Turmeric- The Golden Spice
The use of turmeric dates back nearly 4000 years to the Vedic culture in India, where it was used as a culinary spice . It is basically a plant which belongs to the ginger family. India produces nearly all of the world’s turmeric crop and consumes 80% of it.
Consumption of turmeric-
Turmeric is commonly used as a food ingredient, cosmetic, and medicine.
Medical use-
Turmeric is used as an herbal medicine for rheumatoid arthritis, chronic anterior uveitis, conjunctivitis, skin cancer, small pox, chicken pox, wound healing, urinary tract infections, and liver ailments. It is also used for digestive disorders, jaundice and abdominal pain. Due to its anti inflammatory properties, it is very useful in treating inflammatory bowel disease.
Cosmetic uses-
Healthy skin is something which everyone wishes for. Among so many uses and benefits of turmeric, skin brightening is one of them. It is used to treat acne since the anti inflammatory and antibacterial properties prevent acne from spreading. It helps reducing dark circles by stimulating blood circulation. It revitalizes dry skin by removing dead skin cells to make way for healthy and soft skin.
Culinary uses-
The warm, spicy and slightly bitter taste of turmeric is widely used to season a variety of meat, rice and vegetable dishes in Asian cuisines. It is used in many products such as canned beverages, baked products, dairy products, ice cream, yogurt, yellow cakes, orange juice, biscuits, popcorn color, cereals, sauces, and gelatin. It is a principal ingredient in curry powders. Though it is typically used in its dried, powdered form, turmeric is also used fresh, like ginger. It is often consumed with warm milk to heal internal injuries and fight common cold.
Turmeric as per Ayurveda-
Besides flavoring food, to purify the blood and skin conditions is probably the most common use of Turmeric in Ayurveda. The main organs that turmeric treats is skin, heart, liver and lungs. Turmeric helps to regulate the female reproductive system and purifies the uterus and breast milk, and in men it purifies and builds semen. In ayurvedic cooking, turmeric is used to detoxify liver, balance cholesterol, fight allergies, stimulate digestion, boost immunity and enhance our skin complexion.
So we have seen turmeric is a super food which has numerous uses. Start including it in your diet and cosmetic routine to see the difference.
Health and fitness 