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Health & Fitness

Golden Turmeric: 9 Health Benefits, Dr. Sanjay Gupta's Creamy Calming Tea & 2 Great Recipes

Do you have a jar of turmeric in the back of your spice cabinet, lonely and collecting dust? I do! Maybe you use turmeric to make a curry once in a blue moon or need it to add a natural yellow coloring to a sauce or condiment. But this spice, which is actually a plant and not an herb, is full of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and there is evidence that there may be many health benefits to consuming turmeric. 

Dust it off and let’s use it! 

What exactly is turmeric? It’s part of the ginger family and considered a natural botanical compound. The roots are traditionally boiled, dried and ground into a powder. The plant grows to 5-6 feet tall in the tropical regions of Southern Asia with trumpet shaped, yellow flowers. Turmeric has been used in India for 4,000 years and is a major part of Ayurvedic medicine, which originated in India more than 3,000 years ago and remains one of the country’s traditional health care systems. Its concepts about health and disease promote the use of herbal compounds, special diets, and other unique health practices. 

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in turmeric are mainly attributed to its most active component, Curcumin. This compound is also what gives turmeric is yellow-orange color. An antioxidant helps to fight against free radicals in the body, which can damage DNA, cell membranes and even cause cells to die. Curcumin may even help prevent some of the damage that free radicals can cause. It also lowers the levels of two enzymes in the body that cause inflammation.  Many diseases and illnesses may be positively affected by the Curcumin found in turmeric.

1) Heart Disease:  Because Curcumin helps stops platelets from clumping together and forming blood clots, turmeric may help blood clots from building up in the arteries. Early studies have suggested that turmeric may prevent atherosclerosis, which is caused by plaque buildup that can cause heart attacks or stroke. 

2) Brain Health: A recent study suggests that Curcumin contains a brain boosting chemical could help slow the progressions of Alzheimer’s by helping hippocampal brain cells grow.  Dr. Weil suggests that taking turmeric as a component in an anti-inflammatory diet, which can help prevent the risk of Alzheimer’s. In his website, he discusses the research that indicates that turmeric has been shown to prevent amyloid plaque formation in animals.   

3) Cancer:  It has been suggested by early research that Curcumin may help prevent or treat several types of cancers, including prostate, breast, skin and colon cancer. More research is needed to determine whether this is due to its strong antioxidant properties which protect cells from damage. 

4) Indigestion: Studies have found that turmeric reduced symptoms of bloating and gas in people suffering from indigestion. It has been prescribed in Germany as an approved herb to treat digestive issues. 

To read the rest of the important health benefits attributed to turmeric, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta's Creamy, Calming Turmeric Tea plus 2 Great, Easy Recipes Using Turmeric….go to
http://veganamericanprincess.com/9-health-benefits-of-turmeric-dr-sanjay-guptas-calming-creamy-turme…

Ellen Francis & Debby Sunshine

Vegan American Princess

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