Spice it up!

Good news for curry lovers: Turmeric, the spice that gives many Asian dishes their punch, can do more than put a glow in your cheeks; it may also help you fight obesity-related risks, such as inflammation and diabetes type II.

Turmeric owes its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (as well as its color) to curcumin. Curcumin, as researchers at Columbia University have recently discovered, lowers insulin resistance and inflammation triggered by carrying excess weight.

Here’s how it works…

Fat tissue contains immune cells known as macrophages, which manufacture and release inflammatory agents called cytokines. These cytokines spread to the organs, such as the heart, liver and pancreas, where they provoke an inflammatory response. As a result, the body becomes resistant to insulin and fails to utilize it properly. That’s how diabetes type II develops. The components found in turmeric, however, suppress cytokine expression. In short, it stops inflammation in its tracks.

Want to get some more of this health-giving spice in your diet? Try adding the following blend to grilled chicken, vegetables, couscous, soups and dips!


Homemade Curry Mix

2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until well blended into a fine powder. Store the mixture in a clean, glass jar with a lid and keep in a cool, dark place.