The State of the Science: The Role of Spices & Herbs on Improving Metabolic Health
At the 2026 Annual Meeting Pre-Conference Symposium, Elevating Spices in Today’s Health-Focused Food Regulatory Landscape explored how spices can play a pivotal role in the evolution of U.S. food policy, including in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) priorities. From health policy to regulatory trends, consumer research, and practical applications of using spices for color and as alternatives to salt and sugar, attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of how the spice sector can naturally add flavor and color to whole, healthy foods.
This presentation: State of the Science: The Role of Spices & Herbs on Improving Metabolic Health, Dr. David Heber, Founding Director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, synthesized current research on the physiological benefits of spices, including effects on inflammation, cardiometabolic health, and digestion. The presentation highlighted key human clinical trials that have established a strong scientific basis for the health benefits of spices, and how these findings align with growing consumer and regulatory interest in food as medicine.
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Related Resources
A Concise Guide to Spices, Herbs, Seeds, & Extracts
This 56-page guide is based on the highly specialized knowledge of members who work with spices. Their skills range from sourcing spices all over the world to importing, trading, purchasing, and analyzing and all facets of processing. For each product, information has been drawn from the ASTA members who are most familiar with the spice being presented. Although this guide would certainly be interesting to anyone who is curious about spices, it is designed primarily to be a reference for food industry and foodservice personnel. Hard copies of this publication can be purchased by contacting ASTA at [email protected].
2025 Regulatory Workshop - ASTA Advocacy Update
ASTA’s advocacy team and partners provided an insider’s look at the evolving trade and tariff landscape impacting the spice industry. Panelists shared updates on key negotiations and policy developments, highlighted ASTA’s public affairs and coalition-building efforts, and provided insights from outreach with U.S. and international policymakers. This session also featured a moderated Q&A exploring the success of ASTA’s advocacy efforts.
