By Dr. Alejandra Carrasco
Turmeric is used as a spice, food additive, and in herbal medicine throughout the world. Its amazing medicinal properties, which include anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory capacities, are touted often, but could turmeric be the long-sought fountain of youth?
It turns out that active research on turmeric has demonstrated that curcumin and its active metabolite, tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) significantly increases the lifespan of the three following organisms:
1. Roundworms.
Roundworms grown on media containing a low-dose of curcumin demonstrated an increased mean lifespan of 39%. The researchers attributed this increased lifespan to the reduction of reactive oxygen species.
2. Fruit flies.
Fruit flies generally survive an average of 64 days, and in a study in which they consumed curcumin, their average lifespan increased to 80 days. In addition, the fruit flies exhibited higher levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), a powerful antioxidant that defends the cells when they are exposed to oxygen.
3. Mice.
Male mice fed diets with curcumin beginning at the age of 13 months, lived on average, 84 days longer than mice who were not fed curcumin.
What does this mean for us?
Well, this is certainly promising data! Turmeric is easy enough to add to your diet – I recommend that you try to consume turmeric on a daily basis. Make it part of your daily routine and reap the benefits.
Here's an easy turmeric tea recipe:
Bring four cups of water to a boil.
Add one teaspoon of ground turmeric and reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes.
Strain the tea through a fine sieve into a cup, add honey and/or lemon to taste.
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7648/is-turmeric-the-fountain-of-youth.html
I'd like to add that turmeric is also fabulous sprinkled in popcorn…
