Happy February! As we enter the second month of the new year 2016, our healthy resolutions are still possible. In fact, every day is a new day to get healthier, and feel better!
This month I will be spotlighting a different spice each week. Spices tend to be overlooked when we reach for more healthful foods. Fruits and vegetables are a given. As are leaner cuts of meat, wild caught fish, whole grains and the attempt to remove excess sugar and additives from your foods.
Tumeric is up today. The lastest “superfood” in the spice world. If you are watching almost any healthy trend, tumeric is on the menu. Either fresh or dried it’s nutritional benefits are off the charts. It’s composition of unique phyto-chemical pigment compounds impart intense flavor, color, and distinctive fragrance to the recipes it added to.
Tumeric is a root, belonging to the ginger family. “Its roots as well as leaves have long been used in traditional Indian and Chinese medicines for their demonstrated anti-inflammatory (painkiller), anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer properties”. As you can see tumeric’s benefits go way back!
One of the biggest benefits of tumeric is it’s anti-inflammatory properties. As we age, our bodies fill with inflammation from unhealthy choices. It’s curcumin in tumeric that gives it the bright orange color and healing properties. With no cholesterol, it’s high anti-oxidants with fiber help to control the “bad” LDL cholestero. High concentration of Vitamin C, minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, copper, zinc, and magnesium are components of tumeric.
Tumeric is readily available in powdered form and in some areas, fresh. I am lucky to be able to get the fresh root. I grate it into my morning shake, lunch salads and dinner sautes. It adds a slightly spicy flavor, similar to ginger. Be careful when handling tumeric as it does “bleed” the orange color when fresh and can stain clothes and wooden cutting boards. Totally worth it. Tumeric, it’s what’s in breakfast, lunch and dinner!
www.nutrition-and-you.com/turmeric.html
*Disclaimer:
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Kim Gerhardt, Certified Health Coach, does not take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
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