Turmeric, the yellow spice used in curry, is more than just a flavorful addition to a meal. According to the Daily Mirror, a London newspaper, it contains an active chemical called curcumin, which has been used as a treatment for arthritis and dementia, and which some researchers suspect may be effective in fighting cancer. The newspaper article calls turmeric "a super-healer."
Turmeric is a shrub related to ginger. It is grown throughout India, other parts of Asia and Africa. It is known for both its bitter taste and its golden color and should not be confused with Javanese turmeric, a different spice.
Food Uses
Sometimes described as the "poor man's saffron," because of its bright yellow coloring and the fact that it's much more readily available than saffron, turmeric is used in small amounts as a food coloring in dairy products, beverages, cereal, confectionaries, ice cream, bakery items and savory products to obtain a lemon or banana color, according to Ramdev Food Products Pvt. Ltd., a processor and exporter of Indian spices. It is also used to flavor food products such as sausages, pickles, sauces, chutneys, relishes and fish, and it is one of the principal ingredients of curry powder.
Cultural Celebration
According to Ramdev Food Products, turmeric is used in many Hindu celebrations. In particular, Hindu brides sometimes rub turmeric on their bodies for a "glowing look," and newborns have turmeric rubbed on their foreheads for good luck.
Skin Care
Although few studies have been done to prove its medical efficacy, turmeric has long been used to assist in skin healing. According to the the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the herb is sometimes applied directly to the skin, in paste form, to heal wounds and treat eczema. Ramdev Food Products notes that it is used, in paste or powder form, to prevent scarring and scabbing from chicken pox and smallpox.
Arthritis
According to a study by researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine cited in the Journal of Natural Products, turmeric is effective in treating arthritis. An extract of curcumin was found to inhibit a factor called NF-KB from being activated in the joints.
Osteoporosis
The University of Arizona College of Medicine researchers also found that turmeric blocks a pathway that affects bone resorption, thus making it an effective way to slow the onset of osteoporosis. Turmeric, therefore, might be an effective dietary supplement for women to begin taking during perimenopause, when bone loss typically begins to escalate.
Inflammatory Disorders
The findings by the University of Arizona College of Medicine researchers also suggest that because of curcumin's ability to inhibit NF-KB activation, turmeric may also be effective in treating other inflammatory disorders, including asthma, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Digestion and Other Uses
Turmeric is used as a digestive bitter. It aids the body's ability to digest fat, according to Ramdev Food Products, and it helps relieve gas and bloating.
In traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has also been used to help regulate menstruation, according to NCCAM. It is also used for other conditions, including heartburn, ulcers and gallstones.
References
- The Daily Mirror: Health Benefits of Curry
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Turmeric
- Ramdev Food Products Pvt. Ltd.: Turmeric Medicinal Use
- Ramdev Food Products Pvt. Ltd.: Turmeric for Food
- University of Arizona College of Medicine: Turmeric Prevents Experimental Rheumatoid Arthritis and Bone Loss
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