Turmeric, What Are The Benefits?

I have heard from many of my friends that turmeric has a wealth of benefits for your body. This bright yellow spice is a powerful medicine that has been used by both the Chinese and Indian cultures as an inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of conditions such as flatulence, jaundice, menstrual difficulties, bloody urine, toothache, hemorrhage, bruises, chest pain and colic. Turmeric can be used for depression,rheumatoid arthritis , diabetes as it has shown to lower glucose levels and reverse insulin resistance, skin and aging as it has many healing properties for the skin. Since it is a natural anti-inflammatory, it reduces redness or other skin irritations and it is an antibacterial so it works great for blemishes and acne.

Turmeric has a peppery, warm bitter taste with a mild fragrance that is slightly similar to orange and ginger. It is one of the ingredients used to make curry and also gives ballpark mustard its bright yellow color. Turmeric comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant and has long been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory. Turmeric was traditionally called Indian saffron because of its deep yellow-orange color and has been used throughout history as a condiment, healing remedy and textile dye. The pigment of the turmeric is called Curcumin. In numerous studies, Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory effects  have been shown to be comparable to the potent drugs hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone as well as over-the-counter agents such as Motrin. Unlike the drugs, which are associated with significant toxic effects, Curcumin produces no toxicity.

When selecting Turmeric, try to select organically grown turmeric since this will give you more assurance that the herb has not been irradiated. For the most Curcumin, be sure to use turmeric rather than curry powder. Turmeric should be kept in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark and dry place. Fresh Turmeric rhizome should be kept in the refrigerator.

So how do you incorporate turmeric into your diet? You can add it to your egg salad, mix it into your brown rice or steamed vegetables. Turmeric is an excellent source of both iron and manganese, Vitamin B6, dietary fiber no potassium.

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