of coffee. Aside from its delicious and distinct flavor; cinnamon also provides great benefits for the body. It has the highest antioxidant value than any other spice. It reduces inflammation and lowers blood sugar. It also has antimicrobial properties that can help in prolonging the life of food. Minerals such as iron, manganese and calcium can be found in cinnamon too.