What is Turmeric?
To expand on Turmeric, you need to know that it has long been hailed as the ’spice of life.’ Archeologists have discovered clay pots in excavation sites in Northern India dated to circa 2500 BCE, with small amounts of turmeric lodged in the bottom of the pots. An Egyptian papyrus, thought to be about 3500 years old describes Turmeric as being used as a medicine and as a dye. Ancient Indian literature includes accounts of turmeric being used as both a food and a medicine around 250 BCE. In China, scholars have discovered an ancient pharmacopeia thought to have been written circa 650 CE, which describes turmeric as medicine. The famous traveler and merchant, Marco Polo, wrote about turmeric in his annals.
Description/Taste:
Apparently, turmeric is the rhizome, or root stem, of a tropical blade-leafed plant. The rhizome possesses an abstract finger-like shape and a rough skin marked with knobs and rings. Turmeric rhizomes often grow up to 4-5 inches long and one-half to one inch in diameter. Its skin color is a fusion of pale earth and orange. The tissue is a sparkly carrot-orange pigment and its flavor warm and peppery with well-defined bitter tinge. Frequently, it is boiled and dried to obtain powdery form.
Seasons/Availability
Turmeric Spice is accessible year-round with meagre supplies during the midsummer.
What is turmeric root?
Turmeric Root, scientifically referred as Curcuma longa L, in German literature, Curcuma papier, is a tropical flowering perennial that belongs to same family as ginger family (Zingiberaceae), and is one of two rhizomes appearance alike spicy root. It is harvested and cultivated mainly for its roots, while its leaves are also used in few cultures.
What is turmeric used for?
With both culinary and medicinal benefits, turmeric root can be accredited to curcumin, the primary active ingredient having powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound that has been used since long in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines.
Applications
Fresh Turmeric is gentle carrot/ginger-like flavor confers itself having both sweet and spicy applications. It enhances freshness to curries and soups, and can be pickled or fried. Its vibrant color is an eye-catchy addition to dishes, but can also blemish clothing and porous surfaces.
Chemical Composition:
Chemically, turmeric has at least 20 molecules that are anti-biotic, 14 known cancer preventatives, 12 anti-tumor, 12 anti-inflammatory, and 10 different anti-oxidants. It is used to test acidity and alkalinity. While testing, it turns brown to reddish-brown in alkaline solutions, with transition between pH of 7.4 and 9.2. Etymologically, it is also a wealthy source of Vitamin C, Magnesium, and Potassium. Additionally, turmeric possesses 3 active phytochemicals, known as curcuminoids, collectively referred as “Curcumin”, which is bright orange flavonoid, well-regarded for its antioxidant properties.
Ethnic/Cultural & Traditional Info
Turmeric is also well-known as ‘Indian saffron’ as it has been used as an inexpensive color replacement for saffron in Indian cuisine. It is also one of the five key ingredients that are used to make curry power. A piece of turmeric rhizome is worn as an Amulet for protection against evil spirits in southern India. It has also been operated as anti-venom for bites from Cobra. The European Medicines Agency have reach to conclusion that turmeric herbal teas, or other forms taken by mouth, on the basis of their long-standing traditional use, could be used to alleviate mild digestive problems, i.e. feelings of fullness and flatulence.
In western cultures, it is utilized as a coloring agent in processed foods including:
- Condiments ( commercially recognizable)
- Yellow mustard
- Listed as natural yellow 3 (On food ingredient labels)
Bioavailability (absorption) of Turmeric curcumin
If you consume Turmeric by it, you will only absorb about 3-4% of it versus when you consume it with warming spices, you get a visible increase as per ancient Ayurvedic wisdom. For those reasons, AMVital has formulated the gummy supplements using Turmeric curcumin and the favorite of warming spices Ginger. These gummies may help you avoid inflammation, reduce chronic pain, boost immune system’s function, and nourish your body with powerful antioxidants. Click here to heal your mind and body https://amvital.com/shop/
Geography/History
Turmeric is cultivated and doesn’t exist in the unfarmed form. It is believed to be a cross-breed between wild turmeric and another closely linked species. Turmeric is distributed by breaking off pieces of the rhizome and uprooting to produce an entire new plant. It is homegrown to tropical South Asia, particularly Indonesia and southern India, where it has been cultivated for over 5000 years. Firstly, it was launched in the sub-tropical western hemisphere to Jamaica in the 18th Century. In Hawaii, it has gained a status of commercial crop by the way of naturalization.
Adulteration
Adulterants in turmeric are Lead Oxide (orange-red color), Lead Chromite (a bright yellow chemical compound) and metanil (acid yellow 36).
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued import alerts since 2013 to 2019 on turmeric sourcing from India and Bangladesh. Lead detection in turmeric products led to hark back to the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea, and the United Kingdom in recent past. The British Food Standards Agency declared metanil as an illegal dye for use in foods.
Medical Research:
Both turmeric and curcumin have been studied in various clinical trials for several human diseases and conditions. Scientific evidence suggests that curcumin reduces inflammation. , and turmeric extracts may be beneficial for relieving symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, as well as for reducing pain and muscle damage following physical exercise.
