22 Apr Turmeric Being A Healing Spice
Have you ever heard of turmeric? This is one of my FAVORITE spices, not because of taste, but because of the healing properties that are attached to this special spice. I was first introduced to it when I ate curry chicken. I realized that the curry powder was a blend of spices and I noticed that turmeric was one of them. I always knew that Indian dishes, like curry, were always very healthy for you. When I went into research mode, dozens of research studies confirmed my questions about this spice being a healing spice. I can’t wait to share these benefits with you & teach you how to use it in your daily meals.
Where Does Turmeric Come From?
Turmeric is native to the surrounding areas of India. Which is why you will see this spice in many Indian dishes. It’s is also in the family with ginger, which is another powerful plant. Turmeric is a great source of iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and omega’s.
What Are The Benefits of Turmeric?
In the Journal of Natural Science, Biology, and Medicine, there was a study done that explained the therapeutic effects that turmeric has on the body.
It’s special healing property comes from curcumin, which is an active constituent in it. The curcumin can inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, and parasites, so it’s a known antimicrobial. It can also help increase heart health in a positive way by lowering triglyceride levels and inhibiting platelet aggregation, which helps improve cardiovascular circulation.
There was also a study that showed how turmeric helps with gastric ulcers. In this study, patients were taking a strong dose of turmeric 5x a day. In only four weeks, half the patients were ulcer free. By the end of the whole 12 week treatment, there was over 75% of the patients that were ulcer free.
It’s naturally an anti-inflammatory and can help with acute inflammation or chronic body inflammation that happens over time with wrong nutrition, inflammation from food intake when someone has a food sensitivity, etc. A study in the Alternative Medicine Journal talks about how the anti-inflammatory properties can be a therapeutic agent to inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, arthritis, and certain types of cancer.
A study that was done showed that curcumin had more potent anti-inflammatory properties than conventional NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or aspirin.
It’s also a strong antioxidant that kills free radicals in your body. Turmeric brings the strength back in the cells to promote cellular resistance to damage the free radicals may cause. My favorite benefit from ingesting turmeric is the property of it being anti-mutagenic, AKA fights against cancer.
The study from the Journal of Natural Science, Biology, and Medicine state how curcumin has the ability to inhibit cancer at three stages – tumor promotion, angiogenesis, and tumor growth. Because of the strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties this spice has shown to put a stop to the ‘uncurable’.
Another study linked that curcumin can boost brain-derived neurotrophic factors. Increasing these brain factors can help decrease your chance of getting Alzeheimer’s, depression, and other neurological disorders.
Where To Get Turmeric?
Turmeric is becoming a very popular spice, so you should be able to get it any major supermarket! For a quality organic turmeric, I usually have to go to Whole Foods to get it.
If you are interested in DIY, you can also find normal turmeric root at farm stores or your local produce section in a grocery store and you can grind it up yourself to make fresh turmeric powder. Whatever works for you, just get it in your diet today! You can also get turmeric on our virtual dispensary – make a free account + go under our Anti-Inflammatory category!
How To Use Turmeric?
I love to use this spice in whatever I’m making. I love to use it to season chicken, sautéed greens, roasted broccoli, soups, salmon, etc. There really are no rules to what it can go on. I also love taking a supplement for the extra nutrients and anti-inflammatory properties.
In quite a few medical journals, there have been studies that taking turmeric with black pepper can help increase the absorption of turmeric by 2000%, like this study shows! This spice is a must-have in your diet.
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