We knew, already, that Turmeric has many beneficial qualities. But, now, Science has added another. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture say daily Turmeric supplements may help control the growth of new Fat cells and promote healthier cholesterol and triglyceride levels…
Turmeric is another one of those Asian spices, the ground-up gnarly root of an ancient plant.
Come to think of it, Ginseng and Ginger are also ground-up gnarly roots. Has anybody
at the USDA done any research on Gnarly Roots, in general?
The current studies are on mice, but we use mice as lab test subjects because, in many ways, they mirror humans biologically. And you can do things to mice in tests that you can’t do to higher-order mammals. Anyway…
The mice studies clearly showed weight control as well as heart health benefits from regular doses of Turmeric – so clear, in fact, that researchers were emboldened to predict studies on humans in the not-too-distant future. That, and the fact that, “Turmeric that has been consumed daily in Asian countries for centuries without reported toxic effects.” Indeed, Turmeric has been used for ages in traditional medicine in India. So, the USDA research findings will be old news to folks in Delhi.
For those who may be unfamiliar with Turmeric, it’s the stuff that makes Curry yellow. The stuff in Turmeric that seems to provide all the benefits is a compound called Curcumin. Curcumin is already touted by the alternative medicine community as a helpful supplement, but debate persists about how much is enough. We find many references on the Internet about purported supplements that may not provide enough Curcumin to bring benefits. Work such as the USDA research may eventually result in standards for Circumin content in supplements and reliable information on effective dosages.
No magic bullet…
Although Turmeric in general, and Circumin in particular, probably won’t be identified as ‘magic bullets’ in the fight against obesity and heart disease, there’s now clear proof that the benefits claimed by traditional medicine for the stuff, for centuries, have a scientific basis.
Stay tuned…
~ Maggie J.