Curcumin

Any idea if the curcumin stains the skin with yellow colour or not?  I mean if it is drunk daily (though i  don't know if it will taste good or not)

manal

Manal,

It is one of the most used spice when cooking foood in India. Lots of research has shown that it is helpful in medicines too in the vedic medical system and used as an antiseptic. People who don't have medical services around, use the termeric paste when they cut or burn for this very purpose. Elders in India, who get cold use the turmeric powder in the milk and give it to the person who is feeling signs of cough or cold.

Below, is a link which shows it's use for cosmetic purpose in India. In marriages, the paste is used on the body to give it a glow.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric

Turmeric is currently used in the formulation of some sunscreens. Turmeric paste is used by some Indian women to keep them free of superfluous hair. Turmeric paste is applied to bride and groom before marriage in some places of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, where it is believed turmeric gives glow to skin and keeps some harmful bacteria away from the body

Thanks Narendra for such an informative reply.

Based on the indian expierence, how it should be made as a drink? Should we boil it in water like tea or we just stir it in cold water and put some sugar.

I read that too much of it or long term usage causes stomach pains. so is there a suggested dose meaning, is it enough one cup for a child daily?

One very good thing other than being antioxidant is that it leads to the contractions of gall stones. It is also anti inflamantory, antiviral, helps in cold and cough, lowers sugar in blood, lower pressure, blood clot preventation, protects the liver

manal

When I have had cold, my wife gives the turmeric to me with half a tea spoon of turmeric powder in warm milk. i think other members who might be able to give more ideas should share their experience with turmeric.

You can find turmeric recipes easily online. It is a spice that is easily incorporated into many dishes. Here are some links to recipe sites.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/search/Turmeric/results.do?fnSearchType=recipe

http://homecooking.about.com/library/archive/blturmeric.htm

http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Herbs-and-Spices/Spices/More-Spices/Turmeric/Top.aspx

http://recipes.epicurean.com/asc_results.jsp?ingredients=Turmeric

http://fooddownunder.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=turmeric

Hi Manal - I was just thinking about tumeric and the possibility of it staining the skin.  My mom made us eat so much
of it while we were growing up that I would look like a papaya ready to ferment by now   

If we only knew how good it was for us back then! 

Sharmin

When ever my kids get cough,i give them a pinch or two of turmeric powder and a spoonful of honey in luke warm water.It stops the cough immediately,Turmeic powder in warm milk is also advised,if kids like it.And you'll be amazed,as Sharmin told ,in Pakistan and India,when you are feeling pain somewhere in your body,people apply turmeric paste to ease the pain.

Zaini.

Thanks Narendra, Andy, Sharmin and Zaini for your replys.

Zaini could you please tell me how you make the paste?

manal

Hi All

Practically all indian dishes have turmuric. I think staining can be avoided it is cooked well. It is one of the first spice to go into any dish. Better to dissolve it in the water first and then add it to the oil before putting  the other ingredients like onions, garlic , ginger and chicken /lentils/ Rice/ vegetables or  any other  ingredients.

Also you can use it any marination.

I am enclosing a recipe of Biryani here. You can tweek it to make it non spicy if you want and Vegtarians can replace   chicken  with their favourite vegetables

This is one of the most famous Indian / Pakistani dish. It is traditionally reserved for special occasions such as parties, weddings.

The preparation is quite lengthy but the outcome is simply amazing.

The secret of making an awesome chicken biryani is all in the spices...

I personally recommend using Basmati rice. It's thin and a fine grain rice which can be used for a variety of purposes.

Use Ghee instead of butter.

It's a very important ingredient if you want your biryani to have a more authentic taste.

So please, no substitution here! :-)

Also be sure that you have all the following ingredients in place in order to simplify the cooking process.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 kg chicken disjointed
1kg soaked basmati rice
2 cinnamon (powder)
6 cloves - whole
1/2 tsp cloves powder
5 cardamoms
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
1 tbsp whole cumin
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp nutmeg powder
2g oriental saffron
1 cup yogurt
2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
50g crushed onion
500g fried onion
500g fried potatoes (marinated in a pinch of yellow food coloring before frying)
1 cup oil
1/4 cup ghee
1 tbsp salt
50g fresh coriander leaves (finely chopped)
50g fresh mint leaves (finely chopped)
5 green chilies cut lengthwise


Now follow the 10 simple steps:

(1) Marinate chicken in saffron, chili powder, turmeric, ginger-garlic paste and crushed onions.

(2) Add dry spices to yogurt and mix with chicken. Marinate for 1 hour.

(3) Add fried onions, fried potatoes, coriander, mint leaves, green chilies to the marinated chicken. Smear again.

(4) Gradually add oil, ghee and 2 cups of water to the marinated chicken. Keep aside for 30 minutes.

(5) Boil 1500 ml (1.5 L) of water with whole cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, salt and soaked rice. Boil until half done.

(6) Strain and place a layer of rice on chicken. Sprinkle with fried onions, a little ghee and saffron diluted in 1/2 cup of hot water.

(7) Top with remaining rice. Sprinkle again with fried onions, 1 tsp ghee and 1 tsp saffron.

(8) Seal the pot lid with the dough.

(9) Cook on high heat for 10 minutes, then reduce heat (or reduce heat when sizzling occurs). Simmer for 1 hour.

(10) Serve with spiced yogurt, thinly slice carrots and cucumber salad.

Yield 8 servings.

Tips: Use a heavy utensil when cooking the biryani.

HI Puja ,

The secret of making an awesome chicken biryani is all in the spices...

hummmmmm :P chicken biryaani  ... wow... its my favroute dish ...

Thanks Puja for this delecious recipe

Zaini, i tried what you said for Ahmad as he had a back charge cough that usually stays with him weeks and i did too with my daughter who has nose allergy and her nose is always blocked especially in the morning.

This is [bgcolor=#ff1d00]magic[/bgcolor] I am not kidding Ahmad cough stopped immediately, i couldn't believe it. I though i will be better but not to the extent that i will stop. Also my daughter nose is not blocked the morning she took it and wasn't sneezing all the time. This is unbelievable . Many thanks Zaini for your advice. Please post if you have any of these natural remedies. I guess that i should give it to my daughter everyday to keep its action.
Andy please try it for your allergy, i am sure it will help

manal

Turmeric is also used to heal wounds and for pain relief ....
people use take it by mixing in hot Milk here in Asia ...
its also used in food to enhance taste of Food (as a taste enhancer ) ....

Medicinal uses of Turmeric :

In Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric is thought to have many medicinal properties and many in India use it as a readily available antiseptic for cuts, burns and bruises. Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine say it has fluoride which is thought to be essential for teeth. It is also used as an antibacterial agent.

It is taken in some Asian countries as a dietary supplement, which allegedly helps with stomach problems and other ailments. It is popular as a tea in Okinawa, Japan. It is currently being investigated for possible benefits in Alzheimer's disease, cancer and liver disorders.

 
Turmeric rhizomeIt is only in recent years that Western scientists have increasingly recognised the medicinal properties of turmeric. According to a 2005 article in the Wall Street Journal titled, "Common Indian Spice Stirs Hope," research activity into curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is exploding. Two hundred and fifty-six curcumin papers were published in the past year according to a search of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Supplement sales have increased 35% from 2004, and the U.S. National Institutes of Health has four clinical trials underway to study curcumin treatment for pancreatic cancer, multiple myeloma, Alzheimer's, and colorectal cancer.

 
Turmeric rhizomeA 2004 UCLA-Veterans Affairs study involving genetically altered mice suggests that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, might inhibit the accumulation of destructive beta amyloids in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients and also break up existing plaques. "Curcumin has been used for thousands of years as a safe anti-inflammatory in a variety of ailments as part of Indian traditional medicine," Gregory Cole, Professor of medicine and neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA said.

Another 2004 study conducted at Yale University involved oral administration of curcumin to mice homozygous for the most common allele implicated in cystic fibrosis. Treatment with curcumin restored physiologically-relevant levels of protein function.[3]

Anti-tumoral effects against melanoma cells have been demonstrated.[4]

A recent study involving mice has shown that turmeric slows the spread of breast cancer into lungs and other body parts. Turmeric also enhances the effect of taxol in reducing metastasis of breast cancer.[5]

Curcumin is thought to be a powerful antinociceptive agent (pain reliever). In the November 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a study was published that showed the effectiveness of turmeric in the reduction of joint inflammation, and recommended clinical trials as a possible treatment for the alleviation of arthritis symptoms.[6] It is thought to work as a natural inhibitor of the cox-2 enzyme, and has been shown effective in animal models for neuropathic pain secondary to diabetes, among others.[7]

Presenting their findings at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco in June 2008, researchers discovered that turmeric-treated mice were less susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes, based on their blood glucose levels, and glucose and insulin tolerance tests. They also discovered that turmeric-fed obese mice showed significantly reduced inflammation in fat tissue and liver compared to controls. They speculate that curcumin in the turmeric lessens insulin resistance and prevents type 2 diabetes in these mouse models by dampening the inflammatory response provoked by obesity.[8]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric

The Health Benefits of Turmeric………. 

The health benefits of turmeric lie in the active ingredient called curcumin. This powerful compound gives turmeric its therapeutic benefits, its yellow color, and its pungent flavor. More specifically, curcumin harbors antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, stomach-soothing, and liver-and heart-protecting effects.
Turmeric is thought to reduce inflammation by lowering histamine levels and it may also stimulate the adrenal glands to increase production of a hormone that reduces inflammation. It is often used to ease joint pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. However, it is also used to reduce joint pain and in inflammation in other disorders as well.
[bgcolor=#fff500]Turmeric (curcumin) also harbors rich stores of antioxidants. Antioxidants are disease-fighting substances that mop up the continuous onslaught of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that damage cells as they travel through the body and are responsible for premature aging and diseases such as cancer if left unchecked. In fact, Naturopaths often recommend turmeric for situations in which high concentrations of antioxidants are required. [/bgcolor]


Studies with animals show that turmeric benefits liver health. Several animal studies suggest that turmeric protects the liver from the damaging effects of certain toxins, including alcohol. These findings certainly lend credence to the herb's history of use in liver aliments.

Please check complete article for more detailed information about turmeric , here is the link below .
http://www.nutritional-supplement-educational-centre.com/turmeric-benefits.html

Umair,

This is terrific and will answer a lot of questions! 

Sharmin

Manal,

Sorry for the late replies,am a bit busy with my house hold now a days.

I am really glad it worked out for Ahmed and Ziena  i give it to my son often,when he is coughing continuously and can't seem to stop,meds just don't work that way.

For the paste you asked about,i didn't know myself as i never did it,i asked my sis in law about that and she told me that you take a spoon of turmeric powder,some oil to make a fine paste and add a pinch of salt,then apply it on the particular part of the body where you are feeling pain,(she said it's basically for muscle cramps) and rub it lightly untill the paste is gone and it leaves a yellow stain,don't wash it,cover it with some thing,something like soft fabric,don't expose that part under fan or any kind of cold and go to sleep,and you'll feel a lot better after that,do tell me if you ever try it coz i hav never tried it myself.

Give my love to little ones 

Zaini.