Question

Spices are important in the diet because they:
(A) aid in digestion
(B) decrease the cooking time
(C) make food attractive
(D) are appetite stimulating
(E) provide minerals and B-complex vitamins
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. (A), (B) and (C) only.
• B. (B), (C) and (D) only.
• C. (C), (D) and (E) only.
• D. (A), (C) and (D) only.

Hint:

To solve this quickly, eliminate (B) because spices do not alter physical cooking times.
This narrows the choices down to finding the correct balance of digestive and aesthetic benefits.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

To determine why spices are important in the diet, we need to evaluate the effects of spices based on the given options.

1. Aid in digestion: (A)
   • Spices like ginger and turmeric are known to help in digestion. They stimulate the stomach to produce digestive enzymes, which aid in the digestive process.
2. Decrease the cooking time: (B)
   • Spices generally do not have an effect on cooking time. The cooking time is more related to the method and the heat applied, rather than the presence of spices.
3. Make food attractive: (C)
   • Spices like saffron provide rich colors to food, making it more visually appealing. The aroma from spices also enhances the sensory appeal of dishes.
4. Are appetite stimulating: (D)
   • The aroma from spices can stimulate appetite by enhancing the sensory perception of food, making people more eager to eat.
5. Provide minerals and B-complex vitamins: (E)
   • While spices may contain trace amounts of minerals and vitamins, they are not significant enough to be considered a primary dietary source of minerals and B-complex vitamins.

Based on the evaluation above, the correct and relevant reasons why spices are important in the diet are:

• (A) aid in digestion,
• (C) make food attractive,
• (D) are appetite stimulating.

Therefore, the correct answer is (A), (C) and (D) only.