TURMERIC –THE GOLDEN CHAMPION FOR HEALTH
- January 07, 2023
- by
- Khyra
‘It’s going to be a journey. It’s not a sprint to get in shape-Kerri Walsh Jennings
Turmeric is a flowering plant, Curcuma longa, of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae, the rhizomes of which are used in cooking. The plant is a perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It requires temperatures between 20 and 30 °C (68 and 86 °F) and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive. Plants are gathered yearly for their rhizomes, some for propagation in the following season and some for consumption. Turmeric powder is about 60–70% carbohydrates, 6–13% water, 6–8% protein, 5–10% fat, 3–7% dietary minerals, 3–7% essential oils, 2–7% dietary fiber, and 1–6% curcuminoids. The golden yellow color of turmeric is due to curcumin.
Turmeric forms an indispensable part of Asian and West African kitchens. It not only imparts a beautiful and bright yellow color and flavor to your curries, rice, and desserts but also is known for its medicinal properties that are used to manage many health conditions.
ACTIVE COMPONENTS OF TURMERIC
Phytochemical components of turmeric include diarylheptanoids, a class including numerous curcuminoids, such as curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Curcumin constitutes up to 3.14% of assayed commercial samples of turmeric powder (the average was 1.51%); curry powder contains much less (an average of 0.29%).[21] Some 34 essential oils are present in turmeric, among which turmerone, germacrone, atlantone, and zingiberene are major constituents.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF TURMERIC
Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory agent helping to suppress chronic inflammation which is a precursor to several health conditions like heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and cancer.
Another way in which turmeric helps in losing weight is by regulating sugar levels and further preventing insulin resistance. This result is that excess fat is not retained in the body.
Turmeric is loaded with antioxidants with properties that help to neutralize free radicals. By so doing aging and its attendant issues are kept at bay.
Turmeric is excellent for immunity. Turmeric has certain anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation in the body, which is one of the factors causing obesity. Curcumin, an antioxidant, suppresses the inflammatory condition in fat, pancreatic, and muscle cells. According to a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition, this can help reduce high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and other metabolic. can actually suppress fat tissue growth. This result is that excess fat is not retained in the body.
According to a study conducted at Tufts University, curcumin can actually suppress fat tissue growth. This result is that excess fat is not retained in the body
Safe consumption of turmeric increases bile production in the stomach. Bile is a digestive juice that helps in emulsifying fat and metabolism.
HOW CAN YOU USE TUMERIC FOR WEIGHT LOSS?
One way is to drink turmeric tea. All you need to do is to pour a cup or two of water into a saucepan and boil it. Once the water comes to a boil, add a dash of turmeric to it. In case you want to add cinnamon, you could add a stick or powder to it. Cinnamon also helps lose weight. Stir well and pour it into a cup, drink when it is lukewarm.
Another way is to add it to curries, rice dishes, desserts, and other delicacies regularly.
Golden milk is another option. Add a teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of warm milk. Sweeten with honey, dates, or cane juice. Stir well and drink. Golden milk pairs well with bread, toast, and kpokpo garri!
CRUCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Remember, turmeric is not a miracle spice; you will have to eat a healthy diet combined with exercise to lose weight. The same applies to all spices, herbs, or any other nutritious food, even if they have been proven to be beneficial for weight loss. While curcumin is responsible for a significant portion of the health benefits of turmeric, the best turmeric supplements and brands will have a blend of both ingredients to create a balanced capsule safe for daily consumption.
Combining turmeric with black pepper extract, also known as “piperine,” improves bioavailability by 20 times.