In cooking, herbs and spices boost the flavour
of our food. But did you know these same spices and herbs can also deliver
health benefits that, in some cases rival our strongest medications? Turmeric, known in the west for its use in
Indian cooking, is often referred to as the “Queen of Spices”. It comes from
the dry ground root of Curcuma longa, typically found in India and Indonesia.
It has a deep yellow-orange tinge, from which it earns one of its nicknames,
“Indian saffron”. Health benefits of turmeric include anti-inflammatory,
antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, ant carcinogenic, and antioxidant
properties. In India and China it has been used medicinally for centuries. In
the Western world, however, turmeric is best known for its culinary prowess.
Turmeric gives American yellow mustard its bright yellow color. Also, it is one
of the main ingredients in curry dishes. It has a bitter, peppery flavour and
smells like a mixture of orange peel and ginger. Turmeric´s health benefits are
well-known and documented.
The history and the discovery of the
benefits of turmeric are fascinating. Both India and China claim to have been
the first to use it medicinally. Ancient Polynesians carried turmeric with them
on their voyage across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. In 1280 AD, Marco Polo
recorded information on the benefits of turmeric in his diary. “There is also a
vegetable which has all the properties of true saffron, as well the smell and
the colour, and yet it is not really saffron.” Even in modern times, in Hawaii
turmeric is still used, known to Hawaiians as “Olena”.
Undoubtedly, the most powerful
ingredient in turmeric is curcuma. Curcuma gives turmeric its characteristic
yellow color. It is a substance that is non-toxic and is found in turmeric
along with other nutrients. These nutrients are included in the list below. The
nutrients and quantities in 2 teaspoons (4.52 grams) of turmeric powder is as
follows:
Dietary Fibre – 960 mg
Manganese – 0.36 mg
Vitamin B6 – 0.08 mg
Iron – 1.88 mg
Potassium – 114.48 mg
Turmeric has been used for centuries not
only in cuisine, but also as an integral part of Ayurvedic and traditional
Chinese medicine. (The former relies on
turmeric for many external treatments as well as in Java; it is featured
prominently in the “Lulur”, a pre-wedding body treatment given to all new
brides on their wedding day to beautify the skin). Recent research is beginning
to back up many of these time-tested uses with scientific data. The most
well-known benefit of turmeric is its anti-inflammatory properties. Curcuma has
been shown to produce anti-inflammatory effects that rival those of ibuprofen
and hydrocortisone. As an added benefit, curcuma does not have the potential
toxicity that pharmaceutical drugs exhibit.
According to scientific studies, conditions
for which turmeric may be beneficial are numerous. These include, but are not
limited to the following conditions:
Alzheimer´s Disease
Adrenal Insufficiency
Psoriasis
Diabetes
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Infertility
Rheumatoid Arthritis & Osteoarthritis
Cystic Fibrosis
Cancer (all types)
Heart Disease
Liver toxicity & disease
Multiple Sclerosis
So here are the top health benefits of
Turmeric:
When combined with cauliflower, it has
shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate
cancer. It is a natural liver detoxifier.
