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One
of India’s biggest gifts to the West has indeed been the
famous dish known as curry. There are still doubts and
debates go ingon as to the whereabouts of itsactual origin
as well as who invented curry. In the end, none
could disregard thelips macking taste of this spicyde light.
Traditionally speaking, curry is a dish containing
sautéed garlic, onions, andvarying amounts of spices suchas
turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, red chili powder,
cardamom, black pepper, cloves, fenugreek, and fennel
.Notwithstanding
the food value of this typically Indian dish, the biggest
draw of curry these days is its medicinal values .In fact,
each ingredient
has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of
ailments from stomach cramps to
throat infections.
To
begin with, in the days of yore when refrigeration did not
exist, curry was put on meats
as a natural preservative, as it possesses bacteria-killing
properties. Curry is also said to boost brain functioning,
espe
Cially
by clearing up Amyloid plaques that are found in the brains
of the victims of Alzheimer’s disease. The tasty dish is
also believed to prevent chronic disease like rheumatoid
arthritis and osteoporosis. Often, it has been found in the
effective cure of prolonged sinusitis and lung congestion as
well as in fighting infections. Though it may sound somewhat
unbelievable and unrealistic, when it comes to the multiple
benefits that curry can provide, an analysis of is
ingredients will clearly justify its claim. Take for
instance one of its major component, garlic, which once was
used to treat fungal, yeast, bacterial, and viral
infections, is now used to lower cholesterol and as an
antibiotic. Onion also has similar medicinal qualities, and
in fact, it is very useful in treating lung
congestions.
Among
the concoction of spices present in curry, a notable one is
cumin, which aids digestion and also relieves flatulence,
colic, and diarrhea. The root, seed, and leaf of coriander
are often added to curries. This herb has often been used to
ease migraines and for gastro-intestinal issues. Ginger has
the ability to suppress nausea and often proved to be more
effective than anti-nausea medications. Ginger has also been
used to treat indigestion and flatulence and to reduce
fever. The spiciness of curries can be attributed to the red
chili present, which acts as a pain reliever as well as an
aid to increase circulation.
Cardamom,
when used in curries, not only lends a sweet flavor to these
dishes, but it also has the ability to stimulate digestion
and can aid fatigue and fever. Black pepper stimulates
gastric flow, acts as an anti-bacterial agent, and helps
relieve headaches and diarrhea. Without any doubt, one could
state that the very favorite, palatable curry not only
stimulates our taste buds, but also provides immense
medicinal value to our body system. Cloves have been used to
keep fats from turning rancid and to preserve foods.
Medicinally, cloves act as a topical pain reliever.
Fenugreek helps to relieve digestive cramps, menstrual pain,
and as a fever reducer. Fenugreek seeds have the unique
ability to stimulate breast tissue to lactate while fennel,
though used in small quantity in curries, does allay hunger
pain, ease indigestion, and as a diuretic.
It could be
said that the maximum benefit of curry is derived from the
spice that gives it a yellow color - turmeric. Curcumin, the
main active ingredient in turmeric, has been found to help
combat breast cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, and even
blood cancer. In fact, turmeric has been used traditionally
in Ayurvedic Indian medicine to improve overall health by
naturally treating arthritis, inflammation, and even
digestion. Curcumin also plays an active role in the
treatment and prevention of multiple sclerosis and
Alzheimer’s disease.
Without any
doubt, one could state that the very favorite, palatable
curry not only stimulates our taste buds, but also provides
immense medicinal value to our body system. Indeed, the cure
to so many of our diseases lies just in front of us on our dinner
plates! |