Friday, September 4, 2009

Curry Powder Health Benefits

You may be surprised to learn that curry powder is actually made with ingredients from at least four different spices depending on what country you live in. These ingredients, which commonly include turmeric, cardamom, cumin, and coriander all have healing properties that combine to improve your health and well being.


Anti-aging agent


Thanks to the ingredient turmeric, curry powder is slowly gaining recognition from the medical community for its anti-inflammatory properties. In India turmeric is commonly used to treat skin burns and cuts. As a result, curry powder is being studied as an anti-aging spice since it bears none of the side effects synthetic treatments carry.








Fights Alzheimer's


Curcumin, the yellow pigment in curry powder is being seriously looked at by scientists as a tool that fights Alzheimer's Disease. One of the culprits in Alzheimer's is a dangerous plaque that debilitates victims ability to function properly. Curcumin effectively blocks this plaque, subsequently protecting the brain. It should be noted that India, a country famous for its use of curry powder in several dishes, has an Alzheimer's rate that is four times lower than the U.S.


Cancer Protection


Studies on laboratory mice and a few studies on humans have encouraged scientists in the fight against breast cancer. It has been shown to effectively close down the genes that cause breast cancer. It has actually increased the benefits of the chemotherapy drug taxol, used in treating breast cancer. Another hopeful sign in the rarely treatable pancreatic cancer is that curry powder has shown promise in stabilizing this cruel disease.


Arthritis Treatment


It's not surprising that many over-the-counter drugs used to treat arthritis actually contain curcumin. This is good news for those who prefer not to take synthetic drugs or have trouble tolerating them. While the taste alone is enough to entice people to add it to their diet to lower inflammation, the fact that it is side-effect free is an added bonus.


Add it to Your Diet


There are simple ways to add curry powder to your diet, even if you aren't skilled in the kitchen. Find one you like and add it to every day meals. It can be found in varieties that are mild or pungent. Adding one and a half teaspoons to mayonnaise adds a new dimension to boring sandwiches. It makes a nice addition to soups and stews. It's also great with omelets so that you start your day off on a healthy note.


If you know your way around the kitchen then you may be interested in learning more recipes that include curry spices. The iFood network, found online, is a great source of information on cook with curry. It even includes instructional videos that you can follow from home.

Tags: curry powder, breast cancer, curry powder being, powder being, that curry