Throughout history, the world’s spice trade has controlled most of the globe. Spices and herbs are now available practically everywhere in the globe, thanks to globalization.

However, not every spice and herb is beneficial to your health. Some spices, on the other hand, might be bad for health actually. But how can you determine which ones you should stay away from? Although there is no strict rule for limiting herbs and spices, various herbs and spices have been linked to a variety of negative side effects.

Read on to find out which herbs and spices you should stay away from. But first, it’s important to understand the distinction between the two.

What Is the Distinction Between Spices and Herbs?

Although spices and herbs may seem to be identical at first glance, there are significant distinctions between them.

Spice is just a component of a plant that is used in food. The spice may be used to enhance the taste, fragrance, or color of cuisine. Spices may be extracted from a plant’s dried bark, root, fruit, or seed.

Herbs, like other plant materials, may be utilized for medical, cosmetic, or even religious reasons as well as for cooking. Herbs may be fresh or used dried, but unlike spices, they do not include the plant’s leaves, stalks, or blossoms.

Spices and Herbs You Should Stay Away From

Here are some herbs and spices you should stay away from now that you know what they are. Depending on the dosage, the consequences might vary from moderate to severe toxicity.

Nutmeg

The first is nutmeg, which is manufactured from dried seeds collected from the Myristica trees. Nutmeg is a spice that originated in Indonesia and has become popular all over the globe. It’s a versatile spice that goes well with everything from curry to eggnog.

However, nutmeg does have a hidden disadvantage: it’s chemical composition. Elemicin and Myristicin are two chemical compounds found in nutmeg that may induce some unpleasant side effects. Nausea, disorientation, headaches, or even hallucinations are among the symptoms.

The excellent thing is that standard nutmeg dosages used in traditional dishes won’t cause these side effects.

Mace

Mace is a popular spice that comes from the Myristica tree, much like a nutmeg spice. Mace comes from the fruit around the seed, unlike in nutmeg, where just the seed is used. The nutmeg seed is left behind when the mace gets peeled off of the mature fruit before drying.

Another common spice in South Asia’s traditional cuisine is mace. It does, however, contain chemical components that are comparable to those highlighted in nutmeg. While a little dosage isn’t usually toxic, greater doses of mace may cause symptoms similar to nutmeg poisoning.