Turmeric’s golden secrets
KNOWN as the Golden Goddess in India, turmeric keeps on surprising the many researchers who are studying its wideranging health benefits.
The main one appears to be its ability to help reduce inflammation.
We know that many health problems are caused by chronic inflammation.
It is thought to play a role in conditions such as arthritis, cardiovascular issues, diabetes, gastro-intestinal problems and even mood and memory problems.
Used medicinally and in cooking for thousands of years, the turmeric plant grows to about 40 in high and has beautiful white and green flowers.
Turmeric obtained from the roots has a long tradition of being a strong and powerful spice, as well as being an essential ingredient in our favourite curries.
It has a warm, bitter taste and is often used not only to add flavour to foods, but also to give the food that amazing yellow/ orange colour.
The main phytochemical that provides turmeric with its impressive health benefits is curcumin, which also gives it that vibrant colour.
There have been more than 6,000 research papers focusing on the health benefits of curcumin. As a consequence, people are finding inventive ways to include turmeric in their diet.
As well as adding it to curries and stews, why not add it to your smoothie or even having a cup of turmeric tea?
Or you may want to consider taking it in supplement form.
We know that turmeric is hard to absorb and has to be taken in large amounts to provide the benefits. So, for example, when taken as a supplement, one tablet of turmeric can contain roughly ten times more than you will get from curry.
Good turmeric supplements are designed to be absorbed easily and will have a turmeric extract standardised at 95 per cent curcumin. This will give the turmeric a much more therapeutic effect.
If you are concerned about any of the health issues mentioned above, it might be worth trying to have some turmeric every day, either added to your food or from a good supplement.