Name: Turmeric root, also called fresh turmeric (Curcuma longa) — a knobbly rhizome with a thin orange-brown skin and bright orange-yellow flesh, with a warm, earthy, slightly bitter and peppery flavour. It is the fresh form of the ground spice.
Description
Turmeric is native to South Asia, and has been used in India for over 4,000 years as a spice, a dye, and in Ayurvedic medicine and religious ceremonies. It was carried across Asia and beyond, and India is today by far the world's largest producer. It gives curry its yellow colour, and is also used in mustard and many Southeast Asian dishes.
The yellow-orange colour and many of the effects of turmeric are linked to curcumin and related curcuminoids. Curcumin is poorly absorbed on its own, but absorption improves when turmeric is eaten with black pepper (piperine) and fat, as in traditional cooking.
Main nutrition value
Turmeric is eaten in small amounts, so contributes little nutritionally, though curcumin is widely studied for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
How best to be consumed
Turmeric root is used fresh like ginger, grated or sliced.
- Peel, then grate into curries, soups, rice, marinades and smoothies, with a pinch of black pepper.
- Make golden milk, by simmering fresh turmeric with milk, ginger, honey and pepper.
- Slice thinly and pickle, as in some Indian and Southeast Asian dishes.
- Wear gloves, as it stains skin, nails and surfaces bright yellow.
- Store in the fridge or freeze, wrapped.
Overconsumption could cause…
Turmeric is safe in food amounts, with a few points for supplements.
- Stomach upset, nausea or diarrhoea from large amounts, especially of concentrated supplements.
- Increased bleeding risk in large amounts, so people on blood-thinning medicines should be careful.
- Gallstone and kidney stone risks, since turmeric contains oxalate and can stimulate bile flow.
- Rare cases of liver injury linked to high-dose turmeric supplements, particularly those with added black pepper.
Wikipedia — Turmeric, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric
Comments
No comments yet.
Log in to leave a comment.