Regular or routine consumption of turmeric may give your health a boost. Turmeric may help reduce weight gain by suppressing the growth of new fat tissue according to research. Here Leslie Locklear, Food.news, reflects on fresh and freeze-dried turmeric having more potency than sun-dried varieties:

“Those looking to add turmeric (Curcuma longa) to their diets would be better off using fresh roots and freeze-dried powders if they want optimal nutrition, instead of getting the sun-dried versions from the health food stores.

According to researchers from Mahasarakham University in Thailand, this is because standard drying methods could cause severe reductions in the herb’s chemical components, thereby lessening its healing properties.

As published in the journal Food Chemistry, the research team investigated the effects of several standard drying methods on the chemical components and microstructure of turmeric. The drying methods were freeze-drying, hot-air drying at 50 °C and sun-drying — all of which are used in the production of powdered supplements.

What they found was that all drying methods resulted in reductions in turmeric’s natural chemical components such as curcuminoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids and amino acids.

For instance, sun drying caused a severe decline of three major curcuminoids — a direct result of UV and light degradation.

Among the methods tested, sun drying resulted in the greatest reductions in the herb’s curcumin content, decreasing it by 72 percent. This was followed by hot-air drying and freeze-drying, which logged the lowest levels of reductions at 61 and 55 percent, respectively. The herb’s amino acids were also reduced by all the drying methods.

According to the researchers, freeze-drying was the most suitable for drying turmeric, as it had the least effects on the herb’s microstructure changes. This, the researchers noted, meant that freeze-dried turmeric can easily be used as a substitute for fresh roots.

That said, the researchers stated fresh turmeric is still the best, as its natural components are all still intact, thereby making it a potent addition to any diet.

Turmeric: A nutrient powerhouse

Turmeric is a flowering plant native to the region of South Asia. A member of the ginger family, this herb plays an integral part, not just in Indian cuisine, but also, in several ancient medical practices such as Ayurveda. In the latter, it is considered to be effective against ailments such as ulcers, gastrointestinal ailments and complications, skin diseases, anemia, diabetes and rheumatism.

Turmeric is also predominantly featured in traditional Chinese medicine or TCM, where it is used to treat amenorrhea or the absence of menstrual periods as well as chronic inflammation and chronic pain.

Research shows that turmeric owes much of its beneficial effects to a particular group of phytochemical compounds called curcuminoids. These are the same group of phytochemicals that give turmeric its distinctive golden and tawny color, as well as its biting flavor.”

If you would like to learn other solutions to help control your health … click here?

Read More … Article Source: https://www.food.news/2020-10-15-fresh-and-freeze-dried-turmeric-more-potent.html