Thank goodness for Turmeric

You may associate it with curry, but turmeric also has a vast array of healthy benefits.

This is the time of year when all the festivities come together; it’s not like birthdays, which are conveniently spread through the year! And the cost on your digestive system can be overwhelming. But there is a herb that can help to keep things working smoothly and it’s called turmeric.

If you’re keen on Indian food, you probably think of turmeric as a spice sitting in your spice rack right now, but in fact it is one of the world’s oldest herbal remedies.  With records dating back to 600 BC, turmeric has a vast array of uses besides being an important ingredient in Asian cooking. The healing secret is a component called curcumin, which is the main biologically active phytochemical found in the turmeric root. 

Turmeric is a member of the Curcuma botanical group, which is part of the ginger family of herbs, the Zingiberaceae. The root and rhizome (underground stem) of the Curcuma longa L. plant is crushed and powdered into ground turmeric, which is used worldwide as a seasoning in curry, as well as being the source of curcumin.

It helps protect the liver

Being rich in curcumin, ground turmeric helps protect the liver, lower cholesterol levels, and is an antibiotic.  Combine turmeric with artichoke and you have double the benefits. It increases bile flow, thus preventing the fermentation of undigested fats in the intestine, which can lead to flatulence, bloating and cramps. 

It is good for hangovers

According to ayurvedic traditions, turmeric can soothe the stomach and balance an upset digestion. Just take a small spoonful of turmeric and stir it in a cup of yogurt right after lunch. In Japan they have a whole row of turmeric preparations for curing hangovers. And in a recent animal study, extracts of turmeric root reduced secretion of acid from the stomach and protected against injuries such as inflammation along the stomach or intestinal walls and ulcers from alcohol.

It soothes IBS

Being a potent anti-inflammatory, turmeric is also recommended to help maintain a healthy bowel and may be beneficial for sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).  Recent research conducted at the University of Reading has shown that a daily dose of a standardised turmeric extract supplement, can help relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, with 66 per cent of the study group reporting a definite or some improvement in their overall symptoms.

5 reasons why turmeric is good for you

1. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and may help reduce and even prevent inflammation of the intestines – therefore being of potential use to sufferers of crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome.
2. Researchers have found that it may help fight cancer and stifle the growth of tumours.
3. It has a powerful antioxidant effect, equivalent to the combined effects of vitamins C & E.
4. Researchers believe that diets rich in curcumin may help explain why rates of Alzheimer’s disease are much lower among the elderly in India, compared with their western peers.
5. Turmeric not only enhances the flavour of food but also aids digestion, particularly of protein, promoting absorption and regulating metabolism. 

Try these...

As the parties start to roll, here’s how to give your digestion a helping hand.

• Eat before you drink. Make sure the turkey does something useful, like mopping up the alcohol before it enters the blood stream.
• Drink plenty of water to stop yourself dehydrating.
• Sleep - make sure you get an extra dose.
• Drink more slowly. Don’t feel you have to drink it all at once.
• Have fruit juice for breakfast.  Something like vitamin C is vital in recovering from a hangover.
• Avoid coffee and a hair of the dog - both may be useful in the short time, but symptoms are likely to return with a vengeance, once their effects have worn off.

By Helene Hodge