Questions about turmeric

Lakshmi Bhabi · Jan 13th, 2006, 09:44

I have been reading a lot of posts about turmeric and have a few questions: Does it have the same health effects on the respiratory system if you cook with it or does it have to be drunk with milk (yuck)? Does it's freshness affect it's effectiveness? I've also been hearing about promising studies that show turmeric may help against alzheimers, apparently a disease rarely seen in India - does anyone have any more info on this?

lotus blossom · Jan 13th, 2006, 10:11

it is thought that the diets of indians, which contain turmeric from an early age, could be responsible for the low incidence of alzheimers, a nutritional benefit. when taking it for a specific health ailment however, it needs to be used medicinally.

i add a teaspoon of the golden yellow powder to a few shots of hot water (to help it dissolve better) and then add a dash of cold water to temper it cool enough to drink. used with milk it has additional healing properties, but i'd only use organic if i were going to use it like that. likewise with the turmeric. find it organic and as fresh as possible. because it is powdered, it's essential oils and thus, the healing properties are easily lost, especially everytime that it is exposed to the air (oxygen).

and in my opinion, it really does not taste that bad. i find it pretty mild.

Lakshmi Bhabi · Jan 13th, 2006, 10:18

Thanks for your post, Lotus! Where do you find fresh turmeric in the US? All the spices I find here seem to have been on the shelf for a while!

lotus blossom · Jan 13th, 2006, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakshmi Bhabi

Thanks for your post, Lotus! Where do you find fresh turmeric in the US? All the spices I find here seem to have been on the shelf for a while!

in san diego there are a number of health food stores that should sell it. try jimbos or peoples co-op in pacific beach. (i used to live in SD - love it there!)

edwardseco · Jan 13th, 2006, 11:17

Gazillion Indian grocery stores in any large size town..

rcreeker · Jan 13th, 2006, 13:52

Fresh turmeric is a tuber like ginger. Powdered turmeric is never fresh. Would you grate the fresh root to use in this way?

lonelyaztec · Jan 13th, 2006, 15:47

Yup, turmeric powder in your milk, can cure colds and coughs.

it is also a antiseptic. You, you can put it on a pimple or any burn scar to heal it faster.

jyotirmoy · Jan 13th, 2006, 16:15

Mix it with some lime & apply to inflamation & sprains for quick relief. Apply a mask of cucumber juice & turmeric to your face & see how the skin glows!

lotus blossom · Jan 13th, 2006, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcreeker

Fresh turmeric is a tuber like ginger. Powdered turmeric is never fresh. Would you grate the fresh root to use in this way?

you would use fresh turmeric like you would use fresh ginger; namely, grate or slice it and bring it to a boil, reducing it to a slow simmer for 20-30 minutes to release it properties. Powdered turmeric is not fresh in the way that the tuber is, but finding fresh ground turmeric is important. Dried turmeric has important properties as well, and is especially useful in kaphic (or phlegm) conditions.

jyotirmoy · Jan 13th, 2006, 22:36

Dont worry about fresh Turmeric. Dry version has all the goodness. Other spices like Caradamom, Cinnamon etc. contains mainly esters which are oily substances which evaporates easily. Just like freshly ground pepper freshly ground garam masala smells & tastes great.
In traditional Bengali marriage bride & female family members play a game of smearing each other with turmeric paste called " Gay e Halud" This is derived from the ancient practice of Turmeric pack to enrich the skin face with a glow.

Jan 13th, 2006, 09:44	#1
Lakshmi Bhabi Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 199	Questions about turmeric I have been reading a lot of posts about turmeric and have a few questions: Does it have the same health effects on the respiratory system if you cook with it or does it have to be drunk with milk (yuck)? Does it's freshness affect it's effectiveness? I've also been hearing about promising studies that show turmeric may help against alzheimers, apparently a disease rarely seen in India - does anyone have any more info on this?

Jan 13th, 2006, 10:11	#2
lotus blossom re-member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: revolving around the sun standing still Posts: 1,892	it is thought that the diets of indians, which contain turmeric from an early age, could be responsible for the low incidence of alzheimers, a nutritional benefit. when taking it for a specific health ailment however, it needs to be used medicinally. i add a teaspoon of the golden yellow powder to a few shots of hot water (to help it dissolve better) and then add a dash of cold water to temper it cool enough to drink. used with milk it has additional healing properties, but i'd only use organic if i were going to use it like that. likewise with the turmeric. find it organic and as fresh as possible. because it is powdered, it's essential oils and thus, the healing properties are easily lost, especially everytime that it is exposed to the air (oxygen). and in my opinion, it really does not taste that bad. i find it pretty mild. __________________ Not all who wander are lost

Jan 13th, 2006, 15:47	#7
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,408	Yup, turmeric powder in your milk, can cure colds and coughs. it is also a antiseptic. You, you can put it on a pimple or any burn scar to heal it faster. __________________ Aztec My photoblog

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Jan 13th, 2006, 10:18	#3
Lakshmi Bhabi Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 199	Thanks for your post, Lotus! Where do you find fresh turmeric in the US? All the spices I find here seem to have been on the shelf for a while!

Jan 13th, 2006, 11:17	#5
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 4,142	Gazillion Indian grocery stores in any large size town..

Jan 13th, 2006, 13:52	#6
rcreeker Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: canada Posts: 75	Fresh turmeric is a tuber like ginger. Powdered turmeric is never fresh. Would you grate the fresh root to use in this way?

Jan 13th, 2006, 16:15	#8
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,659	Mix it with some lime & apply to inflamation & sprains for quick relief. Apply a mask of cucumber juice & turmeric to your face & see how the skin glows!

Jan 13th, 2006, 22:36	#10
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,659	Dont worry about fresh Turmeric. Dry version has all the goodness. Other spices like Caradamom, Cinnamon etc. contains mainly esters which are oily substances which evaporates easily. Just like freshly ground pepper freshly ground garam masala smells & tastes great. In traditional Bengali marriage bride & female family members play a game of smearing each other with turmeric paste called " Gay e Halud" This is derived from the ancient practice of Turmeric pack to enrich the skin face with a glow.

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