The beneficial properties of spices lie not only in their bright taste - many are used as traditional medicine. One of them is turmeric - the queen of spices. It increases the shelf life of cooked dishes and adds a unique aroma to them. We tell you why pharmacists and doctors love it.
The spice's homeland is considered to be southeastern India - from here this plant from the ginger family began to spread throughout Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia, Pakistan, Iran and other warm countries, and then gained popularity in cooler regions of the world.
Turmeric is not only an excellent natural coloring agent (with its help butter and cheese acquire a pleasant yellowish tint), but also has unique medicinal properties. In Russia, turmeric is also called Indian saffron; the most popular dishes with it are rice, pilaf and chicken curry, to which this spice gives a golden color and a subtle bitterness. But few people are familiar with the beneficial properties of turmeric and its use for medicinal purposes.
The stems and rhizomes of the plant contain a large amount of vitamins B, K, C, as well as microelements - iodine, potassium, iron, phosphorus. The main active ingredient of the plant is curcumin, which has special healing properties. This is a substance from the class of polyphenols that has positive effects on various organs and systems of the body. Therefore, dosage forms and biological additives are created on its basis.
Beneficial properties of curcumin
Antioxidant that fights free radicals
Unstable atoms with open valence are constantly looking for a “pair”. By aggressively penetrating the cell structure, they contribute to the degeneration of cells into malignant ones. By destroying free radicals, antioxidants prevent the occurrence of cancerous tumors: it is no coincidence that according to research results, turmeric is listed as one of the means that helps fight cancer.
In particular, it is used for melanoma and its treatment with chemotherapy, since turmeric helps relieve symptoms after chemotherapy.
Natural antibiotic
Works as an anti-inflammatory agent, the effectiveness of which is comparable to pharmaceutical drugs. In eastern countries, even in the middle of the last century, many refused antibiotics and, in the old fashioned way, treated serious diseases with turmeric, including tuberculosis and pneumonia.
Wound healing agent
This property of turmeric was known in ancient times, when eastern warriors and hunters kept a bag of turmeric powder with them, which they sprinkled on open wounds. To this day, turmeric is used to treat external non-healing ulcers that are difficult to treat with other means.
A remedy for reducing the level of “bad” cholesterol in the blood and normalizing sugar levels
Regular consumption of turmeric (about 1/2 tsp per day) reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. In the prevention of diabetes, turmeric is used as a means of reducing cravings for sweets and slightly lowering blood sugar levels.
Helps normalize hormonal levels
This property of turmeric was discovered not so long ago. Studies have shown that regular consumption of turmeric maintains high levels of male and female sex hormones and helps maintain reproductive health into old age.
For men, turmeric helps improve sperm quality and increase libido: it is not without reason that before the night of love in India it is customary to eat meat dishes with curry seasoning.
- Normalizes blood pressure,
prevents the deposition of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels, preventing atherosclerosis.
- Helps regulate metabolism
and the work of the gastrointestinal tract, having carminative and choleretic effects.
- Purifies the blood
, increases the level of iron in the blood, which is useful for anemia, and has noticeable antiallergic properties.
- Insect bite repellent
, including poisonous ones: in the east, turmeric is still used to treat scorpion stings.
- Used to cleanse the body of toxins
(according to Ayurveda, turmeric is used in combination with barberry and gentian) and for effective weight loss (including in combination with ginger).
Foods that make you fat: the enemies of a slim figure
Sugar
The very first product that should be eliminated from your diet is sugar! Of course, it is impossible to completely eliminate it, but reducing it to a minimum amount is quite possible. Many girls simply adore chocolate and cannot even live a day without it. But just imagine how much sugar there is?!
A packet of yogurt contains as much as 3 tablespoons of sugar, which has a very detrimental effect on your weight and, consequently, your health. Yogurt can be replaced with low-fat yogurt, but it is advisable to avoid chocolate. Avoid packaged juice. You should also not drink tea or coffee with sugar. Try to do without it, and you will understand that this is a pretty tasty drink even without this seemingly necessary additive.
Potato
Next comes the potatoes. How many different dishes can be prepared from potatoes alone: delicious fried potatoes with onions, fried in sunflower oil, baked potatoes with browned sides and many other dishes simply cannot leave any person indifferent. But if you want to go on a diet, or simply don’t want to “accidentally” gain weight, you should avoid this miracle product. Potatoes contain a lot of starch, which is why they should be excluded, or only boiled.
Bakery
The third in line was a bakery product. Delicious pies, large golden pies with various fillings, and simply delicious bread for borscht or a sandwich. It would seem impossible to live without bread. But it is precisely this that harms your weight. Try to do without it, or replace bread with bread made from whole grains, it does not affect weight as much, but also has positive qualities for the body.
Rice
The fourth “stop” product is rice. This is what influences your excess weight. The most “harmful” rice is white polished rice, which is very popular in Russia. It is used to prepare pilaf, delicious milk porridge, soup and much more. But it contains a lot of starch, so you should limit its consumption to once a week.
Fast food, crackers, chips
Our top 5 most unhealthy foods are completed by instant cereals, chips, crackers, and fast foods. It’s no secret that this type of product is very dangerous for humans, not only because you can quickly gain weight, but also because of its composition. Chips and crackers are not recommended at all. Don’t be lazy and prepare the porridge yourself, as store-bought instant porridges are rich in “empty” carbohydrates.
What is useful in a home medicine cabinet?
- Used to disinfect infected burns and cuts;
- prevention of the development of Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, various types of tumors;
- has an antidepressant effect, improves mood and performance;
- used in complex anti-inflammatory therapy of arthritis, including rheumatoid;
- acts on lipid metabolism, helping to stabilize weight.
Why are we getting fat?
If we eat more than we spend, we gain weight. If we eat less than we spend, we lose weight. To stay the same size, you need to eat and expend the same amount of calories.
This does not mean at all that you can eat whatever you want, focusing only on calorie content. On average, to lose weight, you need to eat no more than 1500 kcal per day. Losing weight by devoting these 1500 kcal to half a cake is unrealistic, since this energy will not be used to “melt” fat, but will immediately be stored as reserve. And you will feel tired, drowsy and lack of strength.
Nutritionists advise allocating no more than 15% of your daily calorie intake to unhealthy foods. This way, you can afford a few squares of chocolate or a couple of cookies every day.
To protect the liver and gastrointestinal tract
Turmeric normalizes the functioning of the digestive system, kidneys, liver and gall bladder. But it also has antiparasitic and antifungal functions, as a result of which humanity was freed from the presence of Giardia in the body - this is how curcumin entered the history of medicine as a remedy that improves intestinal microflora
Curcumin helps maintain normal liver function and detoxification, protecting the main “filter” from the effects of free radicals and toxins, and also prevents the formation of gallstones. Equally important, curcumin helps regenerate liver tissue by restoring hepatocytes.
The dietary supplement “Curcumin for the Liver” was created based on curcumin.
, which contains only natural ingredients - dandelion and burdock roots, milk thistle seed extract, turmeric root extract, artichoke extract, and black pepper extract - piperine, which enhances absorption and increases the bioavailability of all components.
List of foods that make you fat
Why do people get fat?! All due to poor nutrition and eating too many foods. We have looked at 5 unhealthy types of food that can help you gain weight. Now let's look at where else the extra calories that harm our figure await us. reasons for excess weight
Rich broth
On the one hand, the broth is very tasty and rich. People think that they can eat it without any consequences. But this is far from true. The broth is really very tasty, it’s hard to refuse it, but it contains all the main fat from the meat. Prepare vegetable broth, it is healthier and will not contain as much fat.
Semi-finished products
Of course, the easiest product to prepare, which is difficult to refuse, are semi-finished products. They are really easy to throw on the stove and in a couple of minutes dinner is ready. But is it worth it?! Not only are they very fatty, but they also have a detrimental effect on your overall health.
Butter
Butter. A product that some people consume every day and in large quantities. This is strictly forbidden, since oil contains a large amount of fats and carbohydrates. But you shouldn’t completely exclude it from your diet; it’s rich in vitamins and microelements.
Mayonnaise
Undoubtedly, mayonnaise is a very harmful product; it is not only very fatty, but also has adverse effects on the body.
The most popular questions asked to nutritionists about food. Are you curious about what nutritionists think about the following questions? Then read on.
Benefits of Curcumin for Liver and Curcumin for Joints
Consist only of natural ingredients.
Enhanced with extracts to optimize the liver: Dandelion and Burdock roots, Milk Thistle seed extract, Turmeric root extract - Curcumin, Artichoke extract, Black Pepper extract - Piperine.
The regenerating effect is enhanced by extracts of Milk Thistle, Artichoke, Dandelion and Burdock roots.
Curcumin for Joints is enhanced with anti-inflammatory extracts
- Sabelnik;
- white willow;
- ginger;
- licorice.
Bioavailability is greatly increased by black pepper extract
It has the ability to deliver substances quickly to their destination.
What can you eat to avoid gaining weight?
We reveal the basics of healthy eating for a beautiful figure at any age.
Greens and vegetables
A significant part of the diet should be healthy vegetables. You also need to eat a lot of greens. Such food is welcome in the diet menu because it includes a huge range of vitamins and minerals, nourishes with valuable fiber, improves metabolism and helps to lose weight.
Fruits and berries
Proper nutrition is unthinkable without berries and fruits. Citrus fruits, pears, apples, and all types of berries, including watermelons, contribute to slimness. Of course, it is better to consume these foods in moderation without overeating. Berries and fruits contain a lot of B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, fiber, potassium, and calcium.
Meat and fish
A balanced diet is based on high-quality proteins. We should get them from light lean meat and moderately fatty fish. The best choices are dishes that are steamed or baked, boiled, not fried, without excess fat. There are many useful polyunsaturated acids in sea fish and fish oil, vegetable oil, and meat. Thanks to fatty acids, vitamins E, A, K, D are better absorbed, and BJU is digested.
Fermented milk products
An excellent component of a healthy diet is low-fat fermented milk products. It contains valuable vitamins from the B-group, components for improving the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract. Kefir, cottage cheese, yogurt, butter, fermented baked milk and sour cream speed up metabolism and cleanse the body.
Legumes and cereals
Oatmeal, buckwheat, oats, pearl barley, rice and millet are effective tools for weight loss. It is better to cook porridge without oil and do not add salt or milk to it. The taste of cereals can be improved with the help of herbs or dried fruits. The diet menu also includes peas, lentils, and all types of beans; they contain a lot of vegetable protein, minerals and vitamins.
Green tea
Drinking unsweetened green tea helps eliminate harmful substances. The drink nourishes with vitamins, supplies antioxidants and minerals, helps break down fats, and protects against cancer. You should not drink green tea with food or immediately after a meal. It is better to take the drink 20 minutes before starting a meal.
Recipes for high-calorie and nutritious dishes to gain weight
Pay attention to the recipe for delicious cheesecakes for breakfast or afternoon snack.
This hearty dish can be a snack before school. You will need 240 g of granular cottage cheese, 3 tbsp. spoons of sugar (or to your taste), chicken egg yolk, oil for frying, paper towels, powdered sugar and fruit for serving. Mash the cottage cheese with a fork, add sugar and yolk, mix thoroughly. Form cheesecakes (round or “pucks”), place in a heated frying pan with vegetable oil (you can use oil of your choice). Fry on both sides for 1-1.5 minutes, quickly cover with a lid. When ready, drain on paper towels. Serve cooled, garnished with fruit and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Aromatic meatballs with a vegetable side dish are perfect as a second course for lunch. Ingredients: minced chicken breast – 500 g, boiled rice – 200 g, onion, carrots, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, seasoning to taste, flour for dredging, sunflower oil, herbs for serving.
Preparation. Rinse the rice and boil until half cooked, let cool. Add onions, carrots, salt and pepper to the minced meat to taste. Add boiled rice and stir. Form meatballs, roll them in flour and place on a baking sheet greased with vegetable oil. Pour over tomato sauce. Bake for 30-40 minutes. until ready. Serve with vegetable side dish and fresh herbs.
Lush pancakes with tea will be a great end to your meal. Butter and fruit syrup will make the dish tastier and more nutritious. You will need 250 ml of milk, 2 chicken eggs, 3 tbsp. spoons of sugar (adjust to your taste), a pinch of salt, 200 g flour, 60 g butter, a packet of baking powder (12 g).
Preparation. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Beat the eggs with a whisk, add sugar and salt. Pour in milk (room temperature), stir. Add baking powder to the flour and pour into the mixture, stir quickly, pour in the melted butter. Fry pancakes on both sides in a dry non-stick frying pan.
Dangerous situations: keep your mouth shut
Separately, I would like to talk not so much about what foods, but also why people get fat.
Weight gain is often associated with a number of situations.
- Period of menstruation. During menstruation and the week before it, girls often begin to eat a lot. Yes, they are fully aware of this, but they cannot control their nutrition. And now you seem to see that your belly has become plumper, but you think: this is always the case with menstruation, when it ends, I’ll pump up my abs. And you eat your fill with peace of mind. But “these days” pass, you don’t start training again, the weight grows, and you feed yourself “breakfasts”.
- Stressful situation. Sometimes, of course, people, on the contrary, become thinner during stress. But often those who experience serious emotional distress try to “love” themselves with food. And he starts to get fat pretty quickly. By the way, men especially suffer from this.
- After the diet. This time is especially dangerous. It seems that you have completed some difficult test, even seen the result, and you think that it will always be this way. And you begin to “feast” and celebrate. There is no need to first limit yourself in everything and then load your stomach. This is dangerous not only for your figure, but also for your overall health.
- Holidays. Holidays are fraught with overeating. The table is literally bursting with dishes, and you want to try everything there is, and more.
- Parting with a loved one. I want to please myself, at least with food.
- Before an important event. Often people get nervous and start eating more than usual.
- Pregnancy. The woman stops controlling herself and literally begins to “eat for two,” which leads to weight gain. But this is dangerous for the baby, and after giving birth it will be much more difficult to get back into shape.
Epilepsy
Fact number one. Quite a lot of epileptics do not even know that they are epileptic. Fact number two. In those suffering from epilepsy, depending on the causes and type of epilepsy, the balance of hormones may be disrupted, and quite seriously.
How can you suspect epilepsy in yourself if the seizures don’t go like in the movies? Does it happen that from time to time you are attacked by numbness, during which there is not a single thought in your head, but only pure perception of what is happening? Or, on the contrary, strange attacks of anger? Go to a neurologist or directly to an epileptologist and get checked.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
This is a polyendocrine syndrome, that is, one in which a lot of things come together at once. There is a dysfunction of the ovaries, pancreas, adrenal cortex, hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Naturally, there are a lot of unpleasant symptoms with such a total strike of internal organs. Male type obesity (the belly grows first and only then something is deposited on the arms and legs), the skin becomes greasy and acne-prone, swelling, breathing pauses during sleep, irritability, depression, drowsiness, hair loss... This is very small part of the list, what is visible. If you already feel like you know what the list goes on, check with your doctor. By the way, PCOS can cause diabetes and a number of other diseases. So that you don't get bored at all.
Hypothyroidism
The more people study it, the more often it occurs. Either they didn’t notice it before, or it’s a natural reaction of the body to the presence of researchers... In any case, women suffer from it four times more often than men. Hypothyroidism is a condition caused by a long-term and persistent lack of thyroid hormones. The list of things that can cause a weakening of the production of these hormones is so long that let’s skip it and go straight to the symptoms.
Hypothyroidism is difficult to diagnose by eye, because most of all it looks like what is called “lazy”. The patient becomes lethargic, tired, drowsy, her memory deteriorates, and her performance decreases. All this is often complemented by a serious deterioration in the condition of the skin, hair and nails, anemia, nausea, constipation, swelling and other little things that individually look so innocent. Metabolism is disrupted, the desire to move decreases - accordingly, weight gain occurs. What can I say... If you suspect you have hypothyroidism, run to the doctor. Diet cannot cope with it.
A sharp decrease in estrogen levels
When the amount of estrogen produced by the ovaries drops, fat begins to independently produce substances very similar to female sex hormones. And they are exactly alike. Estrogen just helps you gain weight. These substances help radically. As a result, the lower the estrogen level, the more fat on the hips and belly. In addition, bones become more fragile: the female body absorbs calcium very poorly without estrogen. Its level can decrease for a variety of reasons, but menopause is in the lead.
