The Power of Turmeric

I have been reading up quite a bit recently about this spice and it is said that those elderly villagers in India, who eat turmeric in their daily curries, have the world’s lowest rate of Alzheimer’s disease.

According to the Journal of the American Chemical Society, turmeric contains a wide range of antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also loaded with many healthy nutrients such as protein, dietary fibre, niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, sodium, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc. Due to all these factors, turmeric is often used to treat a wide variety of health problems.

Other studies have suggested turmeric has broad anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects as well.Reading one study on Dr. Weil’s findings he found on one of his many trips to Okinawa, the island nation with the world’s longest average life span, 81.2 years. Okinawans drink Lots of turmeric tea.

If you would like to try it, here’s a recipe. Feel free to experiment with the ingredients and flavourings until you find a combination that suits your taste:

1.Bring four cups of water to a boil.

2.Add one teaspoon of ground turmeric and reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes.

3.Strain the tea through a fine sieve into a cup, add honey and/or lemon to taste.

Some people like to add a teaspoon of ginger along with the turmeric. While ground versions are more convenient, it’s worthwhile to experiment with freshly grated turmeric for a more vibrant flavour.

You can also find lots of recipes here which contain Turmeric in cooking.

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Sources:

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02833/turmeric-tea

http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/nutrition/nutrition+tips/why+you+should+eat+turmeric,8123

http://www.top10homeremedies.com/kitchen-ingredients/10-health-benefits-of-turmeric.html