Turmeric to the Rescue!
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a spice from the turmeric root plant. The most familiar is the yellow spice from the root that’s used in many curry dish recipes. Curcumin is the medicinal bioactive chemical compound (curcuminoids) found in turmeric. Turmeric and its compounds are listed as one of the most effective nutritional super food supplement. When taken in conjunction with other foods, or super foods, turmeric may offer increased benefit and absorbs best. Turmeric is fat soluble, so it’s best taken with a bit of fat, such as, within a meal or smoothie that contains some fat.
What are the benefits of Turmeric?
The chemical curcumin found in turmeric has shown to provide anti-inflammatory benefits. When pathogens and bacteria invade our body they have the ability to make us sick and even kill us. Chronic inflammation has become very common and may persist as we may not even know it. Chronic inflammation is also being found to be the culprit in many diseases of the body and brain.
Inflammation can be caused by so many things. As far as our diet goes, inflammation can be caused from things like smoking, alcohol, and sugar. These things do lead to pronounced inflammation when our body tries to fight their affects.
So where does turmeric step in? Turmeric can be taken as a preventative. Also, once long term inflammation has done some damage then turmeric can ease some inflammation symptoms. Turmeric can benefit most of us, but no one single food, not even turmeric, is going to overpower a bad diet. Obviously a few bad diet days or occasional alcohol is not immediately going to iron in permanent damage, but if we do these things too often then the body cannot keep up. The best course of action is to avoid processed and chemical ridden food and enjoy some turmeric into the diet.
Keep in mind too that even excess body fat creates an inflammatory state. Excess fat causes the body to release more cytokines in order to come to the rescue. Cytokines are signaling substances in our body that are secreted by cells of our immune system which have an effect on other cells that regulate the functions of our body and immune system. Increased fat cells put our body in a constant state of stress and an over active immune response including issues with hormones. Reducing body fat is helpful, as is incorporating anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric. Check with your healthcare professional if you have health issues or if turmeric may interfere with medications.
Can I eat raw turmeric?
Many people add raw turmeric into their smoothies for added benefit. Using and taking turmeric in powder form or within a super food recipe offers the best benefit and easiest use. Some super food blends offer turmeric within their proprietary blend, such as Rawrlife Superfoods.
Can I grow Turmeric?
We have found that by placing the root in a glass with water until a sprout erupts seems to work best. Then place the sprouted root in the soil just deep enough to cover the root. Keep the soil moist and well drained. It prefers morning to afternoon sun, but in harsh heat climates avoid too much sun. Cover your plant in freezing temperatures. Ginger can be grown the same way.
Stay Awesome,
– RAWr! Life.