Turmeric--- an amazing panacea.

An amazing panacea

Turmeric, a perennial plant of ginger family, native of South-Asia, needs temperature from 20 to 30 degree centigrade and heavy rainfall. Mostly rhizomes of the plant which is rootstock or underground stem of the plant, is used for different functions. It is used as spice, coloring agent, and in some parts of India the leaves are used to wrap and cook foods. It is also used as preservative and flavoring agent in canned beverages, dairy- products, ice-creams, sweets, sauces, gelatin and others. It has wide cosmetic applications such as Skin-toner, Sunscreen etc. .Let us view the nutritional value per 100g of the turmeric.--

Principle

Nutrient Value

Percentage of RDA

Energy

354 Kcal

17%

Carbohydrates

64.9 g

50%

Protein

7.83 g

14%

Total Fat

9.88 g

33%

Cholesterol

0 mg

0%

Dietary Fiber

21 g

52.5%

Vitamins

Folates

39 µg

10%

Niacin

5.140 mg

32%

Pyridoxine

1.80 mg

138%

Riboflavin

0.233 mg

18%

Vitamin A

0 IU

0%

Vitamin C

25.9 mg

43%

Vitamin E

3.10 mg

21%

Vitamin K

13.4 µg

11%

Electrolytes

Sodium

38 mg

2.5%

Potassium

2525 mg

54%

Minerals

Calcium

183 mg

18%

Copper

603 µg

67%

Iron

41.42 mg

517%

Magnesium

193 mg

48%

Manganese

7.83 mg

340%

Phosphorus

268 mg

38%

Zinc

4.35 mg

39.5%

The phytochemicals found in this rhizome, on research, enough evidences have been garnered to use it safely as medicine and food supplements in many diseases with certain precautions. Oral intake may be harmful in pregnancy, gall bladder problems and Gastro- esophageal reflux diseases. Interaction with certain medications which slow down blood clotting such as aspirin, ibuprofen can adversely affect as it is also anti-coagulant

The stockpile of research data indicates that cur cumin will be effective in the following diseases:-

1) Inflammatory Bowel. In fact, it has got anti-inflammatory anti- bacterial properties so it can be used in a wide range of such diseases including cuts, burns and irritable bowel syndrome and flatulence.

2) It is also a powerful anti-oxidant as such, effective in preventing cancer particularly in curing of breast cancer, liver and prostate cancer. This helps to produce in body the master anti-oxidant glutathione

3) It may prevent and slows down Alzheimer. The tests have shown that the amyloidal plaque which is a cause of this disease is depressed by cur cumin. It is also non-toxic therefore it can be used to minimize the side effects of orthodox cancer treatment.

4) The anti-oxidant properties of curcumin helps to lowers the cholesterol; and triglycerides in blood and protects us against cardio-vascular diseases. It is a better anti-oxidant than Vitamins C and E since antioxidant properties of the rhizome are not degraded by heat so cooking does not spoils it properties.

5) It Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.

6) It is a beautiful skin-toner.

Last but not least, you should be very selective about what form you are taking turmeric. If you take the herb/spice which is not organically grown and processed, you are missing out most potent healing factors. Best is raw.

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This Hub was last updated on March 29, 2013

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