Turmeric

What is turmeric and what is it for?

Turmeric, native to southwestern India, also known as Indian sulfur, is a highly valued plant because it is attributed with medicinal properties against cancer, high cholesterol or osteoarthritis, among other diseases, and offers great gastronomic diversity.

Its flavour is sweet with a spicy and bitter touch, so it is used in small quantities.

It is ideal for seasoning rice, meat, fish … And its colur makes the preparations look very good.

Turmeric Properties

Some of the many properties attributed to turmeric, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, etc., are due to its antioxidant action of curcumin, which is better assimilated when accompanied by a fat, such as extra virgin olive oil.

If it is well assimilated by the human body, turmeric fights the oxidation of tissues, reducing their deterioration, hence its effectiveness against inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders.

How should turmeric be taken?

Added to stews, turmeric facilitates fat metabolism by improving the quantity, quality and flow of bile. For this reason it is recommended when cholesterol is high or in cases of diabetes.

In healthy people it is an excellent digestive with foods that are especially fatty.

What are the benefits of turmeric?

By grating and drying the stem of turmeric, a yellow or orange powder is obtained that contains between 2 and 5% curcumin, a compound to which the health benefits are attributed.

Curcumin reduces “the production of mediators of inflammation and free radicals, which makes it popularly attributed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that would have beneficial effects in the treatment of diseases such as dyslipidemia (high cholesterol), osteoarthritis, skin diseases , gastric ulcers, diabetes or even cancer ”.

More about benefits of turmeric:

1) Anti-inflammatory action

Its anti-inflammatory action is considered to be comparable to that of ibuprofen, since curcumin acts on the mediators of inflammation.

It is indicated for inflammation of the ocular cornea, pancreatitis or irritable bowel due to its action to reduce inflammation of inflamed organs.

2) Improves the quality of brain tissue

Thanks to its anti-inflammatory effect, the consumption of turmeric improves the quality of brain tissue and reduces the progression of some neurodegenerative diseases, according to some experimental studies.

3) Anti-cancer action

Some studies show that curcumin reduces the appearance of cancer cells in the mouth, skin, and intestines.

4) Skin care

A beneficial action on psoriasis, scleroderma and premalignant or malignant skin lesions

It is also indicated for the healing of ulcers and wounds, and as a rejuvenating agent.