Turmeric Sutra

News has been spreading lately about turmeric and its benefits as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Researchers are now conducting many human studies to discover the true advantages of this wonderful spice’s active ingredient called curcumin. Research thus far has indicated that turmeric may wield a bounty of health gains to those who consume it.

Turmeric has been used as a spice and treatment for ailments for thousands of years. It is the ingredient which gives curry its flavor, although this spice may be used in many ways. For many people, turmeric may have an unfamiliar flavor and odor, especially if you have never used it as a common spice in your cooking. The potential for life that this spice may give you should easily overshadow any initial unfamiliarity you and your family may have. Once people have tried a curry dish a couple of times, it quickly becomes one of the “asked for” items in your home menu by all who have enjoyed it.

Grown mostly in India, turmeric’s tubers are cooked, dried and ground to yield a beautiful yellow colored flavoring. It is a relative of the ginger plant -- which has also been purported to have many health benefits to humans. You will find turmeric to be quite affordable and readily available in the spice displays at your local supermarket. A quick search for recipes which use turmeric will give you hundreds of delectable additions to your family’s cuisine. The curry recipes in particular are robust and are excellent for chasing away the chill from a cold winter’s day.

Suggestions for further reading:

Turmeric, from the University of Maryland Medical Center
Why the Buzz about Turmeric, by Narda G. Robinson, DO, DVM, MS, FAAMA: Colorado State Univ.
The Spice of Life, by Tom Vasich: University of California Irvine
Curry Recipes, from www.curryrecipies.org

Copyright Rodney A. Crater 2011