Spice it up... Superfood Turmeric can help reduce inflammation By Jen Anderson
Turmeric originates as an underground root-like stem, known as a rhizome. The rhizomes are used fresh or boiled in water and dried, after which they are ground into a powder that can commonly be found on any grocery store shelf. The bright orange-yellow color is recognizable and sometimes used to dye silks, wools or cotton. The spice itself is prevalent in curries and Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine, but is also popular in “golden milk”, infused butter and other dishes.
Nevada News Group
T
he popularity of turmeric has been increasing over the past few years, and it’s no surprise that people are searching for alternative ways to incorporate the spice into their diet. From pills to milk, turmeric is a versatile plant and there is a method for virtually anyone to partake of its benefits.
What is turmeric? Turmeric is a spice that comes from the turmeric plant and closely related to ginger. It is commonly used in Asian food. You probably know turmeric as the main spice in curry. It is a bright yellow color when ground and has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavor or color curry powders, mustards, butters, and cheeses. Its active compound, curcumin, has many scientifically-proven health benefits, such as the potential to prevent heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer. It’s a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and may also help improve symptoms of depression, diabetes and arthritis. Curcumin is approved as a food additive by the World Health Organization, 18 Health & Wellness 2021
What medications should not be taken with turmeric?
European Parliament, and United States Food and Drug Administration and is known to be an anti-viral. According to a health study at Tufts University in Massachusettes, curcumin can suppress fat tissue growth and help regulate sugar levels, which may help prevent insulin resistance and help excess fat from being stored in the body.
As with any supplement, there may be some interactions when consuming higher amounts of curcumin. Before beginning any turmeric-heavy plan, one should check with their doctor or health care provider. Some medications to keep in mind are blood-thinners like warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), and aspirin, among others. Curcumin may also interact with drugs that reduce stomach acid and interfere with the action of these drugs, increasing the production of stomach acid: Cimetidine (Taga. met) Famotidine (Pepcid) Sources: webmd, healthline.com, stlukes-stl.com, ndtv.com, wikipedia.com
