Tumeric may be the most powerful spice in your cabinet!  It is a super spice with amazing health benefits.

Turmeric Health Benefits by flickr John and GillCooks and food-lovers alike can usually identify cinnamon as one of the most powerful spices and antioxidant you want to incorporate into your food. Now, the media gives credit to acai, goji berries, blueberries and red wine as other popular sources of antioxidants.  However, you may be overlooking the best antioxidant in the world: turmeric.

Have you ever had a dish with curry? Curry has a yellow color that is caused by the blended spice turmeric, which is the most powerful antioxidants you can consume with amazing health benefits.

Turmeric is relatively new in western medicine and modern day cooking. However, the powerful fat-burning and healing qualities of turmeric has been praised the Indians who have used it for dying, cooking and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Turmeric is potent as an:

  • Anti-oxidant
  • Anti-inflammatory spice
  • Anti-bacterial substance

Turmeric 101

Turmeric is nothing more than the roots of a shrub!  Grown in India and some tropical parts of Asia, turmeric is grounded up root that turns bright yellow color and get its delicious taste from the substance curcumin found within turmeric.

This turmierc-curcumin combination has been used in Ayurvedic medicine because of its medicine properties, as well as being praised for as a whole body cleanser, superior digestion aid and natural treatment for fevers, infections, liver and gall bladder problems and arthritis.

You know what else turmeric is good for?? Burning fat!

Want to prevent heart disease and Alzheimer’s? Use turmeric!

Turmeric is natural, effective and is recommended spice by practitioners around the world for its rich stores of antioxidants that are very effective against the free radicals which contribute to premature aging, disease and cancer.

Turmeric Burns Fat and Aids Digestion 

Turmeric Treats by flickr artizone

Turmeric helps to digest fats by stimulating the flow of bile in the gall bladder, which makes it a very effective as a digestive aid and fat-burning compound.

Turmeric assists the heart by preventing blood from clotting with its strong anti-platelet substance. This is tremendous protection against the threat of heart attacks and strokes. Furthermore, curcumin in turmeric reduces the chemical compound homocysteine, which is a predecessor to a heart attack. It also reduces the oxidation of plaque on the artery walls.

As an anti-inflammatory it has been used effectively for a treatment for:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Joint pain
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Crohn’s disease

Turmeric Refuses Cancer to Grow

If fighting inflammation, burning fat, preventing heart attacks and strokes wasn’t enough, turmeric is also a powerful anti-cancer agent.  This weapon of warfare actually prevents cancer tumors from growing and is powerful enough to stop or slow the growth of cancer.  In a research study done with mice injected with cancer cells, the curcumin in turmeric was proven to be more than twice as effective as the cancer drug paclitaxel (Taxol).

If you like to cook, you are going to love this.  By combing turmeric with red onions, apples or cherries, the antioxidant quercetin combines with curcumin to combat pre-cancerous polyps in the colon. Studies show that polyps were reduced by 60% and the average size of existing polyps were reduced by 50%.

Turmeric is Valuable Against Alzheimer’s disease

A cancer scare is enough, but the threat of Alzheimer’s is another battle to never fight. Studies of the Indian population who have a high intake of turmeric in their curry dishes show a very low incidence of Alzheimer’s and dementia in the elderly.

Alzheimer’s victims have a buildup of a certain type of plaque in the brain and turmeric is highly effective at breaking down this plaque and protecting brain health.

How to Add Turmeric To Your Foods

Turmeric is very yellow and can stain so be careful when using it. This super spice doesn’t have to be used just for curries. It is delicious on:

  • Turmeric Foods by flickr sea turtleSautéed apples
  • Steamed cauliflower
  • Green beans
  • Onions
  • Broccoli
  • Celery
  • Sweet pepper
  • Jicama
  • Radishes
  • Lentil
  • In salad dressing
  • Egg salad

Try to get creative and test using turmeric and/or curry on various foods so you can health benefit as much as possible from

this potent super spice.

Turmeric Supplements Maximize Benefits

The super spice cinnamon is a favorite of mine – so easy to add for flavor. Turmeric, even with it’s incredible health benefits, is a little harder to added to recipes.

More and more friends of mine have discovered the great super-potent antioxidant value of turmeric – they have also discovered how to get ample amounts: turmeric supplements. Try this recommended blend: http://natural.getprograde.com/longevity

Turmeric can be purchased in capsules from a health food store, or you can make your own if you want to buy empty capsules and fill your own. The best and freshest turmeric is available in India!  Road trip, anyone? 🙂

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by Catherine Ebeling – RN, BSN & Mike Geary, Certified Nutrition Specialist
co-authors of the brand new Fat-Burning Kitchen program

P.S. Curry contains turmeric, but is usually a combination of several spices and you may not get as much turmeric as you would using pure turmeric.  That’s not to say there aren’t health benefits to curry too, since it is a blend of several spices.

P.P.S. It is important to check with your physician if you are pregnant or nursing; it can be a uterine stimulant. If you have gallstones or bile obstructions or congestive heart failure, it is best to avoid using. And check with your doctor if you are on prescription drugs, as the drugs may interact with the turmeric.

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