With its colorful inflorescences, the turmeric plant looks quite exotic, which may give some hobby gardeners the impression of a possible toxic hazard from this plant. This is actually the plant whose rhizomes provide the intense yellow color for curry powder.
Turmeric is very healthy for humans and animals
Non-toxic to humans and animals
Neither the leaves nor the tubers, which can weigh up to 3 kg, are poisonous to humans or animals. However, when processing the tubers, the curcumin they contain can cause the hands to turn yellow if gloves are not worn.
Positive effects of consuming turmeric rhizomes
The turmeric species, which belong to the ginger family, are mainly cultivated in India and China for their rhizomes. Their use for the preparation of food is said to have the following positive health effects:
- antioxidant effect (anti-inflammatory, for example in arthritis)
- Prophylaxis against Alzheimer's
- alleged slowdown in the growth of cancer cells
- Elimination of mercury from the body
- Treatment of intestinal and respiratory diseases
tips
The human body can usually use the active ingredients contained in the turmeric tubers very poorly. A combination with oil and black pepper (which contains piperine) is said to drastically increase the bioavailability of curcumin in the body.