Tag: turmeric

Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin

Right from the ancient times turmeric has been used in our society. A lot of thesis has been written in the Indian mythology about the benefits of Turmeric. Most of the people in our society know turmeric as a spice used in cooking various dishes. Its addition gives the yellow color to the curry. It is not only used as a spice but also as a wonderful medicinal herb. Since turmeric offers lots of health benefits it is considered as one of the best nutritional supplements that we have. Most of the researches made in this regard prove the same. It has several medicinal properties in it which is very much beneficial for the human body. Out of all the compounds present in this herb, the most essential and beneficial is curcuminoids i.e. Curcumin. Curcumin is considered as one of the most active compound which is present in turmeric. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant property plays a major role in keeping the body fit and healthy.

Usually turmeric has 3 % of Curcumin by weight. So it is also consumed as a supplement. Since the human body does not absorb the Curcumin properly, it is taken along with black pepper. The black pepper contains piperine which increases the absorption of the Curcumin inside the human body by whopping 2000 %. Moreover you can also take it along with the fatty meals as Curcumin is a wonderful fat soluble agent.

In a healthy body inflammation plays one of the most important roles. It helps the body in fighting the germs and bacteria that could cause serious damage and moreover also helps in repairing the damaged parts of the body. If the process of inflammation does not take place, the pathogens can easily attack our body and harm us. The inflammation process needs serious attention. While the acute or the short term inflammation inside the human body is very much necessary, the long term or the chronic inflammation causes damage to the tissues and so it should be controlled otherwise you can get diagnosed with cancer, various heart diseases, Alzheimer’s condition and metabolic syndrome. Here the use of Curcumin which is found inside turmeric comes handy. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory property which is way better than most of the anti-inflammatory drugs which we have in the market these days. It directly targets the inflammatory pathway at the lowest level by blocking the NF-kB molecules. This NF-kB molecule is the one which travels into the cell and turns on the process of inflammation. Without getting into further deep knowledge about the processes inside the body, let’s just remember that Curcumin is important for the fight against the chronic inflammation.

Oxidative damage is one of the major reasons why people get diagnosed with so many chronic diseases. The process of aging also gets affected. All this processes include unpaired highly reactive molecules and free radicals. This free radical causes most of the damage. It reacts with proteins, fatty acids and DNAs inside the body and forms harmful compounds. Here comes the need of the strong antioxidants. The antioxidant helps in neutralizing the structure of the free radicals. Again turmeric here has strong antioxidant properties and so is Curcumin. They simply increase the antioxidant enzymes inside the human body and protect it from the oxidative damages.

It has been reported that turmeric can be highly beneficial in treating the cancer disease in which there is uncontrolled growth of the affected cells. Since Curcumin affects the molecular structure of the human body, it is believed that it can be very much useful in controlling the growth and spread of this disease at the lowest level. It reduces the growth of the new blood vessels inside the tumors and also starts the metastasis process. Both of them play a major role in getting rid of the cancerous cell. While it has been tested on the animals, the test on the human beings is still going on. But one thing which is sure is that the colorectal cancer can be prevented with the help of Curcumin.

Curcumin further boosts the brain-derived neurotropic factor which improves the functioning of the brain. The neurons do develop in the later stages of the life and forms the new connections which are required in proper and smooth functioning of the brain. The presence of the Curcumin inside the human body is very much important to fight against the several degenerative processes which happen inside the brain. If you regularly eat turmeric then you are very much protected against the brain diseases. The Curcumin inside the turmeric makes sure of that. There is a never ending list of the benefits of the Curcumin of the human body. It plays a vital role in reversing the steps which leads you to the chronic heart diseases. Curcumin repairs the lining of the blood vessels which is called as endothelium and helps it in its proper functioning. The risk of the heart attack decreases by 65 % if you regularly eat turmeric in your diet. I guess the above mentioned reasons are enough for anybody to get convinced and start eating this wonderful herb.

July 22, 2014
Turmeric For Tendonitis

Tendon is the structure in the body that connects your muscle to the bony attachment. It is tough yet flexible band of fibrous tissue. When functioning normally,these tendons slide easily and smoothly as the muscle contracts.
Sometimes, the tendons get swelled up due to several reasons and the normal gliding movement of the tendon is impaired and the movement will become difficult.This very condition i.e. inflammation of tendons is referred to as Tendonitis. It is also called as jumper’s knee, swimmer’s shoulder or tennis elbow.
Tendonitis is most often an overused injury. It often occurs when people begin a new activity or exercise that causes a tendon to become irritated. It can be a result of an injury, repetitive movement, aging or a disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis. This problem is most common in the age of 40-60 year range. Occasionally, there is an anatomical cause too. If the tendon does not have smooth path to glide along, it is more likely to become inflamed. But these are some of the unusual situations.
Tendonitis is always diagnosed on physical examination. Consistent findings with tendonitis includes:

Tenderness directly over the tendon
Swelling of the tendon
Pain with movement of tendons
The pain increases on moving the injured area

TURMERIC FOR TENDONITIS:
Tendons the tough cord of fibrous tissue that join muscles to bone are essential for movement because they transfer the force of muscle contraction to bones. Tendonitis is a form of tendon inflammation that causes pain and tenderness close to joints, and is common in knee, elbow, shoulder, hips and wrist.
The global incidence rate of tendonitis is on a increase with increase in aging. In 2002, there were an estimated 232,000 Achilles tendon sports injury in U.S.
However,a derivative of the Indian curry spice turmeric hopes to offer a new treatment for the sufferers of this painful condition of tendonitis.
Curcumin,which gives the turmeric its bright yellow color, could be helpful in treating painful inflammatory conditions, such as tendonitis. According to the researchers at the University of Nottingham in the UK and the Ludwig-Maxmillians university in Munich, Germany studies show that curcumin can be used to suppress biological mechanisms that spark inflammation in tendon diseases.

Dr Ali Mobasheri of the University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, who co-led the research, said: “Our research is not suggesting that curry, turmeric or curcumin are cures for inflammatory conditions such as tendinitis and arthritis. “However, we believe that it could offer scientists an important new lead in the treatment of these painful conditions through nutrition. Further research into curcumin, and chemically-modified versions of it, should be the subject of future investigations and complementary therapies aimed at reducing the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the only drugs currently available for the treatment of tendinitis and various forms of arthritis.”

Curcumin has an effect on inflammatory reactions by inhibition of signalling molecules known as interleukin. Interleukins are a type of cell signalling protein molecules that can activate a whole series of inflammatory genes by trigerring a ‘dangerous switch’ called NFkB.
Curcumin known for its potent anti-inflammatory properties, The compound has been known to influence more than 700 genes, and it can inhibit both the activity and synthesis of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipooxygenase (5-LOX), as well as other enzymes that have been implicated for inflammation.

DOSAGE:
Turmeric dosage depends on the condition of the sufferer. It is easily accessible as tablet, tincture or in liquid form. The best way to include turmeric for prevention of various diseases is to include it in the daily diet. Taking 250-500 milligrams of turmeric(available in capsules or tablets)three times per day as mentioned on product level helps very much in treating tendonitis.
A usual dose can be made upto 6 capsules per day of 500mg. But if taken with water,take one pill at a time and have enough water to wash down the capsule.

According to a tendonitis patient,
“Taking a heaped tea -spoon of turmeric in a glass of orange juice (after diluting it in a little warm water) two times a day for two months brought down her pain to half the amount she had in the beginning.”,
TIPS FOR INCREASING ABSORPTION OF CURCUMIN:
1. One alternative is to make micro emulsion by combining a tbsp of curcumin with 1-2 egg yolks and a tsp or two of melted coconut oil. Blend it to emulsify the powder.
2. You can also use turmeric liberally in your cooking. Choose a pure turmeric powder rather than a curry powder, as a study has found that curry powder contains little curcumin.
3. Another strategy is to put 1 tbsp of curcumin powder into a quart of boiling water. Its best to drink this water within 4hrs.
PRECAUTIONS WITH TURMERIC:
1. Excess use of turmeric over long periods can cause indigestion, nausea, dizziness or diarrhea.
2. People with diabetes, pregnant women or those with bile duct obstruction or gall stones must avoid turmeric supplements.
3. Turmeric supplements should be avoided with children.
4.Checking about the right dosage of turmeric supplements with your doctor is essential.

June 14, 2014
Unveiling The World Of Food Fraud

Everybody knows that homemade food is best for our health. But if we step out of this illusion, then, we will find that even homemade food can be potentially harmful to us. This is not because of the cooking, it is because of the ingredients used in cooking. Those ingredients, even if are present as less as 1 tablespoon in our food, can turn the food into a poison. Adulteration has taken away the joy of eating. Today, we are exposed to harmful chemicals in almost everything that is not grown at home.

Food fraud is a term that encompasses deliberate substitution, addition, tampering or misrepresentation of food, food ingredients or packaging. Adulterants are used to save money and to contaminate the food and the responsibility of safeguarding ourselves falls solely on us.

From loose packed ground spices to wet produce like milk, everything has a potential of being adulterated these days, even if purchased from a reputable grocery retailer. Even the official systems set for food safety and prevention are constantly outdone by hidden and booming food adulteration business.

But obviously, turning a blind eye to food adulterants is no solution, we have to plan and avoid the adulteration. Here is a list of commonly adulterated food stuff, so that next time when you buy them, you can be extra cautious.

Turmeric:

The common adulterants in turmeric these days are a chemical known as metanil yellow and kesari dal, to enhance the yellow color of turmeric. The chemical is highly carcinogenic if consumed for a longer period of time and can also cause stomach disorders.

Green chilies :

Malachite green, a green colored dye that is often present in green chilies, has proven to be carcinogenic for humans, if consumed for a long period.

Milk:

Milk is a at the top of the food fraud list. Earlier it is used to be combined with water to increase the volume and decrease the nutritional value. Nowadays, even the water it is combined with, is contaminated. We also have higher levels of adulteration like starch, caustic soda, sugar, urea and lime, to give milk a thick texture. This can cause grave stomach disorders.

Ice cream:

Ice creams are adulterated with fatty substances when it is in the cold chamber, like pepperoni, ethyl acetate and washing powder. These substances are never mentioned on the packet of the ice cream; and are added to give beautiful white sheen and lightness of flavor to the ice cream, but instead cause stomach and liver disorders.

Coffee:

Do you know that your morning cup of coffee is not just coffee, it is a huge bag of sawdust, tamarind seeds and chicory powder and these ingredients cause more harm to us than the caffeine provided by coffee. They are added to provide bulk and color, and can cause diarrhea, stomach disorders, giddiness and severe joint pains.

Seafood:

The mercury content in sea food is something that is not hidden from the world. And we humans accumulate this carcinogenic mercury, not only by eating the seafood, but also by eating the birds which eat these fishes. Eating many such birds and fishes can cause cancer in our bodies.

Flour:

Rice and wheat are India’s staple food, and these are adulterated with starch to thicken them and leaves the consumer in the illusion that our diet is perfect. This, in reality costs us our life. Therefore, the process should be very carefully executed from cleaning of grains to grinding it.

Saffron:

Given that it is the most expensive spice in the world, there’s no doubt it is a victim to adulteration. Sandalwood, dust, starch, yellow dye and gelatin are common adulterants in starch. The easiest way to detect adulteration in starch is to avoid deep red color ones and cheap ones while buying.

Honey:

The purest form of honey are nowadays only found when winnie the pooh sticks his hand in the honeycomb to lick out the honey. In markets, honey is adulterated with minerals, antibiotics that are not meant for human consumption, corn syrup etc. Moreover, the ultra filtration process done on honey bottles makes the adulterants undetectable.

Olive oil:

It is said that olive oil is one of the best fat-free oil for human consumption. Well, the truth is that when it is adulterated with cheaper cracked oil, deodorants, corn oil, hazelnut oil and palm oil, it deteriorates the health instead of improving. Sometimes, it is laced with mineral oil, which makes the matters even worse.

So, next time when you buy this stuff, make sure it doesn’t have something that will land you in hospital. Take care that your food is authentic and there are minimal chances of you falling prey to the locus of adulterants; as your health is much more important in your life than anything else, and it is solely your responsibility to take care of it. So gear up, and say no to adulteration of food!

June 3, 2014