Spices can add taste and some heat to your food and drinks depending on which ones you choose. But what about the nutritional value? People often wonder if adding spices adds calories to their foods but as we’ll see below, it’s really not a large concern.
Spices tend to be used in small amounts and their caloric values are relatively small especially when you consider that adding sauces and dressing to foods for taste are often much higher.
Spices add flavor and nutrition without significant calories
Here is a table of 10 common spices with their caloric information and relevant nutritional information for a serving of 1 teaspoon (4.2 grams):
| Spice | Calories | Carbohydrates (g) | Protein (g) | Fat (g) | Fiber (g) | Sodium (mg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinnamon | 6 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 0 |
| Paprika | 6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1 |
| Cumin | 8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 167 |
| Ginger | 6 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0 |
| Turmeric | 6 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1 |
| Black Pepper | 5 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0 |
| Garlic Powder | 10 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 35 |
| Onion Powder | 8 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 14 |
| Chili Powder | 6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 12 |
| Mustard Powder | 21 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 277 |
It’s worth noting that a teaspoon of most spices contains only a few calories and minimal amounts of macronutrients like protein, fat, and carbohydrates. However, spices are often used in combination with other ingredients to add flavor and nutrition to a meal.
Many spices also contain various health-promoting compounds, such as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, that can provide additional health benefits.
When you compare the caloric value and nutritional benefits of common spices to dressings, sauces and condiments that are used for taste, spices are a great alternative. Not only are they easy to use, you can benefit from both improved taste and health benefits at one time, without having to count calories.