Turmeric is a spice that gives Indian curry its distinctive flavor and color. It is used routinely in India, where 94% of the turmeric in the world originates.
It is actually a member of the ginger family.
Turmeric contains a chemical known as curcumin.
Curcumin has been shown to have many health benefits in Ayurvedic ( eastern Indian) medicine. There is no robust western medical study proving the health claims of turmeric as of now, however, turmeric has been used in eastern culture for centuries.
Turmeric powder is the staple spice in an Indian kitchen.
It is also the part of healing systems of eastern countries- mainly India and China.
Turmeric has been used in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for its many health benefits as below.
1) Inflammation- Turmeric is one of the best anti inflammatory food on the planet. It has been used in India for the treatment of arthritis and many other inflammatory disorders. Curcumin in turmeric has been shown to relieve pain and inflammation of arthritis.
2) Cancer- Curcumin has an antitumor effect. It has been shown in one study to suppress the growth of cancer cells.
3) Cardiovascular disease: The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of curcumin have been associated with improved regulation of blood pressure and decreased risk of several types of cardiovascular disease in animals.
4) Gastrointestinal disorders: Turmeric has been shown to improve chronic digestive health problems including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
5) Dementia: Some studies have shown that Curcumin increases the growth of new neurons and fights various degenerative processes in the brain including dementia.
6) Other benefits: Turmeric also has been used to improve skin complexion, to treat a sore throat and cough and as a blood purifier.
How to take it?
Turmeric root is available in an Indian store or in a whole food store. It is cheaper if you can find it in an Indian grocery store. It looks like a ginger root.
It is also available in powder form.
Peel the skin and blend the turmeric roots ( or 1/2 a cup of turmeric powder) with a little water and 1 table spoon of coconut oil to make a turmeric paste. Can store this paste in the refrigerator for about a week or two.
Use one tablespoon of this paste in a glass of warm water and add some honey. Also add some freshly grounded black pepper to your taste as black pepper has been shown to enhance turmeric absorption in our gut.
You can also add some ginger, lemon, and pinch salt in your drink if you would like. Drink this detoxifying elixir every day to protect your body from inflammation and oxidative damage. And also see what magic it can do for your skin.
Turmeric powder can be used in many ways- in curries, soup, saute vegetables, salad dressing, scrambled eggs.
Remember to use black pepper in combination with turmeric as one of the chemical in black pepper called piperine can increase the absorption of curcumin in turmeric by 2000%
Safety: Turmeric in food (powder or turmeric root ) is very safe.
Turmeric and curcumin supplements in tablets or capsules are considered generally safe when taken at the recommended doses, however caution is advised for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
Best advice is to use turmeric in food as how it has been traditionally used for thousands of years without any side effects.
Also, whole turmeric is likely to provide more benefits than its best-studied constituent—namely, curcumin. That's because turmeric includes three different curcuminoids: curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and demethoxycurcumin.
It also contains volatile oils like tumerone, atlantone, and zingiberone. These different substances are all associated with their own unique health benefits.
According to ' The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine'
