"Turmeric is one of nature's most powerful healers. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Turmeric has been used for over 2500 years in India, where it was most likely first used as a dye.
The medicinal properties of this spice have been slowly revealing themselves over the centuries. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that turmeric is a natural wonder, proving beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions from cancer to Alzheimer's disease.
Here are 20 reasons to add turmeric to your diet:
1. It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.
2. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.
3. Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.
4. May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.
5. Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.
6. Is a natural liver detoxifier.
7. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.
8. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.
9. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.
10. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.
11. Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.
12. May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.
13. Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.
14. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
15. Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
16. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.
17. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.
18. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
19. Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.
20. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.
Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in pill form in most health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules.
Once you start using turmeric on a regular basis, it's fun to find new ways to use it in recipes. My favorite way to use it is to add a pinch of it to egg salad. It adds a nice flavor and gives the egg salad a rich yellow hue.
Contraindications: Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant."
Adding turmeric to your diet is a great way to increase your health in your daily diet.
The ingredients for this dish are all inexpensive, that makes it a very filling dish for very low cost; great for those who are on a tight budget, and filled with many healthy properties.
While I am not a vegetarian, I do enjoy eating vegetarian and healthier fare. My husband did not grow up eating the kinds of foods that I did; so when we first met, his tastes were limited, but he was great in wanting to experiment and try new things. When I introduced vegetarian fare to our dinner table, he was not as enthusiastic as he was with other "meaty" dishes. So I had to start getting creative.
I am a recent new Aunty, and my niece's Mum is vegetarian and will be bringing my niece up as a vegetarian. So, I am creating even more dishes that she will be able to create as my niece grows up, as well delicious tastes that you, my reader, will also enjoy... and hopefully, so will your children.
Give this recipe (and other vegetarian recipes) that I am posting, and leave me a comment and let me know how you, and your family, liked it.
Ingredients:
1 cup white navel beans
1 cup black beans (Optional)
1 cup chick peas
1TBSP butter
1 onion, diced
1 TBSP mashed garlic
1 TBSP mashed ginger
2 Sweet potatoes, diced
Chicken powder (can substitute Vegetable bouillon if vegetarian)
Turmeric powder
Salt (optional and to taste)
Bay leaves
2 tomatoes, diced (optional)
2 cups cooked spinach (optional)
Method:
Rinse clean beans and put to soak over night.
Fry 1 onion (diced) in a little butter, add mashed garlic and ginger (ginger helps reduce the gas that the beans create).
Add the beans and cover with water, allowing 3 inches above.
Add 3 bay leaves (this also helps remove the gas which the beans create).
Bring to boil and simmer for approx 45 minutes - 1 hour (you may need to add more water).
Then add 1 TBSP turmeric, 1-2 TBSP sugar (helps cut the bitterness), chicken powder, diced sweet potato (into 1" cubes). Let boil until it boils down... will start to thicken (add more water as needed and cook until the beans are completely cooked through).
Once the beans and potatoes are cooked thru, turn off the heat and allow to sit for a couple of hours. The liquid will absorb into the beans/potatoes and it will become very thick.
You may adjust the seasoning of salt here if you desire.
You can add diced fresh tomatoes, or cooked spinach to this and serve with rice.
**NOTE**
You can also take the bean and sweet potato mix, mash nicely and add an egg or other binding ingredient (add a little chickpea flour to create a mix that can be formed into a patty and will hold), and create delicious veggie burgers. Then fry for a few minutes on each side until a little crisp on outside.
Serve with sliced tomatoes and lettuce, water-cress or alfalfa on a hamburger bun.
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