Turmeric is a useful spice. Healing turmeric: beneficial properties and contraindications, recipes and dosage. Strengthening your immunity against the flu.

Every housewife knows about the spice turmeric. But her story beneficial features, contraindications and areas of application remain a mystery to many.

Turmeric - what is it?

Turmeric longa is an Indian plant characterized by amazing properties and unique taste and aromatic characteristics. The leaves and root of the herb are used to make a popular spice around the world.

More than many other age-related diseases, cancer is the result of the cumulative effect of years of discrete, small-scale attacks on the body. Numerous biomolecular attacks damage the “master plan” that cells must reproduce accurately. Inflammatory processes cause release large quantity destructive cytokines that affect almost all cellular functions. Normal communication within and between cells ensures proper regulation of healthy function. These pathways are easily disrupted by side effects such as inflammation. Changes in the cellular reproductive cycle. Cells undergo a four-step process as they prepare to replicate. Abnormal regulation of apoptosis. Apoptosis is a process of natural cell death, "preprogrammed" that prevents excessive tissue growth. When apoptosis fails, cells can undergo uncontrolled proliferation. Changed ways of survival. The other side of unregulated apoptosis: the survival of too many healthy cells can, paradoxically, endanger the host, allowing the cancer to take over, increasing the chances of mutation and spread. Excessive cell proliferation. Certain hormones and other stimuli can directly activate cells to reproduce without safety restrictions, especially when previous regulatory mechanisms have failed. Aggressive invasion of healthy tissue. This is achieved by the overproduction of enzymes and adhesion molecules that “dissolve” the tissue and allow the tumor to literally take root. The word "cancer" itself comes from the crab-like appearance of fully developed neoplasms that extend their tentacles in all directions into healthy tissue. Tumors require an increase in the number of new blood vessels. They are endowed with the ability to spontaneously generate new blood vessels as well as healthy tissue. Angiogenesis in cancer tissue is the primary means by which tumors grow. This is the migration of cancer cells to areas of the body beyond the site of the primary tumor. Metastases are a feature of most malignant tumors, and the common one declares the onset of end-stage disease because they change healthy tissue.

• Excessive or chronic inflammation.
• It is for this reason that inflammation is widely known as a “promoter” of cancer.
• Interruption of cellular communication channels.

Curcumin and cancer: an “old” disease with an “old” solution.

Turmeric is rich in coloring pigments golden color, thanks to which it was used in cooking, Food Industry, cosmetology and textile industry. The cost of this popular spice is low, so it is used instead of expensive saffron.

People have been using turmeric as a spice for over 2,500 years. It was originally used in India and Indochina until it was introduced to India at the end of the first century. Ancient Greece. Spice appeared in the Middle Kingdom much later. Local breeders managed to develop the best commercial varieties, which are highly valued in the world, since they appear on the world market extremely rarely.

In addition to curcuma longa, there are 40 more varieties of the plant, of which only three have found use in the food industry.

• Fragrant turmeric . It is often mistakenly called Indian saffron. It is commonly used in confectionery making, where it is valued over long turmeric.
• Round turmeric . They make starch. It is rare in our area, but in the East it is used in cooking.
• Turmeric cedoaria . Root pear-shaped small size is sold cut into pieces. Used in the production of liqueurs as a natural substitute for turmeric.

Cooking spices is a labor-intensive process. The side roots of turmeric are boiled with the addition of dyes and dried. After peeling, the tubers turn orange. The central root is not used. Found in stores in the form of powder and whole roots.

When choosing turmeric, focus on appearance. If the root is dense and without damage, it is suitable for consumption. You should not choose by color, because depending on the circumstances, the root may change color. The sense of touch will also help in choosing. The fresh root has a spicy and pungent odor.

It is better to store the seasoning in a glass container with a tight lid, otherwise the spice will lose its original smell and absorb foreign aromas.

Useful properties and contraindications of turmeric

Ancient Chinese healers were the first to learn about the benefits of turmeric. They used it in practice as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Scientists have proven that spice stimulates metabiosis and has a choleretic effect, and its antibacterial properties are sufficient to inhibit the development of tuberculosis.

The use of “Indian saffron” improves digestion and the growth of beneficial microflora. Medicinal properties, unlike other natural antibiotics, they manifest themselves mildly, without affecting the functioning of the liver.

The spice contains natural dye curcumin The substance destroys cancer cells without harming healthy organs and tissues. Turmeric is used to treat burns and wounds.

Video about the benefits and harms of turmeric

What other beneficial properties does it have?

1. Slowing down the development of melanoma and destroying already formed cells.
2. Prevention of prostate cancer (paired with cauliflower).
3. Destruction of amyloid plaques in the brain.
4. Preventing leukemia.
5. Prevention of metastases in cancer.
6. Slowing down the development of sclerosis.
7. Stabilization of body weight.
8. Providing anti-inflammatory effect in arthritis.
9. Slowing the growth of blood vessels in malignant neoplasms.
10. Elimination of itching in eczema, psoriasis and furunculosis.
11. Acceleration of wound healing.

Since turmeric has a strong effect on the human body, it also has contraindications.

When should you not use spice?

• During pregnancy during the first trimester.
• When taking blood thinning medications.
• For chronic diseases.
• When taking diabetic medications.
• With blocked bile ducts.
• For cholelithiasis.

It is not difficult to determine the negative effect of spices on the body. It manifests itself in the form of diarrhea, nausea, severe dizziness and general weakness. Doctors recommend consuming turmeric in moderation. Maintaining the correct dosage will be beneficial, but exceeding it is fraught with serious consequences.

Indian food recipes

Residents of India are well aware healing properties and the benefits of turmeric. Indisputable proof of this is the widespread use of spices in national cuisine.

A conversation on this topic can last for hours. I think it’s better if I give a few recipes from Indian cuisine that have forever taken root in my cookbook and are constantly used.

Rice with turmeric

INGREDIENTS:

• Rice - 1 glass.
• Butter - 1 spoon.
• Water - 2 glasses.
• Salt - 0.5 spoon.
• Turmeric - 0.25 spoon.
• Ground pepper.

STEP-BY-STEP PREPARATION:

1. I rinse the rice cereal exclusively with cold water, carefully rubbing it with my palm or fingers. After removing particles rice flour, remnants of husks and grains of garbage, lightly dry the grains.
2. I pour water into a small container and place it on the stove. While the liquid is boiling, I melt the butter in a saucepan with a thick bottom, add salt, turmeric, cereal and lightly fry.
3. Initially, the rice will become transparent, and a little later it will acquire a milky color. Immediately after this, pour boiling water over the rice, cover with a lid and reduce the heat. Rice cooks for 15 minutes. If I cook unpolished cereal, I increase the cooking time by 10 minutes.

Video recipe

Parakhti with potatoes

INGREDIENTS:

• Flour - 1 cup.
• Salt - 2 spoons.
• Warm water - 0.25 cups.
• Mashed potatoes - 1 cup.
• Ground pepper - 0.5 spoon.
• Turmeric - 0.25 spoon.

STEP-BY-STEP PREPARATION:

1. In a deep bowl, mix a glass of flour and half a teaspoon of salt, pour in water and knead the dough.
2. I divide the resulting mass into six parts and make round cakes. Using an oiled rolling pin, I make circles with a diameter of ten centimeters.
3. To prepare the filling mashed potatoes salt, season with pepper and turmeric. I'm starting to form the parachta.
4. Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each circle, cover with the second circle and press the edges together. To make them stick better, I pre-moisten them with water.
5. I fry the formed cakes in oil on both sides until they have an appetizing crust.

Indian style pea soup

INGREDIENTS:

• Sunflower oil - 2 tablespoons.
• Onion - 1 head.
• Garlic - 3 cloves.
• Ginger - 2 tablespoons.
• Green onions - 1 bunch.
• Red pepper - 1 pc.
• Peas - 450 g.
• Turmeric - 0.25 spoon.
• Cilantro - 2 spoons.
• Lime juice - 2 tablespoons.
• Mustard seeds - 1 spoon.
• Cumin seeds - 2 tablespoons.

PREPARATION:

1. In a thick-walled cauldron, heat the oil over high heat, add chopped onion, crushed garlic, chopped herbs, ginger, salt and red pepper. After three minutes I add turmeric.
2. I put the peas into the container, pour in eight glasses of water, bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat and cook the soup until the peas are boiled. This takes about an hour.
3. In a small frying pan, heat the oil, fry the cumin seeds and mustard seeds, for a maximum of half a minute. I add the fried spices to the soup, stir and leave covered for 10 minutes.
4. I add cilantro and lime juice to the soup, stir, add salt. I serve with lime slices.

In each of the three recipes, the spice is used in small quantities, but it significantly affects the taste of the finished dish. Try the recipes in practice and you will see for yourself.

Where is turmeric seasoning added?

I wonder what dishes turmeric is added to? Not every spice improves the aromatic characteristics of a treat.

In eastern countries, cooks willingly add turmeric to fish, meat, and vegetable dishes. In Tajikistan it is added to sweet drinks; in Europe it is used to add color to pasta, liqueurs, oils, cakes and pastries. Turmeric increases the shelf life of cooked dishes.

The spice gives bean culinary masterpieces an unusual taste, and the dough an unrivaled aroma and beautiful color.

Americans add it to meat, Uzbeks season lamb soup. The British cannot imagine an omelette without it.

Golden milk with turmeric

The drink we are talking about is truly “golden”, and not only in color, but also in its beneficial properties for the body. Many people have long experienced the healing effects of golden milk with turmeric.

Healers claim that the effect of golden milk is based on the strong anti-inflammatory property of the seasoning, thanks to which the drink suppresses pathogenic processes.

Drink base

To prepare the base, mix a glass of water with two tablespoons of turmeric, bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook for 10 minutes, stirring. The result is a thick paste, similar in consistency to regular ketchup. The composition is stored in a glass jar in the refrigerator for one month.

Golden milk drink

To make the miraculous drink golden milk, add a teaspoon of paste to a glass of heated milk. After this, the process of turning milk into miraculous nectar begins. A minute later it is consumed. Some people add fruit syrup or almond butter to the drink.

The duration of treatment using golden milk is forty days. This therapy involves drinking a drink before bed. It is recommended to conduct no more than two courses per year.

Traditional medicine recipes with turmeric

The unique qualities of turmeric have also been used in folk medicine. It is used for the treatment and prevention of ulcerative colitis, cholelithiasis, obesity, and infectious hepatitis. Added to a juice, smoothie or meal, turmeric improves digestion and reduces cravings for fatty and sweet foods. I will consider the most popular recipes traditional medicine depending on the disease.

1. For weight loss . To achieve results, do not consume turmeric pure form, and mixed with other products. Recipe: bring half a liter of water to a boil, remove from heat, add three tablespoons of tea, three pieces of ginger, a spoonful of honey and a quarter of a small spoon of turmeric. After cooling and filtering, 500 ml of kefir is added to the mixture. The drink is drunk instead of dinner.
2. For joints . Treatment of joints using turmeric is quite long-lasting. First, turmeric is made into a paste like golden milk. A spoonful of paste is combined with a spoonful of honey and three crushed cloves of garlic, a spoonful of ginger is added, mixed and applied to the joint before bed for three weeks.
3. For facial skin . You don't need expensive or exotic products to make a highly effective face mask. A small spoon of seasoning is mixed with dry milk in a ratio of 1 to 2, slightly diluted with warm water and applied to the face. The mask provides an amazing moisturizing effect.
4. For hair. The juice of two oranges is mixed with the pulp of one apple, half a banana, and a small amount turmeric, use a blender to make a homogeneous mass and apply to clean and damp hair for half an hour, then rinse with water. The mask strengthens hair and adds shine.
5. For the liver. The seasoning, thanks to curcumin, is very effective in the treatment and prevention of liver diseases. A quarter spoon of turmeric is combined with a glass of water and a spoon of honey. Wait until the ingredients are completely dissolved and drink. The procedure is carried out three times a day.
6. At diabetes mellitus . One gram of turmeric is mixed with one mummy tablet. Diabetics are recommended to take this single dose before each meal to maintain optimal sugar levels.
7. For immunity . Turmeric perfectly stimulates the immune system and increases the body's resistance to diseases. For prevention, it is recommended to take a teaspoon of powder diluted in a glass of warm milk once a day.
8. For a sore throat. Treat the throat with gargles. Eight grams of turmeric are mixed with the same amount of salt, add a glass warm water and gargle. The product perfectly relieves pain and disinfects.

Video recipes for beauty and health

These are not all recipes that call for turmeric. But this list is enough to understand that with its help you can solve many health problems.

This miracle herb is a relative of ginger and can rightfully be considered perhaps the most amazing plant. Its benefits can be listed endlessly. It is not for nothing that this yellow spice is so popular in the countries of the East, India and Central Asia. You can see what turmeric looks like in photos on the Internet and in medical books.

What is turmeric

Turmeric is a plant from the ginger family that is widely grown in Southeast India. Scientists count more than forty species of this herb, but only four varieties are used in the food industry and cooking: turmeric (a spice of the East), round, citvar root and aromatic turmeric (what turmeric, a well-known seasoning, is made from). That's what they call it indoor flower Pink colour, which can often be found in homes and offices.

Turmeric - beneficial properties

Scientists claim that the “golden root” is the strongest medicinal natural remedy. What are the benefits of turmeric? Healing properties Turmeric has not yet been fully studied, but the already known ones include:

• the ability to quickly heal any wounds (anti-inflammatory effect);
• antiseptic effect - the spice is not in vain used in the cooking of South Asian countries, where hygiene is not very developed, helping to disinfect food;
• positive influence on the liver - detoxification;
• plant's ability to help lose excess weight for weight loss and others.

Where is turmeric added?

The miracle plant is widely used in medicine, especially Ayurveda, where it is used everywhere - in medicinal recipes, when cooking delicious dishes. Where is turmeric added? For example, a drink made from ground spices and kefir treats anemia, and a powder diluted with water helps with diabetes, gallbladder and blood diseases. During pregnancy, some mothers are advised to consume the plant in ground form. In eastern countries it is believed that this benefits the health of the unborn baby.

Many housewives have a question: turmeric - what is it? The famous curry seasoning certainly contains this spice. It is called “Indian saffron” and is used in vegan dishes, sauces, and gravies. Hindus use yellow ginger almost everywhere, even in cosmetology. How to prepare a healthy turmeric cream? You need to mix a little spice powder with aloe juice, combine with baby cream - the miracle remedy is ready. The quality is so excellent homemade cream It will compare favorably with store-bought ones.

How to use turmeric

The Hindus long ago created a healing drink, which they called “golden milk”. It contains ground turmeric and milk. How to prepare the drink? The spice and milk are heated to a boil and then filtered. It is better to do this using a slow cooker to preserve the benefits of “yellow ginger” as much as possible. The recipe and photo of this delicious medicine are easy to find. Golden milk contains useful microelements, vitamins and substances that help fight inflammation, sore throat and cough. You need to drink the medicine 3 times a day, 100 milliliters.

How to eat turmeric? Curcumin is widely used in the preparation of pilaf, soups, and other delicious dishes; the substance is added to dietary supplements, coffee, and medicinal teas. Many housewives share recipes, photos of pilaf, dishes with this spice, and descriptions of how to prepare a valuable natural dietary supplement. “Yellow ginger” is used to make turmeric, a natural dye widely used in the food industry to give foods a yellow color. Turmeric is consumed as a powder, combined with pepper or lemon juice. This spicy mixture is a powerful antioxidant.

How to take turmeric for medicinal purposes

The healing properties of turmeric have been studied for thousands of years by healers in India and China. Hindus widely use “yellow ginger” to cleanse the body, even in the fight against cancer (dangerous cells stop developing and growing) and Alzheimer’s disease. It is worth mentioning the ability of the spice to fight overweight. Latest Research prove that the seasoning can prevent the growth of fat cells after weight loss and help stabilize it.

Turmeric - contraindications

No matter how useful turmeric is, there are still contraindications for its use. These include: allergies, pregnancy, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This spice is harmful for patients with such diseases, but it can be replaced with other, safer ones. Due to its powerful effect, the seasoning cannot be combined with medications or other drugs; its use must be discussed with your doctor.

Video: how to use turmeric for medicinal purposes