将姜黄添加到日常饮食的五个理由

姜黄具有鲜艳的色泽和香味, 是货架上最诱人的香料之一。无论你用它来做调味料，还是用来做日常炒蛋的一种作料都能够增强烹饪的乐趣。同时她也是生姜这个大家族里的一种重要组成成分。  

But did you know that turmeric is also loaded with health benefits? In fact, in India it’s been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years. Not much has changed since then, except for the fact that turmeric is now firmly on the radars of contemporary health gurus across the globe.

下面这些是人们对这个多年生植物的热爱：

减少炎症和缓解关节炎

Curcumin, a plant-produced chemical, is one of the key active ingredients in turmeric. Not only does it give the root its distinctive bright yellow colour, but it’s also a known anti-inflammatory. This makes turmeric a powerful therapeutic when it comes to reducing the pain, inflammation and stiffness that accompanies rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. If you really want to concentrate your intake you can take curcumin as an herbal supplement.

保持关节健康

虽然姜黄可以帮助缓解风湿性关节炎和骨关节炎等疾病，但最近的一项研究表明，姜黄比减轻疼痛更有效地预防关节炎症。所以，即使你目前没有经历关节疼痛，你仍然可以收获姜黄的好处。如果你不爱的味道，只需将一茶匙姜黄扫入你的早晨浆果/香蕉冰沙。或者，用胡萝卜、生姜和柑橘的阳光混合。

增强免疫系统

如果你正在寻找一种天然的补救措施来预防感冒，咳嗽和其他日常疾病，姜黄可能是你新的秘密武器。根大大增加了身体的抗氧化能力，这有助于武装身体对抗自由基。姜黄素的化学结构能主动中和自由基，并增强人体自身的抗氧化酶。随着冬天的来临，为什么不在你的每日早餐例行公事中加一杯金茶呢？它是奶油，放纵和与免疫增强的好处。不要忘记黑胡椒，因为它含有烟碱，一种天然元素，可使姜黄素的吸收增加2000%。

改善大脑功能

As well as physiological benefits, turmeric is also loaded with cognitive parks. Curcumin has the capacity to boost brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a type of growth hormone that keeps the brain healthy. Without it, the brain becomes vulnerable to disorders like depression and Alzheimer’s disease. BDNF helps to ensure that brain neurons continue to divide and multiply, which can ultimately help to improve memory, fight off degenerative processes and even reverse certain types of brain diseases.

降低心脏病风险

心脏病是世界上最大的杀手之一。仅在新西兰，目前约有185，000名新西兰人 患有心脏病，导致33%的人死亡。现在，新的研究表明姜黄可以帮助预防和逆转心脏病过程中的许多步骤。姜黄素的存在增强了内皮的功能，内皮使血管，并帮助身体调节血压，以及防止凝血。一项研究表明，姜黄素与运动一样有效，而另一项研究表明，姜黄素是阿托伐他汀的替代品，一种用于降低血液胆固醇的处方药。

有这么多的好处, 以及这么多的创造性的方法, 把姜黄纳入您的饮食, 还等什么呢？

Grace Denham

Grown Ups NZ