We certainly didn’t!
Turmeric is a spice that’s made of the root of a plant. In our increasingly multicultural society, it’s nothing if not logical that we use foreign products in our dishes. Turmeric, which has a slightly bitter taste, is a good example of that. We use it to spice up our dishes, but it also has a lot of health benefits!
We’ve compiled a list of 20 health advantages of turmeric powder and tablets:
- It’s a natural antiseptic and antibacterial product, so it’s useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.
- According to research, if you combine it with cauliflower, you can prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of already existing prostate cancer.
- It prevents the spreading of breast cancer to the lungs. At least, in mice it does.
- You can prevent melanoma (an aggressive form of skin cancer) by consuming turmeric, and it will also make sure the already existing melanoma cells will kill themselves.
- It decreases the risk of leukemia in children.
- It’s a natural detoxifier of the liver.
- It can prevent Alzheimer and can also stagnate the development of Alzheimer by removing the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain.
- For several types of cancer it can prevent metastatic growths.
- It has a powerful anti-inflammatory function and works just as well as other anti-inflammatory medicine, but it doesn’t have any of the side effects.
- It’s proven to be very promising in delaying Multiple Sclerosis in mice.
- It’s a natural pain killer and a COX 2 inhibitor.
- It can help with fat metabolism and weight control.
- In Chinese medicine it is used in treatments against depression.
- Because of it’s anti-inflammatory function, it’s used in a natural treatment against arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- It increases the effects of chemo medicine Paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
- There are many promising studies going on about the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.
- There’s also continuous research going on into the positive effects of turmeric in Kahler’s disease (or Multiple Myeloma).
- It stops the growth of new tumors in blood vessels.
- It speeds up healing wounds and repairing skin.
- It can help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases.
Health Benefits of Turmeric
Eating a single gram of turmeric each day could cause short-term memory improvements in people predisposed to memory loss, according to a study conducted by researchers from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and several Taiwanese research institutes, and published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
"Our findings with turmeric are consistent with these observations, insofar as they appear to influence cognitive function where there is disordered energy metabolism and insulin resistance," researcher Mark Wahlqvist said.
Turmeric root has been used as a spice and medicine for thousands of years and is still an important component in traditional Asian cooking and medicinal systems. It is a critical component of curry powders, giving them their yellow color. That yellow color itself comes from a trio of chemicals known as "curcuminoids," the most commonly known being curcumin. In recent years, much research has focused on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other health-promoting benefits of curcumin.
Health Benefits of Vegetables
Health Benefits of Broccoli
A beautiful, green cruciferous vegetable, broccoli can be eaten raw or cooked, and offers more than a handful of health benefits.
Broccoli’s crunchy stems and delicate blossoms make it the most nutritious edible flower on earth, and finds itself a family member of cabbage, kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. It is nutrient dense, full of fiber and offers a refreshingly bittersweet flavor, the perfect inclusion in any meal.
Here’s a list of health benefits that you will get from crunching through just a few florets of broccoli per week:
- IT KEEPS YOU FULLER FOR LONGER
- IT ALKALIZES YOUR BODY
- IT ENHANCES DETOXIFICATION
- IT CONTAINS LOADS OF VITAMIN C
- IT CONTAINS LOTS OF ANTI-OXIDANTS
- IT FIGHTS THE SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGIES
- IT KEEPS YOUR HEART SUPER HEALTHY
- IT MAINTAINS YOUR BONE DENSITY
- IT’S GREAT FOR YOUR SKIN
- IT SOOTHES AND PREVENTS ULCERS
Health Benefits of Spices
The health benefits of spices are almost too extensive to list, since between all of the spices available in the world, they encompass almost every element of health, and have been shown to protect your body in some way. Some of the most important ways that they protect the body include their ability to fight infection, boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, prevent cancer, improve heart health, induce sweating, keep skin healthy, regulate the metabolism, detoxify the body, lose weight, increase appetite, strengthen bones, reduce stress, increase digestion, protect against dozens of dangerous diseases, cure colds, protect oral health, contribute to a healthy diet, balance the hormones in our body, and countless other important benefits! Spices are monumentally important, and tremendously delicious, so let’s learn a bit more about them.
Spices are defined as dried forms of various seeds, roots, fruits, bark, or vegetable across the world. It’s main use is to add color or flavor to food, even as an aesthetic addition, as well as to help it remain preserved and good to eat. Spices are found everywhere in the world, and often form essential parts of the culinary practices of certain cultures. They are different from herbs, because they are typically made from leafy, green plants, unlike spices. There are hundreds of different spices around the world, but probably about 50-60 that are commonly used in many different countries. Their original use was probably Anise Seed as a flavoring agent which then demonstrated antimicrobial properties by keeping food fresh for longer, and increasing the health of those who ate the spices regularly.
The trading of spice was a huge part of history, because when spices were discovered, and their mobility and value was established, they were some of the highest in-demand products that were traded between nations. In certain parts of the world, salt was more valuable than gold for the same reason. Many medicinal and traditional styles of medicine hinged on the use of spices as well, so they were always in high demand. China, India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa made up the majority of the spice trade, but the tradition and importance of spices are forever apart of our global history. Let’s take a look at the exciting benefits that many of the world’s most popular spices can contribute to our overall health:
- Allspice
- Anise Seed
- Bay Leaf
- Black Pepper
- Capers
- Caraway
- Cardamom
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Cumin
- Fennel Seeds
- Fenugreek Seeds
- Horseradish
- Mace
- Mustard Seed
- Nutmeg
- Saffron
- Tamarind
- Vanilla Bean
