Turmeric is that unmistakable vivid yellow spice so often identified with Indian curries. However, more than a delicious accent to chicken, rice and vegetables, it is also a power anti-inflammatory agent and an antioxidant.
How do you pronounce "turmeric?"
Made by grinding the roots of the curcumin plant, turmeric is native to Indonesia and has been grown and harvested for over 5,000 years. Turmeric has been used for over 2,500 years as a traditional Ayurvedic medicine and is an excellent source of manganese, iron and vitamin B6.
More recently, modern medicine has been rediscovering the health benefits of turmeric and it has been found to be beneficial or promising in the treatment of digestive disorders, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and Alzheimer’s disease.
As an anti-inflammatory, turmeric has been found in numerous studies to be as effective as, yet safer than, prescription hydrocortisone and over-the-counter Motrin. Laboratory studies in mice suggest that it may protect against ulcerative colitis.
Turmeric may promote cardiovascular health by reducing cholesterol according to a study conducted in India on 10 people who took 500 mg of curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric). After just 7 days, the subjects’ total cholesterol dropped by almost 12%, and their good HDL cholesterol increased by 29%.
In studies on laboratory rats, curcumin also has been found to greatly slow the growth of human prostate cancer cells. When curcumin was combined with a phyto-chemical found in cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, even well established prostate tumors were significantly prevented from growing or metastasizing.
Noted integrative medical doctor, Andrew Weil, extols the virtues of turmeric and its benefits for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. He notes that elderly villagers in India who eat turmeric have the lowest rates of Alzheimer’s, and that studies from UCLA show curcumin seems to block development of the plaque accumulation in the brain of rats prone to the disease.
Dr. Weil recommends drinking a tea brewed from the spice to insure a daily dose. But be careful – its bright yellow pigment will stain your teapot or cup.
Other easy ways to get turmeric into your diet include:
- Adding a teaspoon to a smoothie
- Adding a teaspoon to eggs before scrambling
- Roasting cauliflower with turmeric, ginger, olive oil, salt and pepper.
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Comments
Thanks. I'll try it with eggs!
I've seen a few high-end skincare companies advertising turmeric in their anti-aging products as well. I guess it really is a superingredient, whether your eat it or wear it!
Turmeric tea is very common in Japan but not in India. Here it is used extensively as a kitchen spice and at best used as a drink but adding it to milk.
A word of caution - the turmeric sold in the Indian market is bright yellow due to lead chromate, so prefer organic turmeric. In India it is widely used in cosmetic industry and it is certainly a natural antibiotic. It heals the wound faster. If you have not used turmeric,certainly give it a try.
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