Turmeric: what is it?
For turmeric we can mean both a genus of vegetables and a drug made by themselves.
The species of greatest pharmaceutical and phytotherapeutic (therefore economic) interest is the Turmeric longa (or Domestic turmeric), but the Turmeric xanthorrhiza and the Turmeric Zeodaria.
There Curcuma longa it has long, oval and long petiolate leaves, while the flowers are collected in oblong spikes.
Distributed throughout Southern Asia (Species housekeeper is mainly native to southwestern India), Curcuma are herbaceous, perennial and rhizomatous plants, now cultivated in most tropical regions.
To thrive, turmeric needs an ambient temperature between 20 and 30 ° C, as well as a significant amount of annual rainfall. The plants are harvested annually and, normally, part of the rhizomes are kept for the cultivation of the following season.
Turmeric in the kitchen
When not used fresh, the turmeric rhizome is boiled for about 30-45 minutes, dried in hot ovens and reduced to a yellow-orange powder.
The main uses of this spice are: Indian cuisine, Pakistani cuisine, curries, generic dyes and as a food coloring.
The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which has a tangy, slightly bitter, distinctly earthy flavor and a mustard-like odor.
For millennia, in the countries of origin, turmeric has been used in most recipes; only recently, has it found a notable diffusion also in western nations, considering its use in the formulation of curry and some sauces.
Due to its coloring capacity (of yellow), turmeric is also known as "saffron of" India "; in fact, the active principle of these plants, namely the curcumin, is often used as a natural food coloring (E100), even if the high cost severely limits its use.
Turmeric is often used in vegan recipes, both for its remarkable health properties and to replace the yellow color of the grape yolk (forbidden for them).
The aroma of turmeric, warm and pungent, finds a certain resemblance to that of ginger (with which it shares the botanical family).
Turmeric based video recipes
Video Curry Recipes
The rhizome is not eaten as such, but washed, blanched, dried and ground into a fine powder.
Turmeric online
Online it is possible to find certified organic turmeric powder in a resealable 250g freshness pack, produced using only the best roots. Commonly used in the kitchen for the preparation of dishes and drinks (such as Golden Milk or turmeric tea), turmeric has been used for years in Chinese medicine as a natural well-being remedy. This item specifically is free of additives and produced without the addition of flavors, dyes, preservatives or flavor enhancers. 100% organic, it is packaged by hand and carefully checked to ensure the highest quality.
Available online
Alternatively, you can buy 500g organic turmeric powder, with a high concentration of Vitamin C, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium. Thanks to its characteristic spicy taste and inviting ocher color, it is perfect for the preparation of rice, curry, soups and other dishes. Rich in proteins, essential for increasing and maintaining muscle mass and for maintaining healthy bones, this turmeric powder is grown and harvested in a natural way, without resorting to the use of pesticides or other harmful substances, so much so that it has obtained the Organic Certificate of the Soil Association.
Available online
Golden Milk: A Healthy Habit
The video analyzes the properties of turmeric and the steps to prepare the Latte d "Oro at home.
It is a turmeric-based drink, easy to prepare and perfect for increasing the intake of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory molecules. The complete recipe is available by clicking here
Latte d "Oro - Golden Milk and Properties of Turmeric
Problems with playing the video? Reload the video from youtube.
- Go to the Video Page
- Go to the Video Recipes Section
- Watch the video on youtube
Biochemical Composition
The most important chemical components of turmeric are part of a group called curcuminoids, which includes: the curcumin (diferuloylmethane), the demethoxicurcumin and the bisdemetoxicurcumin.
The most studied element is curcumin, which makes up 3.14% of the powder on average.
Other volatile oils include turmerone, L"atlantone and it zingiberene.
Folk Medicine and Traditional Uses
In India, turmeric has always been used as a remedy for stomach and liver ailments, as well as a topical treatment to heal wounds due to its alleged antimicrobial capacity.
In the “Siddha” system (1900 BC), turmeric represents a medicine for various diseases and clinical conditions, affecting the skin, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, wounds, sprains and liver disorders.
Fresh turmeric juice is commonly used for various skin conditions, including eczema, chicken pox, shingles, allergic reactions and scabies.
Turmeric: Health Properties
In turmeric there are good quantities of an essential oil, which can also be extracted and used in perfumery.
The amount of oil present in the dried rhizome (together with the polyphenols curcuminoids, led by curcumin) gives the drug various pharmacological properties. The best known and most proven are the choleretic-cholagogue ones, which favor the production of bile and its outflow in the intestine; turmeric can therefore improve liver health, help eliminate excess cholesterol and facilitate the digestion of large meals and high in fat.
Turmeric is also very useful in the treatment of dyspepsia (bad digestion), meteorism and flatulence (it has carminative and antispasmodic properties); moreover, it has shown moderate anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant properties.
Both in vitro and in animal studies, curcumin has been shown to be potentially useful in the treatment of numerous diseases and related symptoms, including Alzheimer's disease, AIDS, arthritis, diabetes and several types of cancer. in particular that of the colorectal and pancreas; on the other hand, in man, the doses necessary to obtain any type of beneficial effect are very difficult to establish.
Insight: Turmeric for Cancer: Is It Possible?
Furthermore, the reduced bioavailability of the substance suggests that many of the effects demonstrated in vitro are absent in humans.
Despite this, curcumin is still the subject of numerous studies, both to confirm its curative properties and to improve its systemic absorption. In this regard, the association of turmeric with piperine has been proposed, which can increase its bioavailability until 2000. %, or "incorporation into liposomes and complexes of soy lecithin. It has also been observed that the absorption of curcumin improves in the presence of the other components of turmeric, while it is worse when taken in isolation.
According to National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, "there is little reliable evidence to support that" the use of turmeric can benefit any health condition, as few clinical trials have been conducted (for the time being) "(2012 year statement).
Method of Use and Side Effects
The quantity of turmeric recommended for continuous and systematic intake is on average 1.5-3g of dried and pulverized rhizome per day; due to the low water solubility typical of essential oil and curcuminoids, it is not recommended to take it in the form of herbal tea. Further information on therapeutic doses and methods of use can be found in the article treat yourself with turmeric.
The use of turmeric is contraindicated in the presence of gallstones; in this case, it is better not to abound with curry or other sauces containing good quantities of this spice.
No other significant side effects are reported in the literature.
Possible Contaminations
Turmeric, like other spices, is sold by weight and is a potential target for common commercial fraud (adulteration, sophistication, etc.). It is not uncommon for similarly colored, cheaper but potentially toxic powders to be added to turmeric; the most common is lead oxide (II, IV), which gives turmeric a more red-orange color instead of its natural golden yellow.
Questions and answers
What are the properties of turmeric?
The essential oil contained in turmeric is a hepatoprotector, promotes digestion and the elimination of cholesterol. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties
What are the nutritional values of turmeric?
Nutritional values per 100 g of dried ground turmeric: energy 354.0 kcal, fat 9.88 g (saturated 3.12 g, monounsaturated 1.66 g and polyunsaturated 2.18 g), carbohydrates 65 g, protein 7.83 g, fibers 21.10 g
Are there any cotroindications to the use of turmeric?
Turmeric is not recommended for gallstones. Overdose could lead to stomach pains.
How is turmeric taken?
Turmeric can be taken orally, in capsules and capsules, available in pharmacies and herbalists. The recommended daily dose is between 1.5 and 3 g
PLEASE NOTE
Before using turmeric for similar-therapeutic purposes, it is always advisable to ask for the preventive advice of the doctor, just as it is important to follow the instructions on the package or on the package leaflet (if present) of the turmeric product that you want to take.
Sponsored content: My-personaltrainer.it presents products and services that can be purchased online on Amazon and / or other e-commerce. Every time a purchase is made through one of the links on the page, My-personaltrainer.it could receive a commission from Amazon or from the other e-commerce mentioned. We inform you that the prices and availability of the products are not updated in real time and may change over time, so we invite you to check availability and price on Amazon and / or on other e-commerce mentioned.
Select plant Fir Acacia Acerola Sorrel Yarrow Yarrow Yarrow Aconito Adatoda Garlic Agnocasto Agrimonia Alchemilla Alkekengi Aloe Altea Witch Hazel Ammi or Visnaga Pineapple Andrographis Anemone Pulsatilla Angelica Anise Star Anise Japanese Star Anise Bitter Orange Bitter Areca Arnica Harpagophytum Arpagophyte Artemisia Asteragus Basil Asparagus Asparagus Peruvian Asparagus Asparagus Asparagus Hawthorn Boldo Borage Shepherd's Purse Boswellia Bucco Butea superba Cocoa Coffee Cajeput Calamus Calamus Marigold Camedrio Chamomile Roman Chamomile Camphor Cinnamon Ceylon Maidenhair Capuchin Artichoke Cardamom Cardiac Thistle Asian Thistle Carvi Cascara Cassia Catecu Catha Cabbage Celandine Chicory Centaurea Cinnamon Cypress Celandine Chives Cypress Coca Cola Colchico Combreto Condurango Comfrey Coriander Cranberry Barberry American Chrysanthemum Cumin Turmeric Damiana Digital Dioscorea Drosera Dulcamara Dunalilella Echinacea Eder a Ephedra Elenio Eleutherococcus Helichrysum Evening primrose Horsetail Alfalfa Erica Euphrasia Erisimo Escolzia Eucalyptus Farfara Farfaraccio Calabar bean Fenugreek Fennel Phytolacca Frangola Ash Fumaria Japanese Mushrooms Galega Ganoderma lucidum Garcinia Cambogia Mulberry Gentian Broom Ginkgo Guipana Ginkgo Guipana Guipane Gynestra Ginkgo Hibelia Gymnasium Hibelia St. John's Wort Horse Chestnut Ispaghul Hyssop Jaborandi Kava kava Konjac Laminaria Cherry Laurel Lavender Lemongrass Lespedeza Lovage Icelandic Lichen Lemon Linen Lippia Licorice Lobelia Hops Maca Marjoram Maize Mallow Manna Marrubio Marrubio d "water Matè Melaleuca Meliloto American Lemon balm Myrtle Myrtle Walnut WalnutMuscat Walnut Vomica Olive Meadowsweet Ononide Opuntia Oregano Orthosiphon Nettle Poppy Papaya Parietaria Feverfew Passiflora Chili Pepper Perilla Periwinkle Phyllanthus Plantain Picrorhiza Pilosella Pine Piscidia Podophyll Polygala Grapefruit Parsley Psyllium Pueraria Rattle Rose Parsley Parsley Parsley Rhubarb Sackwort Safflower Safflower Pervy Sedum Ergot Senna Serenoa repens Soy Solidago spirulina Tamarind Tansy Dandelion Badger Tea Lime Thyme Tormentilla Clover Fibrin clover Tuia Uncaria Bearberry Valerian Vanilla Mullein Veronica Veronica Viburnum Vinca Pansy Mistletoe Vine Withania Yohimbe Saffron Saffron Gingerbread Tendon Afonia Aphtas Functional algae Halitosis Breastfeeding Allergy Anemia Anguish Anxiety Arteriosclerosis Gouty arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis Arthrosis Asthenia Asthenia Sex U omo Asthenia Sex Woman Blepharitis and Conjunctivitis Eye bags Bronchitis Gallstones Kidney stones Salivary stones Baldness Androgenetic Candida Fragile hair Caries Headache Cellulitis Motion sickness Cystitis Climacteric Cholecystopathy High cholesterol Ulcerative colitis Colonoscopy Contusions Hematomas Convalescence Dermatitis Diarrhea Dyspnea of Vision Hemorrhoids Epistaxis Cardiac Erethism Fever Fibromyalgia Flatulence Phlebitis Gastritis Chilblains Gingivitis Herpes Loss of appetite Urinary infections Influenza Insomnia Hypersomnia Irritable bowel Hypertension Prostatic Hypertrophy Prostatic Jaundice Laryngitis Renal lithiasis Toothache Sore throat Magoritis Menus Onychomycosis Osteoporosis Dry skin Periarthritis Piorea Low pressure Prostatitis Psoriasis Cold Breast fissures Anal fissures Refl gastroesophageal ow Nasopharyngitis Rolls (abdominal fat) Wrinkles Salmonella Senescence Premenstrual Syndrome Sinusitis Quit smoking Overweight Fatty liver Constipation Stomatitis Stress Cough High triglycerides Ulcer Burns Fragile Nails Flushing Heat Warts Dizziness Herbalistic properties Antiallergic Anti-allergies Anti-allergic Tanning Agents Anesthetics Anti-allergic Aphthous catarrh Anticellulitiche anticonvulsant Antidiaforetiche antidiarrheal antiemetic edematous anthelmintic Antiemorroidarie antiphlogistic Antiidrotiche Antinevrotiche Antioxidants antipyretic antirheumatic antiscorbutic Antiseptic antispasmodic anti-uric Flavoring Aperitive astringent Balsamic Bechiche Capillarotrope cardiotonic Carminative Cathartic caustics Cicatrizant cholagogue choleretic Dyes Decongestants purifying Deodorants Detergents Disinfectants diaphoretic Detox Refreshing Diuretic Exciting emetic emmenagoghe Emollients Haemostatic Energy Epatoprotettrici Expectorants eupeptic photosensitizing Galattofore Galattofughe Galattogoghe Moisturizers Immunostimulators hypertensive Hypnotic Hypoglycemic hypotensive irritant laxative Soothing Narcotic Nervine Nutrients Odontalgiche Pectoral revulsive purgatives mineralizing fresheners rubefacient Scialagoghe Sedative soporific Starnutatorie stomachic stomatal Narcotics Tenifughe Tonic vasoconstrictor vasodilator vermifugal Vescicatorie vitamin salve
