Curcumin is an active compound that is responsible for giving turmeric its bright golden color. And, not just the color, turmeric wouldn’t be half as beneficial if it wasn’t for the presence of curcumin. Turmeric has been in use for nearly 4000 years for its long list of health and beauty benefits. This golden herb has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that have made it a part of Ayurvedic remedies for centuries. Turmeric promotes heart health, helps enhance your mood and aids in weight loss too. Thus, it should come as no surprise that it is used extensively across dishes in India.
Since the birth of modern medicine, curcumin – a crucial compound in turmeric – has garnered more and more popularity due to its beneficial nature that can be good both for your health and skin. So, before we discuss some probable foods that are loaded with this ingredient, let’s take a look at the benefits of curcumin.
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Is Curcumin Good For You – Know the Benefits
Since the time of Ayurveda, India’s ancient medicinal practice, Turmeric and other ingredients that contain curcumin have been in use for their impressive ability to benefit the body and mind.
1. Has Anti – Microbial Properties
Curcumin is shown to have anti-microbial properties and can kill external pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.
2. Shows Anti – Inflammatory
Apart from that, it also shows anti-inflammatory benefits that makes it a great supplement for people who are suffering from asthma, autoimmune problems, and other food-related allergies.
3. Have Antioxidant Property
If you are wondering if that is all it could do, then you might be wrong, for the most common benefit associated with the intake of curcumin is its antioxidant property, which is powerful in overcoming the oxidative stress produced in the healthy cells by the free radicals, thus lowering the risk of free-radical damage.
Ingredients Rich In Curcumin
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If you are looking for ingredients that are loaded with curcumin, then you should know that this active compound is ideally found in spices that are used for the enhancement of your recipe’s flavor and appearance.
Here is a list of ingredients that are known sources of curcumin:
1. Turmeric
Turmeric is an age-old spice that also plays a significant role in Ayurveda for its medicinal properties. Its bright golden color and most of its benefits are the results of its high curcumin content. Turmeric is said to be the most reliable soul of curcumin, which makes it a great supplement for the prosperity of your body and brain.
Also Read: What Is The Difference Between Turmeric And Curcumin
2. Ginger
Ginger or turmeric, which is a better root that you should add to your meal to get a correct amount of curcumin? This is one of the frequently asked questions in every curcumin seeker’s mind. But the truth is that it doesn’t matter. Both of these have a completely different flavor and can be used in completely different recipes, thus branching out and increasing the number of recipes that you can fill with that active compound.
The consumption of curcumin is totally in your hands. These spices, thanks to their curcumin content, are a natural way of providing your body with this active compound that has antioxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Also Read: 15 Amazing Health Benefits Of Ginger & Its Side-Effects
Curcumin Rich Foods: Cuisines From Around The World
Curcumin is mainly found in a spice called turmeric, so its significant presence can be found in cuisines or recipes that have an adequate amount of spice that we have mentioned before. Here are a few options that you could try to get your healthy dosage of curcumin:
1. Indian Cuisine
There is nothing that Indians love more than their spices, and turmeric is one of the few crucial ingredients that give an Indian dish its unique flavor and hue. In addition to that, turmeric milk is also one of those few Indian recipes that boast of having curcumin in an appropriate amount and is a healthy beverage due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.
2. Thai Cuisine
Just like in Indian dishes, Thai food also contain a healthy amount of curcumin due to the same ingredient ‘turmeric.’ A recipe that you must try, which is high on curcumin, is mild Thai red curry sauce. This sauce can be prepared and served alongside baked Salmon, which further increases its nutritional value. The preparation of the red sauce not only contains turmeric, but it also contains ginger, another ingredient that can provide curcumin.
3. Chinese Cuisines
Turmeric, like most of the other spices, has been used in Chinese traditions since ancient times. Though in its early incorporation, only a minor amount of its was consumed in food and beverages. In addition to that, Curcuma aromatic and Curcuma Longa were two of the most common forms of this spice used in the ancient Chinese medicinal practices.
4. Japanese Cuisines
Japanese food consists of many dishes that contain curcumin through the use of turmeric and ginger. In fact, Japan is also the place of origin of the turmeric tea that is known as Ukoncha and has ingredients such as the stems of the turmeric plant.
5. Some Recipes From Indonesia Are Also High On Curcumin
Nasi Kuning, a turmeric flavored rice dish, is one of the staple foods of Indonesian cuisine. Like other Asian countries, Indonesians love their spices. Since ancient times, merchants via trade routes introduced the islands to rich flavorful spices that were brought from India, and over centuries they have become vital ingredients in their cuisines.
6. Curcumin In The West
Unlike all the cuisines that we have listed before, spices such as turmeric are used in western dishes primarily for color. For example, this spice is added to the mustard sauce, thus making it appear yellow in color and high on curcumin. Some other common recipes that contain curcumin involve pickles and spreads.
Last Words
Irrespective of what kind of cuisine you love to eat, the presence of curcumin only depends on the spices that you have been using for the preparation of your dish. The addition of turmeric or ginger is responsible for giving you the right dosage of curcumin that you require.