Benefits of Turmeric for Weight Loss

Discover the incredible weight loss benefits of turmeric, how to best prepare them and how much you should eat to get maximum benefit from turmeric - one of nature's amazing fat burning foods.

Turmeric, an herb used to spice many Middle Eastern and Asian recipes, is also known as curcumin. Powdered turmeric is made by grinding the curcurmin plant, a type of parsley. The deep yellow color of curry powder is attributed to turmeric.

Turmeric is a rhizome that is smaller than ginger. Its flavor is delicate and pleasing. Turmeric comes in a number of varieties and colors - from white to deep orange. It is the dark, orange color of curcumin that causes soups, stews, curries, and rice dishes to have a deep, yellow color. The flavor of turmeric is gingery, peppery, and earthy.

Saffron is more expensive that turmeric, so turmeric is often used in its place. You can find powdered turmeric for sale throughout the year at your local market. You can find fresh turmeric rhizomes in specialty Asian markets and sometimes in the grocery store.

Fat Burning Benefits of Turmeric

It is a healthy and powerful spice that helps to burn fat.

You will find dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, iron, and manganese in turmeric.

Both potassium and manganese are helpful in reducing cholesterol levels and blood pressure, as well as regulating bodily fluids. Potassium aids in blood glucose metabolism and it helps the body to produce energy.

Hemoglobin contains iron. Hemoglobin is very important for carrying oxygen throughout the body via the bloodstream.

We need iron for the function and development of the brain, as well as to regulate body temperature, metabolize muscle activity, and protect the immune system, among other things.

The fiber in your diet will make stools bulkier to get rid of toxins quicker. When you eat foods that are high in fiber, you will feel full without overeating.

Curcumin is the main ingredient in turmeric. It is this that causes turmeric to be such a deep yellow color. This is also the ingredient that imparts health benefits.

In Ayurvedia Medicine and Chinese Medicine, turmeric has been traditionally used to treat the following: menstrual difficulties, toothaches, colic, chest pains, bruises and hemorrhage, blood in the urine, jaundice, and gas. Those are only a few of the conditions it helps treat.

What does turmeric contain that makes it so good for health?

Curcumin is the yellow orange pigment found in turmeric. An overwhelming number of studies have proven that this is the main anti-inflammatory agent found in this spice. As a matter of fact, the anti-inflammatory nature of curcumin, combined with curcumin's antioxidant and cancer-preventing qualities, is absolutely phenomenal.

Curcumin contains an anti-inflammatory property that can be compared to strong prescription medicines and readily available over-the-counter drugs. And it doesn't have any of the harmful side effects.

Researchers have reported that curcumin might be able to help in treating inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.

Curcumin contains antioxidants that can help in the metabolism of free radicals before they can harm the cells of the body. The harmful effects of free radicals is evident in such diseases as arthritis.

There are many suffering from arthritis who report relief of symptoms when they add turmeric frequently to their foods. This relief of symptoms may include the being able to walk further and longer without pain, a reduction in the severity and duration of morning stiffness, and reduced swelling of the joints.

According to a 2004 issue of Science, animal research indicated that curcumin might be capable of correcting the genetic defect that is mainly accountable for causing cystic fibrosis, a deadly disease of the lungs that is identified by thick mucus that triggers an extremely dangerous infection.

Mucus is damaging to the pancreas and also interrupts the body's digestive processes and the proper absorption of necessary nutrients.

Curcumin's antioxidant characteristics help the colon to ward off the harmful effects of free radicals, which are responsible for damaging the DNA composition found in cells; this damage can lead to cancer of the colon. Curcumin can actually destroy mutated cancer cells as well as preventing them from moving throughout the body.

Curcumin also improves liver function.

Frequent use of turmeric has been linked to a lower instance of the formation of tumors, as well as cancer of the colon, prostate, lung, and breast.

A study done at the University of Texas suggests that curcumin has the ability to slow down the growth of breast cancer cells found in mice, even when the mice had already contracted the disease.

Turmeric and Quercitin (an antioxidant found in onions) are both phytonutrients which, when combined in recipes, have demonstrated an ability to lessen precancerous lesions in the intestinal tract. There was a reported reduction in both the occurrence and size of these lesions.

Turmeric contains curcumin and phenethyl isothiocyanates, two phytochemicals that are plentiful in vegetables belonging to the cruciferous family (brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, kohlrabi, and kale), and these phytochemicals are very helpful in limiting the development of cancerous prostate cells in human beings. They can even help in preventing the spread of prostate cancer that has already become established in the body.

And even more than this, current research shows that eating foods with turmeric can decrease the chances of getting childhood leukemia.

Turmeric helps your body to increase detoxification, which leads to faster fat burning, as well as offering a general improvement in your health to its life-saving anti-oxidant properties.

Curcumin, which is found in turmeric, might be helpful in preventing the oxidation of cholesterol in the body, which helps to prevent the plaque build-up in arteries that often leads to heart attacks or strokes; it can also help in reducing symptoms of arteriosclerosis and heart conditions due to diabetes.

Turmeric is gaining support for its potential protection against Alzheimer's Disease, too.

Preparing Fresh Turmeric

It is difficult to find fresh turmeric, but you can find ground turmeric in many places. It is often found in the spice aisle at your grocery or super store. Look for this item in ethnic markets and spice stores. It may be possible to buy turmeric fresh. Naturally, it is preferable to get turmeric that is organically grown. Don't be swayed by the color - the color may differ because there are many turmeric varieties.

Fresh turmeric should be stored in a container with a tight seal. Store it somewhere cool and also free of dampness and direct light. Be sure to keep your fresh turmeric rhizomes refrigerated.

Take precautionary measures with this spice, because the dark yellow color can readily stain your hands or clothes.

The following are a few ideas for cooking with turmeric.

It has an intense taste, so take care to use sparingly. Turmeric is great in pasta, seafood, tomato dishes, egg salad, or just sprinkled over eggs.

Try turmeric mixed with sour cream as a sauce for shellfish. It is delicious.

You might discover that turmeric is frequently an ingredient in pickles and mustard.

Include some turmeric when you prepare dressing to pour on salads. The taste and appearance will both benefit from the bright yellow color.

You can use turmeric in relishes, marinades, and savory breads.

Try adding a bit of the spice to legumes such as lentils, or to some cooked winter squash; Thai cooks use turmeric extensively in appetizers, stir-fried dishes, curries, soups, and desserts.

You can spice your green tea with turmeric to enhance its cancer fighting properties.

You can try turmeric with tofu recipes.

You can sprinkle turmeric on a variety of dishes to add a cheerful burst of color and an array of healthy, fat burning benefits.

By Steve O'Connor