The power of turmeric
Thrives a thick, beloved plant
Leaves of gold are tipped with rose hues
And its oil enhances chants
Sometimes called curcuma longa
Its roots promise love and health
Fragrant curries, healing powders
Indian saffron, sign of wealth
Warm and gentle is the fragrance
Earthy subtle undertones
Soon evolving to a sweetness
Therapy for weary bones
Brides are spread with its thick mixture
In the land of Bangladesh
Bodies gleaming golden ochre
Deep red henna hands enmeshed
But like every panacea
This spice has its bitter side
When combined with clove or ginger
Jekyll turns to bleeding Hyde
There are many healing flora
Flourishing in distant fields
Turmeric is one such blessing
In its golden orange yields
In the southern soil of India
Thrives a thick, beloved plant
Leaves of gold are tipped with rose hues
And its oil enhances chants.
by Liilia Talts Morrison
Turmeric, the staple ingredient of curry, has been used in India for thousands of years as both a spice and medicinal herb; it is referred to as ‘holy powder’. It is a root belonging to the same family as ginger and its vivid orange flesh is responsible for colouring curry yellow. It has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to strengthen liver function and treat wounds and infections.
Curcumin, the main active ingredient in turmeric, has a powerful anti-inflammatory action. In clinical trials its anti-inflammmatory activity has been shown to be comparable to drugs such as hydrocortisone and ibuprofen. Curcumin belongs to a chemical group known as curcuminoids which reduce inflammation by blocking prostaglandin activity.
Turmeric’s powerful antioxidant capacity boosts the immune system. It is full of potent biochemical compounds called polyphenols, as well as vitamins and minerals. It is is up to 10 times more potent than vitamins C and E and also enhances the production of glutathione, the body’s most abundant antioxidant.
Turmeric is also excellent for cardiovascular health by helping to prevent unwanted blood clots by its anti-platelet, blood thinning activity. It can be helpful in the prevention and treatment of many different health conditions from cancer to Alzheimer’s disease.
Turmeric has a distinctly earthy, slightly bitter, almost mustardy taste. It is best to consume it with black pepper because alone it is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream; combining it with pepper enhances absorption by 2000%. Curcumin is fat soluble, so it always best to combine it with a meal containing fat.
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4. Curcumin Boosts Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Linked to Improved Brain Function and a Lower Risk of Brain Diseases
5. Curcumin Leads to Various Improvements That Should Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease
6. Turmeric Can Help Prevent (And Perhaps Even Treat) CancerCancer is a terrible disease, characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells.
7. Curcumin May be Useful in Preventing and Treating Alzheimer’s Disease
8. Arthritis Patients Respond Very Well to Curcumin Supplementation
9. Studies Show That Curcumin Has Incredible Benefits Against Depression
10. Curcumin May Help Delay Ageing and Fight Age-Related Chronic DiseasesIf curcumin can really help prevent heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s… then this would have obvious benefits for longevity. 11. Anything Else?If you want to buy a turmeric/curcumin supplement, then there is an excellent selection on Amazon with thousands of great customer reviews. |
11 Comments
Darya
Ha! Excellent post! I just shared a turmeric-based recipe on my blog, so this recap of the virtues of turmeric is very welcome and feels appropriate. I love how people ask my yoga teacher: my articulations hurt, I’ve got a cold, this is wrong, that is painful…, and no matter what their problem is, his answer is invariably: turmeric and/or ginger!
The Healthy Epicurean
Happy coincidence! I’ll have to come and check out your turmeric recipe. It’s true that it’s a great all-rounder! I eat a lot of it… 🙂
apuginthekitchen
Wonderful and so informative. An Indian friend of mine urged me to consume turmeric in hot milk with black pepper. I try to do this every day. I wonder what the shelf life of the powdered stuff is. I bought a large bag years ago and am still working my way through it. Do you know?
The Healthy Epicurean
Thank you! Turmeric in hot milk with black pepper sounds perfect – milk for the fat content and black pepper for the absorption… If only I liked hot milk! The shelf life is usually a couple of years, although if it tastes and smells OK I’m sure it’ll be fine. It might just lose a bit of its potency. I wouldn’t keep it too long though…
apuginthekitchen
Thank you! I will throw out and get new.
kristenannmoore
When I was studying to get my certificate in herbalism about 12 years ago, the head of the program cited turmeric for absolutely everything~ stomach issues, skin issues, joints, chronic inflammation~ it became kind of a joke among us students. Now it seems like the scientific community is in agreement that turmeric is indeed great for us! It has to be the most researched herb in existence~ I love it! Thanks for the info on adding black pepper to it…I’ve been taking it straight for years so it’ll be interesting to see if adding the pepper does anything noticeable to me and my issues. :0)
The Healthy Epicurean
It’s such a great all-rounder – I take it for everything. Weleda do a homeopathic digestive mixture containing curcuma which is excellent. I’m addicted to it and have noticed that black pepper does increase bioavailability. Here’s more information http://www.naturalnews.com/024829_piperine_curcumin_black_pepper.html
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise
I have a friend who drinks a glass of warm water with shredded turmeric every morning, she swears by the stuff for everything!
Thank you for writing this post, I think I might just follow her lead
The Healthy Epicurean
That sounds like a good idea to me. It’s such a multi-tasker that you can’t really go wrong… 🙂
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