Turmeric The Super Spice

The spice Turmeric is very popular in South Asian countries such as India. But did you know that Turmeric has anti-inflammatory qualities, and is great at relieving joint pain. In a study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2009, they compared the active ingredient in Turmeric, curcumin, with ibuprofen for pain relief in 107 people with knee osteoarthritis. According to the study, the curcumin eased pain and improved function about as well as the ibuprofen (can cause ulcers). However, do not note because the active compound in turmeric can sometimes slow blood clotting, avoid taking it at least two weeks before any scheduled surgery, and do not mix with blood thinners like warfarin and Plavix. It may also worsen gallbladder problems, so avoid it if you have gallstones.

When cooking with Turmeric be sure to also add pepper in the meal. Pepper helps the Turmeric get absorbed so that it goes into your bloodstream versus staying in your gut. Some doctors also advise buying Turmeric in health food stores, in pill or capsule form. The benefit of buying it in a bottle, is that it is usually combined with a compound called piperine (comes from peppers), which aids absorption. An ok dose is about 1,000 milligrams a day. Stay fit and well family.