Cooking with Turmeric

Late last spring,  I was sure I needed surgery on my hand. I kept waking up in pain and even when I was awake, my thumb would just lock and ache.

I was wondering if it was carpel tunnel so I asked the secretary at work (Because who wouldn't ask the secretary rather than seeing a doctor, right?)

She said, "Oh no, that's not carpel tunnel. That's trigger finger. The doctor told me I needed surgery."
I asked her if she'd had it done.
"Nope. I took turmeric supplements instead. No pain anymore."

Okay. That's my kind of diagnosis. So I went out and bought turmeric.  I haven't been consistent in taking it, but the swelling definitely decreased and I rarely have pain any more.

SCORE!!!!!

Now I'm not a doctor (or even a secretary :) ) so I can't advocate turmeric for your ills, but I decided I wanted to do this post on cooking with turmeric because it's getting so much good press as being really healthy for you!

Plus I have a fun recipe from Chef MD.

First -

So what is Turmeric?

tur·mer·ic/ˈtərmərik/

Noun:

A bright yellow aromatic powder obtained from the rhizome of a plant of the ginger family, used for flavoring and coloring in Asian… The Asian plant (Curcuma longa) from which this rhizome is obtained.

So now that we know what it is? Why all the buzz?
Health Diaries lists 20 reasons for eating Turmeric, but the article starts with this introduction:

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.

WHF gives a more in depth analysis of the health benefits.
Here’s another sampling of some of the benefits being credited to Turmeric:

• Turmeric powder has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that make it an ideal antiseptic used in the treatment of wounds.

• In studies performed on mice, turmeric has shown to be able to prevent breast cancer.

• Turmeric can be used to naturally detoxify the liver.

• Turmeric is a natural pain killer.

• Turmeric can prevent the growth of tumors (along with curcumin).

• Studies show that Turmeric may possibly prevent the Alzheimer’s disease from progressing

• Can possibly be used in the treatment of psoriasis.

• Patients with myeloma will possibly be treated by using Turmeric in the near future.

Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/overcoming-pharmaceuticals-top-health-benefits-of-turmeric/#ixzz1m2FUczOu

So if we want to try it, what do we do with it?

Dr. Andrew Weil recommends a Turmeric Tea, a beverage he discovered during one of his many trips to Okinawa, the island nation with the world’s longest average life span, 81.2 years.

• Bring four cups of water to a boil.
• Add one teaspoon of ground turmeric and reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes.
• Strain the tea through a fine sieve into a cup, add honey and/or lemon to taste.

I always love to watch the videos from Chef MD.


Moroccan Vegetable Stew with Turmeric and Cinnamon