Turmeric: A Medicine In Your Spice Rack

Many people claim almost miraculous healing properties for their favorite herb or spice

, but when it comes to turmeric, you almost can't overdo it. A few years ago, people began studying carcinogens, or cancer-causing agents, and then looked for food or environmental substances that might inhibit these things. Researchers soon discovered that turmeric, most particularly in one of its extracts, curcumin, was very effective in preventing or sometimes even reducing tumor formation.

But that was just the beginning. Turmeric also has anti-inflammatory properties, and more recently, other scientists have recognized that turmeric is an excellent anti-oxidant in general. Too much oxidation in the body can cause cell damage, so when turmeric prevents this process, it not only inhibits one of the processes leading to cancer, but can also help prevent other conditions resulting from cell degeneration. And a 2003 study* even demonstrated that turmerin, another extract of turmeric, could allow some HIV patients to decrease their dosage of the often toxic drug, AZT, yet still lower the amount of the virus in their bodies.

So what does this mean for you? It means that you should finally get around to making some of those Indian recipes you've been meaning to try. Turmeric has been used in Indian cooking for centuries, or perhaps millenia, but is an ingredient found in many other recipes as well.

You might try a recipe like the Coconut, Turmeric & Tomato Sambar Soup at the Joyful Belly Ayurvedic diet website; it's an Ayurvedic recipe created explicitly to take advantage of turmeric's healthy properties. Some recommend creating a delicious Turmeric Tea both to help with stomach upsets and to ease the pain of stiff joints.

Is there anything turmeric can't help with? Probably. But one thing is certain: using turmeric in your cooking can only do your health a great deal of good.

(* Effect of Antioxidant (Turmeric, Turmerin and Curcumin) on Human Immunodeficiency Virus, 2003)

by: Oankar Kundan

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