Tumeric - Super Healthy Spice

What if I told you that one of the most effective anti-inflammatory and antiaging substances came from a common kitchen spice? Say hello to our newest aging fighter called curcumin.

New research confirms that turmeric is more than a fiery spice used in Indian food – it’s an anti-aging food as well. Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, has even been shown to help clear away the brain plaque associated of Alzheimer’s disease.

Curcumin is extracted from the Indian spice called tumeric, also referred to as curry spice. It is a orange yellow powder, is used in ethnic cooking, and is also a folk remedy for a list of ills.

Curcumin is the principle “curcuminoid” ( a polyphenol compound) of the Indian spice tumeric. The polyphenols give it it’s distinctive yellow colour.

Tumeric benefits come mainly from curcumin as does it’s yellow color. While tumeric is mainly used in cooking, curcumin is used for a variety of health and medicinal applications in it’s supplement form.

Here are some potential curcumin uses, known and suspected benefits:

-- Used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for almost 4000 years

-- Potential anti-cancer activity

-- Potent anti-inflammatory activity

-- Possible anti-viral activity

-- Powerful antioxidant

-- Anti-arthritis activity

-- Possibly protects against alzheimers disease

-- Increases effectiveness of antibiotics

-- Protects the liver from toxicity

-- Protects against lipid peroxidation and DNA damage.

-- Possibly improves mental function

-- Prevents and repairs muscle damage

Curcumin’s antioxidant properties destroy free radicals that affect our cells and result in premature aging and several disorders. It strengthens the liver and rids it of toxins. And those at risk of heart diseases can incorporate a pinch of turmeric in their meals to prevent any damage to the arteries. Turmeric also lowers cholesterol levels, and does not allow clots to form in the arteries.

Curcumin has also been shown in animal studies to protect the brain as it ages. Asian Indians have at least half the age related brain diseases (like Alzheimer’s disease) of those in the rest of the developed world. One possible explanation is their almost daily consumption of turmeric in dishes like curry.

While curcumin is the concentrated extract of turmeric and can be purchased as a supplement, the ethnobotanist James A. Duke theorizes the synergistic effects of food are more important than just consuming what appears to be the active ingredient.

Internet site references:

http://www.antiaginghacks.com/curry-ingredient-guardian-for-aging-brain

http://www.longevity-and-antiaging-secrets.com/tumeric-benefits.html

http://betterover50.info/anti-aging-food-compound-in-common-curry-spice-protects-brain-against-alzheimers