Superfood turmeric

Turmeric is the most commonly used spice in Indian kitchen. We have been using it since years for cooking and we are aware of its medicinal properties also from generations. It is every Indian household's go-to-fix for a variety of health problems. If someone has cold, cough we add it to milk, someone has skin problems we apply it, and blah blah blah.In our ancient and time tested science Ayurveda Haldi is a widely used herb .This article is to know more about turmeric and its uses.

Its botanical name is Curcuma Longa. The most widely used form of it is turmeric powder which is obtained from its dried root. Few people use wet root also. Due to its deep orange-yellow colour it is called as "Indian Saffron".Turmeric is a very unique and versatile natural plant product combining the properties of (a) a spice or flavourant, (b) a colourant of brilliant yellow dye, (3) a cosmetic and (4) a drug. It is mainly a spice that the colouring properties are usually more important than its flavour attributes.
It is very nutritious to include turmeric in daily diet as it is a good source of Vit.C, Magnesium, Iron, Manganese, Potassium, Vit B6 And fibre.
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/spices-and-herbs/212/2

Chemical constituents of turmeric and it's absorption:

The important chemical constituent of turmeric are called curcuminoids and among them curcumin is the prime.
Turmeric spice contains very less curcumin which is only 3 %. Unfortunately, curcumin is poorly absorbed into the blood stream.  Black pepper which contains Piperine increases absorption by 2000% of curcumin  from turmeric. So it is better to consume a few whole peppercorns along with the curcumin suppliment.
 Curcumin is fat soluble , so it may be a good idea to take it with a fatty meal or with a glass of milk.

Health benefits of curcumin:

1. Anti-inflammatory:
   
   Inflammation is a complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants,and is a protective response involving immune cells, blood vessels, and molecular mediators.Inflammation is very important as it helps body to fight against the foreign invaders and help protect the body .Curcumin fights with inflammation at molecular level and is very effective particularly in chronic inflammation.
2. Anti-oxidant: Oxidative damage is believed to be one of the mechanisms behind aging and many diseases.Free radicals tend to react with important organic substances, such as fatty acids, proteins or DNA.The main reason antioxidants are so beneficial, is that they protect our body from free radicals. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals due to its chemical structure . Curcumin plays double role as it blocks the free radicals as well as stimulates body's own anti-oxidant also boosts the activity of the body's own antioxidant enzymes. So the ageing is slower.
3. Improves brain function and lowers risk of brain disease:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), is a type of growth hormone that functions in the brain.Many common brain disorders have been linked to decreased levels of this hormone. This includes depression and Alzheimer's disease. Interestingly, curcumin can increase brain levels of BDNF.By doing this, it may be effective at delaying or even reversing many brain diseases and age-related decreases in brain function .There is also the possibility that it could help improve memory and make you smarter. 
4. Lowers the risk of heart disease:
   
   Heart disease is one of the major causes of death in the world. The pathology is complex and there are various factors that trigger the heart attack.It is well known that endothelial dysfunction is a major driver of heart disease and involves an inability of the endothelium to regulate blood pressure, blood clotting and various other factors (*).Several studies suggest that curcumin leads to improvements in endothelial function. 
5. Can help prevent and treat cancer:Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancer develops when the body’s normal control mechanism stops working. Old cells do not die and instead grow out of control, forming new, abnormal cells.                           Researchers have been studying curcumin as a beneficial herb in cancer treatment. It can affect cancer growth, development and spread at the molecular level (*).
6. May be useful in preventing and treating Alzhiemer's disease:        Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It mostly affects old age people around 60-65 yrs. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the world and a leading cause of dementia. It is known that inflammation and oxidative damage play a role in Alzheimer's disease, turmeric has effect on both of them. 
7. Helpful in arthritis patients: 
   
   In arthritis there are painful and inflammed joints. As curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory it can help very well. 
8. Helpful in delaying ageing and  in chronic age related diseases: Curcumin has become very popular as an anti-aging supplement .It is a strong anti-oxidant and But given that oxidation and inflammation are believed to play a role in aging, curcumin may have effects that go way beyond just prevention of disease.
9. Controls blood sugar:
   
   Turmeric can be used in the treatment of diabetes by helping to moderate insulin levels. It also improves glucose control and increases the effect of medications used to treat diabetes. Another significant benefit is turmeric’s effectiveness in helping reduce insulin resistance, which may prevent the onset of Type-2 diabetes. However, when combined with strong medications, turmeric can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It is best to consult a healthcare professional before taking turmeric capsules.
10. Wound healing:
    
    Turmeric is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent and can be used as an effective disinfectant. If you have a cut or burn, you can sprinkle turmeric powder on the affected area to speed up the healing process. Turmeric also helps repair damaged skin and may be used to treat psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

12)Immunity booster:

Turmeric contains a substance known as lipopolysaccharide, which helps stimulate the body’s immune system. Its antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agents also help strengthen the immune system. A strong immune system lessens the chance of suffering from colds, flu and coughs.

Turmeric (Haldi) Powder

The general dosage of Turmeric (Haldi) Powder is as follows.
Children	500 mg to 1500 mg *
Adults	1 to 3 grams *
Maximum Possible Dosage	12 grams Per Day (in divided doses)

* Twice or thrice a day preferably with black pepper and milk (but it can also be taken with water)

Best Time to Take: At least 30 minutes before food or an hour After food Curcumin suppliment :250 to 500 mg tablets or capsules are available, which can be taken 1 to 2 tablets or capsules twice or thrice daily depending on the health condition.

Side Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma Longa)

Turmeric is not known to cause serious side effects. However, some patients may experience a few adverse reactions to turmeric resulting in stomach upsets, dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea. Taking turmeric in a very high dose of more than 1500 mg two times per day can lead to an abnormal heart rhythm.

     Since turmeric is slightly acidic in nature, it can act as a stimulant for the gastric acid secretion. Hence, people having history of hyperacidity and dyspepsia should avoid using turmeric in high doses.

     Women, who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, should avoid turmeric as it can act as a uterine stimulant and increase the activity of the uterine smooth muscle cells resulting in premature uterine contractions, vaginal bleeding, and miscarriage.

    It is known to reduce the blood sugar levels and lead to a state of severe hypoglycemia in the dietetic patients who are using hypoglycemic medications.

Few home remedies :

1. For throat infection: 1 tsp of turmeric powder add to 2 cups of water and let it boil. Once it is little cooled to just warm use this water for gargles.
2. For flatulence: Add 1 tsp turmeric and 1 tsp rock salt to 1 glass of warm water and drink it empty stomach. It gives immediate relief.
3. For eczema: Apply a paste of fresh neem leaves and 1 tsp turmeric in sesame oil, once a day.
4.  For cough, cold and chest congestion:
   
   Take 1 tsp of carom seeds and 1 tsp turmeric in 1 glassful of water and let it boil for few minutes. Once it is little cooled add 1 tsp honey and drink it warm.Have it 2-4 times a day.Turmeric milk is also helpful. Just add a tsp of turmeric to 1 glass of milk.

5)In jaundice:Add 1 tsp of turmeric to a glass of water and drink it with some jaggery. 

6)For sprain:

Take equal quantity of turmeric and dry ginger powder and apply it over a sprain site and put a medium tight bandage.If swelling is present then add little salt to it.