Dried Turmeric Root

Dried Turmeric Root

Never mind if you have your clothes stained turmeric, but make sure you add this exotic root-herb in the food you eat! It is actually an underground rhizome (root). It composes of unique phyto-chemical pigment compounds that impart intense flavor, color, and distinctive fragrance to the recipes it added to.

Binomially, root-turmeric belongs to the ginger or Zingiberaseae family of root herbs, in the genus; Curcuma. Scientific name: Curcuma longa. Its roots as well as leaves have long been used in traditional Indian and Chinese medicines for their demonstrated anti-inflammatory (painkiller), anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer properties.

Turmeric is native to the sub-Himalayan mountain region and grown widely in many parts of the tropical and subtropical regions as an important commercial crop. The plant grows to a meter in height and features aromatic, miniature plantain-like leaves.

Health benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric has been in use since antiquity for its anti-inflammatory (painkiller), carminative, anti-flatulent and anti-microbial properties.

The herb contains health benefiting essential oils such as termerone, curlone, curumene, cineole, and p-cymene.

Curcumin, a poly-phenolic compound in the root, is the principal pigment that imparts deep orange color to the turmeric. In vitro as well as in laboratory animal studies have suggest that the curcumin may have anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-arthritic, anti-amyloid, anti-ischemic, and anti-inflammatory properties.

This popular herb contains no cholesterol; however, it is rich in anti-oxidants and dietary fiber, which helps to control blood LDL or "bad cholesterol" levels.

It is a very rich source of many essential vitamins such as pyridoxine (vitamin B6), choline, niacin, and riboflavin, etc. 100 g herb provides 1.80 mg or 138% of daily-recommended levels of pyridoxine. Pyridoxine is employed in the treatment of homocystinuria, sideroblastic anemia, and radiation sickness. Niacin helps prevent "pellagra" or dermatitis.

Fresh root contains very good levels of vitamin-C. 100 of root compose of 23.9 mg of this vitamin. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and a powerful natural anti-oxidant, which helps the body develop immunity against infectious agents, and remove harmful free oxygen radicals.

Turmeric contains very good amounts of minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, copper, zinc, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps in controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is utilised by the human body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is an important co-factor for cytochrome oxidase enzymes at cellular level metabolisms and required for red blood cell (RBC's) productions.

Turmeric is one of the readily available, cheap herbs that contain notable phyto-nutrients profile. At 1,59,277 µmol TE/100 g, its total-ORAC value or anti-oxidant strength is one of the highest among known herb and spice species.

100 g of turmeric provides 53% of dietary fiber, (% of Recommended Daily Allowance, RDA per 100 g)

138 % of vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine),

32% of niacin,

43 % of vitamin C,

21 % of vitamin E,

54 % of potassium,

517 % of iron,

340 %of manganese and

40 % of zinc.

but 0% cholesterol.

Just a few grams of turmeric per day either in the form of powder, crushed root or fresh root can provide enough nutrients to help you keep away from anemia, neuritis, memory disorders and offer protection against cancers, infectious diseases, high blood pressure, and strokes.

Medicinal uses

Research studies have suggested that Curcumin, a poly-phenolic compound, found in this herb may inhibit the multiplication of tumor cells, including multiple myeloma, pancreatic cancer, and colon cancer.

It contains health benefiting essential oils such as termerone, curlone, curumene, cineole, and p-cymene. These compounds have applications in the cosmetic industry.

Curcumin, along with other antioxidants, has been found to have anti-amyloid and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus; it is effective in preventing or at least delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

The root herb contains no cholesterol; however, it is rich in anti-oxidants, and dietary fiber. Together, they help control blood cholesterol levels, offer protection from coronary artery disease and stroke risk.

Early laboratory studies have been suggestive that turmeric is liver protective, anti-depressant, anti-retroviral effects.

It has been in use since a very long ago as an important ingredient in traditional Chinese and ayurvedic medicines for its anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, carminative, and anti-flatulent properties.