If you’re looking to do all you can to stay healthy and prolong your life well into the new decade and beyond, try turmeric.
The ancient spice (the bright yellow one in the photo), used heavily in Indian cuisine such as curry, is reported to decrease inflammation in the body, assisting in thwarting everything from cancer and arthritis to Alzheimer’s disease. Hey, it’s not called “a golden gift from God” for nothing, according to the Associated Press.
In fact, this hallowed root (from the ginger family and similar in appearance to ginger root) plays a significant role in the lowered incidence of breast, colon, prostate and lung cancer in India. In fact, the rate of those diseases can be up to 50 times less there than in the United States, researchers say, in part because of the power of turmeric.
Turmeric contains curcumin, which is the potent substance that targets and attacks cancer cells, while leaving normal cells well enough alone.
It may seem exotic now, but with a little more information and recipe ideas, you can add it to your daily rotation (daily consumption seems to be the most supportive to health). Be sure to mix in a little bit of oil and some black pepper with your turmeric as it helps absorption.
If you’re not into cooking, turmeric supplements are also available.
A trip to India may be out of the picture, but you can still take a gastronomic trip at home by adding a little spice to your life.
Photo courtesy of Warrior Girl@Flickr.