So beneficial to our body, turmeric is one of the foods that is recommended to be eaten daily. So what is it? Turmeric is a spice that dates back nearly 4000 years to India. It has many uses including food, cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Turmeric is used to treat a variety of illnesses ranging from cancer to rheumatoid arthritis, conjunctivitis, digestive disorders, depression, allergies and many more.
Turmeric is a perennial plant belonging to the ginger family. The bioactive compound in turmeric is called curcumin. Traditional medicine has used turmeric for thousands of years. Still today, turmeric is used around the world. In the Ayurvedic practice, turmeric is thought to have medicinal properties including relieving gas, improving digestion, regulating menstruation, dissolving gallstones and relieving arthritis. Many South Asia countries use it as an antiseptic for cuts, burns and as an antibacterial agent. In Pakistan it is used as an anti-inflammatory agent and as a remedy for gastrointestinal discomfort.
Modern western medicine has begun to realize the power of turmeric. With over 3,000 publications over the past 25 years, turmeric has been linked with benefits to our digestive organs, colon and as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, studies have found turmeric helps fight oxidants, protecting our body fighting against the effects of environmental pollutants, stress and ultraviolet radiation. Turmeric has also been found to help with reducing inflammation helping with arthritis and with other inflammatory conditions.
Many studies have focused on the benefits of turmeric and cancer. Turmeric has been found to belong to all three groups of chemopreventative agents; carcinogen blockers, antioxidants and anti-proliferatives (help stop the spread). It is also found to regulate programmed cancer cells through a process known as apoptosis (tells the cancer cells to die) and can kill cancer cells directly by activating the ‘execution enzyme’ called caspases inside cancer cells that destroy them from within by chopping up their proteins.
So how do you eat Turmeric?
A commonly recommended portion is ¼ teaspoon of ground turmeric or roughly a ¼-inch piece of fresh turmeric root per day. It’s easy to incorporate into everyday meals—blend it into a smoothie, mix it into a baked potato, add it to salads, or sprinkle it into almost any dish you’re preparing. While turmeric supplements are widely available, research suggests that turmeric can be just as effective—and far more affordable—when consumed in its whole-food form. At most grocery stores, a small piece of fresh turmeric root costs only a few cents and can last for weeks in the refrigerator or even longer when stored in the freezer.
Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. However, on its own, it is not easily absorbed by the body. Fortunately, black pepper enhances its effectiveness. Black pepper contains a compound called piperine, which significantly improves the absorption of turmeric’s active compound, curcumin. Piperine may also support digestion, help relieve headaches and nausea, and provide additional anti-inflammatory benefits—making the combination a true win-win.
The good news is that you don’t need much black pepper. Studies show that even a tiny amount—as little as 1/20 of a teaspoon—can dramatically increase curcumin levels in the bloodstream.
~ Your Happy Healthy Life
Warning!
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has conducted its own clinical trials of turmeric and given it a label as GRAS (generally regarded as safe). With that said, various prescription medicines can, on occasion, interact with food. If you are taking and prescription drugs, you should talk to your doctor first.
Also, if you suffer from gallstones, turmeric may trigger pain. However, for those without gallstones, turmeric has been found to reduce the risk of gallbladder cancer so the pros and cons need to be weighed for each individual.
Lastly, turmeric has been used for centuries as a dye and can dye plastic and clothing if not used carefully.