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Turmeric is a member of the ginger family, and it has blessed mankind with its manifold uses since times ancient. One will find turmeric in almost every household of the Oriental countries. Turmeric being easily available in Asia, the Asians are quite aware of the benefits of turmeric.
The rhizome of the turmeric is first boiled, then dried and ground into an orange powder - which is the most common form of turmeric available.
Mainly used as a culinary spice in South Asian and Middle-Eastern cuisines, there are many other benefits of turmeric when it comes to food. Turmeric holds its significance since the Medieval period where it was used as a substitute of expensive Indian saffron. Turmeric imparts rich yellow color to food stuff. To give boiled rice a golden color, rice is heated with turmeric in South Africa. E-100 is what its called when turmeric is used as a food additive. The pigment in turmeric is curcumic. Turmeric is an important ingredient in curry powder. Pickles are also made out of turmeric. Momos (dumplings) a hot-favorite in the Chinese and Nepalese cuisine is also spiced with turmeric. Turmeric gives flavor to numerous recipes. It is used to make a special sweet in Karnataka.
Turmeric possesses a lot of nutritional value - 6.3g protein, 3.5g minerals, 6.94g carbohydrates, 2.6g fibre, 349 kcal.
When it comes to Ayurveda, turmeric plays a dominant role there too. It is applied as an antiseptic for cuts, burns, and bruises. It can also be used as an antibacterial. Researches have revealed that in some particular cases turmeric can be taken as a dietary supplement.
There are numerous benefits of turmeric when it comes to the medicinal arena. It has the ability to cure stomach aches, skin problems, gastro-intestinal problems. Medicinal experiments depict that turmeric can show possible benefits in Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, childhood leukaemia.
Turmeric is nature's most powerful healer since 2500 years. When combined with cauliflower it prevents prostrate cancer and prevents advancing of breast cancer. It helps in weight management, and for this reason is consumed as a tea in Japan. It is a natural liver detoxifier, a natural pain-killer and has shown considerable results in reducing the side-effects of a chemo drug - Paclitayel.
Where health is considered an asset for a nation, turmeric comes with immense medicinal value to help man. It can be taken either in powder or in pill form. The most recently found out advantage of the turmeric is that it enhances brain derived neutrophic (BDN) factor, which supports nerve growth.
Beauty - the feminine world considers it an asset and is constantly striving to enhance it and maintain it. When it comes to beauty care and cosmetics turmeric is no less in that field too. Juice of raw turmeric enhances glow of skin. It reduces the growth of body hair, and gives a soft, fair, smooth skin texture. It reduces spots, blotches and pigmentation. It acts as a natural sunscreen, as it contains THC (tetrahydrocurocuminoids) - which is a powerful antioxidant.
It has a lot of traditional value too - a Bengali marriage is incomplete without the ritual of 'gaye holud' - where the bride and the groom are bathed with turmeric paste and water. For Pongal turmeric is used as a decorative purpose. In the south the poor families use dried turmeric tied in a string as the 'thali' necklace for their marriage.
Turmeric is a poor fabric dye used in coloring mainly Indian saris. It helps deter ants, it helps keep crocodiles and snakes away. It can be used as an effective medication at times of snake-bites. It is used for Chemical Acid Alkali tests and Boric Acid test. In fact, turmeric is even used to plug radiator leaks in water-cooled radiators. Turmeric Benefits are innumerable!!!
