“People change and forget to tell each other” –  Lillian Hellman

I went to a networking event earlier this month. It was the first time I attended the well established monthly group. I was impressed with many aspects of the evening. It’s always an honor to connect with new people.

During the session  I made notes from two presentations. The first topic focused on the importance of good nutrition.  The speaker was a qualified Nutritionist.

Her talk was very interesting and helped me reaffirm my commitment to helping people live a healthy and active lifestyle. The Nutritionist said we should aim to eat up to fifteen varieties of fruit and vegetables a day. By this she included smaller portions of garlic, onions, herbs and spices. Phew! I thought to myself! I can easily manage to stick to that.  Well at least I will when my kitchen is in full working order (I’ll share details another time).

Anyway, what the Nutritionist went onto say really grabbed my attention. She encouraged us to add Turmeric into our diet daily. If you’re new to my blog thanks for stopping by. I am not an expert in nutrition but a contributor to the field. It’s been over a week since I listened to the talk. I haven’t rushed out to buy any Turmeric yet as I wanted to understand the benefits of adding this spice into my food.  Let’s explore this together…

History

The spice comes from the turmeric plant, which is a member of the ginger family. It has historic roots in India and Southeast Asia for thousands of  years.  In the Western world turmeric has recently been recognised for it’s healing properties. However, it has been used medicinally for over 4,500 years.  Turmeric has been added to cooking and gives the food such as curries it’s yellow colour. Circumin is the main active ingredient in Turmeric.  Michael Mosley presenter from Trust Me I Am a Doctor reported there are over 200 compounds in turmeric. Scientists are interested in the one that gives the spice its colour, curcumin.

“The wellness and prevention market will outgrow the health care market” –  Leroy Hood

Health benefits of Turmeric

There are many reported health benefits connected to turmeric.  Here is a list to give you an understanding:

• Relieves Arthritis
• Controls Diabetes – encourages balanced blood sugar
• Improves Digestion
• Reduces Cholesterol Levels
• Immunity Booster
• Heals Wounds
• Promotes Balanced Moods
• Loosens Stiff Joints
• Improves memory

Turmeric has also been linked to combating cancers.  In 2015, Cancer Research UK reported that a number of laboratory studies shown cucumin does have anticancer affects.

Ideas on how to enjoy Turmeric

My research on this topic led me to many variations of consuming turmeric.  There are many recipes online for Creamy Turmeric Tea. You can also add turmeric to your scrambled eggs, frittata, or tofu. Turmeric is very popular to add to smoothies, lentils, soups  and rice.  There are also loads of recipes for adding turmeric to meat, fish and vegetable dishes.  Follow this link to check out 32 Turmeric Recipes, the Wonder Spice Your Body Needs

Turmeric and Heart Health

Followers of my blog will be aware of my focus on heart health this month.  In 2012, the American Journal of Cardiology that found turmeric extract reduces post-bypass heart attack risk by 56% .  It is also reported that turmeric is better than aspirin for heart disease prevention.  A daily dose of turmeric extract significantly improved the functional state of the blood vessels of healthy adults within two months (Green Med Info).

My next steps 

The extensive research has shown me there are so many benefits to eating turmeric.  To get the best affects for your health, it is recommended you should cook or heat up the spice.  There are many turmeric supplements available.  If you are going to buy this as a supplement it’s advised that you buy a high quality product.  My kitchen is still out of order, but as soon as I’m able to start cooking again I’ll be adding turmeric into my food.If you’ve found this content useful please ‘Like’, ‘Share’ and leave comments below.