Exploiting medicinal properties from turmeric

Quang Nam people like spicy, flavorful, and salty food. Therefore, turmeric has long been an indispensable spice in traditional Quang Nam dishes with its special properties.

Using turmeric combined with black pepper increases the absorption of curcumin by 20 times thanks to the active ingredient piperine in black pepper. Photo: illustration

Precious medicinal herbs

Quang noodles, regardless of whether they are made with shrimp, meat, chicken, eel, or snakehead fish, are often marinated with turmeric and pressed, creating a very distinctive flavor. Other popular dishes such as snakehead fish stewed with banana, flying fish stewed with turmeric, stir-fried intestines with turmeric, and stir-fried vermicelli with turmeric are all dishes that leave a strong impression on Quang people. Surely, our ancestors more or less understood the great uses of turmeric.

Turmeric has long been considered a valuable medicinal herb in traditional medicine thanks to its outstanding effects on health. The main active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which not only has strong anti-inflammatory properties but also supports anti-oxidation, protects the brain, improves cardiovascular health, boosts immunity and many other benefits.

It is curcumin that gives turmeric its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. We know that chronic inflammation is the cause of many dangerous diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration.

Curcumin has the ability to inhibit 5 important enzymes related to the inflammatory process, including: NF-KB, COX-2, LOX, INF-2, IL-6. Thanks to the ability to control these enzymes, curcumin helps reduce inflammation in the body, thereby supporting the treatment and prevention of many diseases related to chronic inflammation.

Special active ingredient

Turmeric is considered a miracle drug with its powerful antioxidant properties. Oxidation is a process that leads to premature aging and cell damage, especially in the brain. Turmeric helps balance these factors because curcumin can inhibit MAO-B - an enzyme that can destroy neurotransmitters in the brain.

Selegiline is a popular drug for treating Parkinson's disease and depression, based on an active ingredient that inhibits MAO-B. Similar mechanisms suggest that curcumin may have a protective effect on the brain, thereby helping to prevent neurodegeneration, protect memory, maintain cognitive function and improve mood.

Curcumin also stimulates Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). BDNF helps increase the growth and longevity of nerve cells, thereby improving memory, enhancing cognitive function, and supporting the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

The endothelium of the arteries plays an important role in regulating blood pressure and preventing the formation of blood clots and arterial plaque. Chronic inflammation can damage the endothelium, greatly increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Curcumin can help protect the endothelium of arteries, thanks to its ability to inhibit scar tissue formation, reduce the risk of arterial plaque, protect LDL fatty compounds from oxidation, and directly prevent atherosclerosis. Therefore, turmeric also has the effect of protecting the heart and blood vessels.

Healing properties of turmeric spice

Curcumin helps improve insulin sensitivity, thereby supporting blood sugar control and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, helping to stabilize blood sugar. In addition, turmeric has anti-inflammatory and anti-infective properties, helping to speed up wound healing and prevent scarring.

Fried flying fish, with main spices being onion and turmeric. Photo: Illustration

Curcumin has the ability to kill harmful bacteria without affecting beneficial bacteria, thereby helping to balance the intestinal microflora and strengthen the immune system. Therefore, turmeric is very good for digestive diseases such as stomach ulcers, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome.

Curcumin also has the ability to collect heavy metals in the body and support their elimination, helping to reduce the negative effects of heavy metals on health, extremely useful if the body experiences conditions such as slow wound healing, chronic fatigue, and headaches.

In the long run, turmeric will be a great remedy for cancer prevention. If we are concerned about mercury in sea fish, why don't we cook with turmeric?

In fact, there is no need to eat turmeric every day or use high doses of turmeric, because the body only absorbs a small amount of curcumin. Instead, use a small amount by mixing it with water, or use it as a spice in dishes.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/khai-thac-hoat-chat-chua-benh-tu-nghe-3150252.html