Turmeric to Decrease Risk of Heart Disease

I already told you about the health benefits of turmeric and curcumin in an earlier post.

New research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, can actually prevent and even reverse cardiac hypertrophy (enlarging of the heart), restore heart function and reduce scar formation. This is very good news, as so many people suffer from heart failure and heart attacks. And the larger your heart is, the higher your risk for these conditions.

The research team was very encouraged by their findings, but warned people than more is not always better. Like many other foods and supplements, just because it’s good for you doesn’t mean you need to take it in huge quantities (just a friendly reminder). The research showed that excessive amounts of curcumin did not increase the benefits.

Knowing that turmeric (also found in yellow curry) is a cheap and versatile spice that can improve your overall health, try to incorporate more dishes with it into your diet!

Here is a quick and easy Curried Yogurt Dip or dressing:

1 tsp fresh minced ginger
Crushed garlic to taste
1 tsp Dijon mustard
½ -1 tsp yellow curry powder (depends on personal taste)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup of plain low-fat yogurt

Mix well and adjust seasoning to your liking. If using as a salad or coleslaw dressing, thin with a little milk or lemon juice.

Add wellness by adding color to your diet!

- Josee