Turmeric, Natural Fashion Ibuprofen
ANGELA CASTILLO
05/08/2017 10:00They call it the saffron of the East and a time to this part can be found anywhere. From large areas to herbalists. More and more are betting on turmeric , a herbaceous plant of the family of zingiberacea, a gingerbread family, native to Southwest India and many professionals describe as a "natural ibuprofen.""Because of the cucuminoids, the plant has anti-inflammatory properties," says Terica Uriol, a graduate in Food Science and Technology and director of the nutrition and dietetic center with the same name. "This component inhibits the production of inflammatory prostaglandins [substances that stimulate nerve terminals of pain] and turns turmeric into a plant even more effective than some anti-inflammatory drugs ," says the professional. For this reason, Uriol recommends a small daily dose of this zingiberácea to people with arthritis, irritable colon, affection of teeth or menstrual pain, among other ailments.
When cooking the plant more than 15 minutes, its properties disappear in 80%. Experts recommend adding it to the dish once the cooking is finished
Patricia Yárnoz, a clinical dietician at the University of Navarra's clinic goes further. According to this expert, curcumin strengthens DNA repair. "Numerous studies suggest that this food can be an economic alternative for those developing countries that seek to alleviate the harmful effect of arsenic in populations exposed to this toxic," says the professional.The first time turmeric was used - in particular, the crude extract obtained from the root in the form of yellowish powder - was in 610 BC. C . Although originally used as a textile dye, it soon began to be regarded by doctors in Asia and Europe as a magical plant. "As yellow it seemed totally indicated to cure jaundice and bile fevers , a theory that has been confirmed by modern phytotherapy", the study shows the pharmacological and nutritional effects of extracts of Curcuma longa L. and cucumionides, Carried out by María Dolores Mesa, Ángel Gil and other professors of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Granada. These professionals, who have gathered international studies carried out for 30 years, highlight turmeric "its antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic activity". In addition, according to them, the properties of this plant in front of processes of inflammation, granulation or remodeling of the tissues make the zingiberácea an "effective treatment for the cicatrización".Miracle for the liverOne of the main properties of the extracts of turmeric and curcumin is its hepatoprotective activity . The study A review of plants used in the treatment of liver disease , S. Luper, American scientist Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, has shown that saffron East "induces contraction of the gallbladder and prevents the formation of cholesterol in Bile of mice ". With this line coincides Uriol: "By increasing the body's antioxidants, those made by humans, turmeric promotes detoxification of the liver, a drainage of the gallbladder and therefore improves digestion and eliminates the gases"Thus, patients with hepatitis, biliary insufficiency, fibrosis, fatty liver, or cholesterol would improve upon taking a small dose of turmeric every day. While the latest research is beginning to see this plant as an antidote against certain types of tumors, the only thing that has been shown in mice is that, in the long run, "daily use of turmeric repairs the damage caused by Chemotherapy and other drugs used to treat liver, duodenum and skin cancers, "says Uriol.In the kitchenAlthough the plant is one meter high, only ground turmeric is used. This is used in the kitchen as a spice and serves to give the dishes taste-barely perceptible, somewhat bitter- and color-orange-yellow. Practically, it can be combined with any recipe. For example, Uriol recommends adding turmeric to legumes, vegetable creams, soups, sauces or rices as a dye . "It is best to mix it with black pepper. This food prevents the degradation of the cucuminoids in the intestine, so they are absorbed in greater quantity, "advises the expert.That yes, the nutritionist warns: if you cook for more than 15 minutes, your active ingredients disappear 80% So that the ideal is to apply it right at the end of the cooking and once the fire is turned off.
