As a Pakistani American, turmeric has always been a part of my regular diet. Little did I know that the delicious food I was consuming could be beneficial to my health. I recalled from my Chemistry 330 class that my professor had suggested that we all start eating curry because it could prevent the onset of cancer. This interested me and led me to investigate more information on turmeric. Also, after reading "Food Matters," I wanted to research other items we could add to our diet that could have similar benefits of flaxseeds, berries, and chocolate.
Turmeric is a spice that is heavily used in curry and South Asian cuisine. Its most active ingredient is curcumin – the polyphenol that is responsible for the extensive health benefits and for giving turmeric its golden color. Two other curcuminoids can be isolated from turmeric are demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, which also contribute to the health benefits of turmeric.
Ayurvedic medicine, which originated in
When discussing “Food Matters” in class, we talked about how too many free radicals can be destructive to the body. While our body can produce enzymes to neutralize the free radicals, adding antioxidants to a diet can help the body combat the excess free radicals. Turmeric is an antioxidant or a free radical scavenger that helps destroy free radicals by feeding them with electrons to neutralize them.
An article from BBC News highlighted a recent turmeric study. The most recent research suggests that curcuminoids could prevent the onset of Rheumatoid arthritis. The study found that injecting turmeric in mice completely prevented arthritis, stopped joint destruction, and reduced joint inflammation. The researchers used the rhizome, the root of the turmeric plant, and found that the curcuminoid extracts inhibit a transcription factor (a protein that controls genes from being on or off) called NF-KB from being activated in the joint. If NF-KB binds to the genes, it increases the production of inflammatory proteins and affects the joints negatively. Turmeric’s curcuminoids could however be used for its medicinal and therapeutic effects.
Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6090460.stm
Research suggests that turmeric is:
- An antioxidant.
- A potent anti-inflammatory that can treat jaundice, chest pain, hemorrhage, and more.
- An anti-bacterial.
- A treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.
- A treatment for digestive disorders.
- Helps cystic fibrosis sufferers.
- Reduces the risk of cancer by shutting down the genes that trigger the onset.
- Inhibits cancer cell growth.
- Prevents colon cancer and prostrate cancer.
- Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.
- Improves liver function.
- Protects against Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Relieves Rheumatoid Arthritis.
- Reduces the risk of heart disease.
Source: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=78
As we can see, there are many health benefits to consuming turmeric. While eating curry every day may not be ideal since it is also high in fat, we can find other ways to make sure we get a daily dose of the spice of life!
4 comments:
What is Ayurvedic medicine? I am familiar with homeopathic medicine and some forms of Chinese medicine. Does this focus on the use of Indian spices?
I didn't realize that the curcumin in turmeric gives it its color. It's interesting that nearly all of the free radical scavengers are the components of foods that give color. I suppose this is a result of the fact that most free radical scavengers are highly aromatic structures, which in turn reflect light making food colored. I wonder if all of the colored components of food have some amount of antioxidant capability.
Ayurvedic medicine is a form of alternative medicine that has been practiced in India for over 5,000 years. It mainly uses herbal and dietary treatments. I think healing is through the mind and body – like homeopathic medicine. There is a lot more information on the internet.
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/ayurveda/
Post a Comment