(Food-Beverage-News.Com, August 08, 2015 ) Birmingham, West Midlands -- Turmeric is a plant from the ginger family, native to Southwest India, and is best known for giving curry it's bright yellow colour. Its root is dried and ground into an orangey yellow powder that has been used for thousands of years in India both as a spice and a medicinal herb for a wide range of health issues.
Birmingham Chiropractor Lisa Andrews says, "I'm a big fan of a healthy lifestyle and see diet as an integral part of this. How you choose to fuel your body impacts greatly on your energy, health, mood and quality of life." There's so much varied information quoted these days on so-called 'super foods' and 'magic' ingredients that will transform, and improve health, so what information and research are available on the health benefits of turmeric?
So why should you care about Turmeric? Here are a top 5 health benefits of this fantastic ingredient, the active ingredient of which is called Curcumin.
1. It's a powerful natural anti-inflammatory. Studies show its effect to be comparable to anti-inflammatory medication - but without the side effects that have been linked to many non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs! Clearly, anything that can help fight chronic inflammation is of potential importance in preventing and even treating these diseases. Curcumin actually targets multiple steps in the inflammatory pathway, at the molecular level. 2. It's an antioxidant - so can help protect our bodies against free radical damage which is involved in ageing and many diseases. Curcumin happens to be a potent antioxidant that can neutralise free radicals due to its chemical structure. But Curcumin also boosts the activity of the body's own antioxidant enzymes. In that way, Curcumin delivers a one-two punch against free radicals. It blocks them directly, then stimulates the body's own antioxidant mechanisms. 3. Studies have shown it can reduce the spread of cancer and cause death of cancer cells. Whether high-dose curcumin can help treat cancer in humans has yet to be tested properly. However, there is some evidence that it may help prevent cancer from occurring in the first place, especially cancers of the digestive system (like colorectal cancer). 4. It has antifungal and antibacterial properties. 5. Curcumin in turmeric can cross the blood-brain barrier and has been shown to help clear amyloid plaques which build up in Alzheimer's disease.
Whilst some of these benefits need more research in the form of human trials Turmeric is certainly a rising star with many potential therapeutic uses. Since it is easily available, natural and delicious there is no reason not to include it within your diet.
"Other than in a good home made curry" says Birmingham Chiropractor Lisa "my favourite way to have turmeric is to drink it." Turmeric is absorbed better by the body in the presence of ginger, so this Zest Chiropractic juice recipe is a fantastic way to help you get all the health benefits in one quick blast. Plus ginger is another powerful anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant, yet another great bonus!
The Ingredients for this Turbo Powered Turmeric Boost: 1 lemon Ginger root (2-3cm) 1-2 tsp turmeric
Simply juice the lemon and pour into a small glass. Finely grate in the ginger, stir in the turmeric, drink and enjoy! Just beware though that turmeric in this quantity can be an acquired taste. If the taste is too strong initially then start with a smaller quantity - maybe just ˝ a teaspoon and work up.
About Zest Chiropractic: Zest Chiropractic is owned and operated by Dr Lisa Andrews and is based in Birmingham, West Midlands.
