Chicken Curry and Beyond - The CurryFocus Blog

Fenugreek is a spice that is used a lot when making curries and is basic ingredient of five-spice powder and curry powders.

But, as well as adding flavor to curries, fenugreek also has a variety of medicinal applications.

A quick search of the Internet shows that fenugreek is used to treat high cholesterol, diabetes, indigestion, inflammation, skin disorders, menstrual aches and pains, ulcers, colds and sore throats.

In addition, fenugreek has been used to induce labour and stimulate breast milk production.

Other, non-medicinal, uses of fenugreek include its use for weight control and for breast enlargements.

You should always talk to your doctor before starting to use a new medicine and taking fenugreek is no exception. There are warnings that pregnant women should not use fenugreek. Your doctor will have the latest information available.

But using fenugreek in your curries is probably OK, as well as being tasty.

You can find out more about the health benefits of fenugreek by searching the Internet. The following links are some that may be of interest to you.

Fenugreek

Therapeutic applications of Fenugreek

Fenugreek Seed

Fenugreek for Health

One of the main spices used in Indian cooking is turmeric – you’ll find it being added to most curries. More recently its medicinal applications are being investigated.

Earlier this month we wrote about how one of the compounds in turmeric, called curcumin, is being tested for its effectiveness in fighting several types of cancer. The original article is called “Turmeric. Is It a Spice or Medicine?”.

The medical news is currently very active in telling us about more advances with using new synthetic curcumins.

Some Japanese scientists have created synthetic curcumins and have found them to be more effective at treating cancers than the natural curcumin.

One problem with natural curcumin is that it loses its effectiveness when taken orally. But it appears that the synthetic curcumins do not have this problem.

The synthetic curcumins have been tested on mice with colorectal (bowel) cancer with results that are better than with using natural curcumin.

There is an expectation that the synthetic curcumins will also be effective in treating other cancers (such as gastric, breast, pancreas and lung cancers).

Natural curcumin is effective in treating Alheimer’s and it will be interesting to see if the synthetic product also has similar results with this other terrible disease.

These are exciting developments and we will be keeping an eye open to see how they develop.

You can read some of the posts about the new synthetic curcumins by following these links.

New versions of curry ingredient to fight cancer

Curry Offers Hope for Cancer and Alzheimer’s Victims

Curry-derived molecules may help stave off colorectal cancers

This is the second article in a short series about your health and Indian curry spices. The first article, called “Turmeric. Is It a Spice or Medicine??” and you can read it here.

There are a lot of articles on the Internet about using cinnamon to treat Type 2 Diabetes.

Cinnamon is a spice that is made from the bark of a tree in the Lauaraceae family.

Cassia is also a spice made from the bark of a tree.

Both spices have similar flavours and are very difficult to tell apart when in their powdered form.

And, to confuse matters even more, Cassia is often labelled and sold as being Cinnamon.

Studies have been carried out using Cassia to treat patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

The studies have shown that Cassia reduced the blood sugar levels in people who have Type 2 Diabetes (Type 2 Diabetes is having too much blood sugar whilst Type 1 Diabetes is having too little blood sugar). This is excellent news for the estimated 170 million people who have Diabetes.

The study that is usually referenced was carried out in Pakistan and, as well as reducing the levels of blood sugars, the treatment also reduced levels of LDL (the bad cholesterol).

Good news is that the Cinnamon/Cassia can be taken in tea, drinks and lots of foods (just think how many things you can eat and drink that contain cinnamon).

And the health benefits of using cinnamon do not end with Diabetes. It is claimed that cinnamon is effective in treating flatulence, vomiting, nausea, hypertension, angina, upset stomachs, diarrhoea, infections, kidney problems and even the common cold.

Check the following links to read up on the medicinal uses of cinnamon. Or use your favourite search engine to find the information for yourself.

Cinnamon. What Is It?
The Effects of Cinnamon in Type 2 Diabetes
Cinnamon as Medicine?
Cinnamon
Cinnamon spice produces healthier blood

Turmeric is one of the main spices used in Indian cooking. But recently it is being closely investigated for its medicinal properties and uses.

Turmeric has been used for centuries for treating a wide range of ailments such as inflammations, congestion, diarrhoea, fever, liver problems, urinary problems, menstrual disorders, colds, arthritic and joint pain. It is also used as a tonic, stimulant and diuretic.

Curcumin, a constituent of turmeric, is being tested in treatments for more major ailments such as melanoma, Alzheimer’s and breast cancer.

Initially, curcumin has proved successful in killing and stopping cancer cell growth under laboratory conditions using rats and mice and the next step is to use the treatments with people.

Curcumin has also proved effective in preventing some side effects of exposure to radiation that could be of great importance to those people who undergo radiation treatment for cancer.

There are lots of Internet articles about the medicinal uses of turmeric. If you want to read more, you can start with the following links.

Curcumin to Kill and Stop the Growth of Skin Cancer Cells

Curry Spice May Counter Alzheimer’s

Curry Spice Found to Fight Cancer

Curry Spice May Curb Alzheimer’s

Curry Spice Takes Burn Out Of Radiation

Curry spice may fight decline in brain function

Curry Spice May Fight Alzheimer’s

Curcumin

Curcumin and Turmeric

Turmeric: from kitchen cabinet to medicine chest

Turmeric. Traditional medicine

It appears that turmeric is a medicine as well as a spice. And it is a very versatile medicine indeed.

What is Cayenne� Pepper?
Cayenne is a hot red fruit that is used to flavour dishes, its name comes from the city Cayenne which is� the capital of the french region of French Guiana. The fruit is often pulped into cakes, which are then ground or sifted to form Cayenne Pepper.

Cayenne Pepper helps Blood Circulation
One of the benefits of cayenne is that it� prevents stickiness of blood platelets, which certainly can help reduce the tendency to clot and has a resolving action on existent thrombosis.� Cayenne Pepper� cleans the blood vessels making long term use� a rejuvenator of circulation. It is also reported to have a wonderful effect on brain clarity and memory, especially for the elderly by its improving� circulation to the brain.� This� means that any areas of the body that are deficient in blood supply, such as the brain, will receive fresh vitalising blood to renew and restore.� In some cases there have even been reports of gangrene cured by this herb.

Cayenne Pepper for Other Health Issues
Cayenne Pepper has been known to be good for the kidneys, spleen, pancreas, heart and lungs. The actual constitution of Cayenne Pepper is Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Alkaloids known as Capsaicin.

Capsaicin is a common ingredient in many pain killing creams used for Arthritis and pain caused by Diabetes nerve damage. Its also used as anti-oxidant which slows cancer cell growth. Studies have shown the Capsaicin causes cancer cells to die by starving them of oxygen.

There is a wealth of information out there about the health benefits of some of the ingredients of Curries. We look at some of these articles.

A Curry a Day keeps the Doctor Away?
Science Daily — The chemical that gives spicy food its kick could hold the key to the next generation of anti-cancer drugs that will kill tumours with few or no side effects for the patient, say academics at The University of Nottingham. more..

Garlic could provide cancer drug
The chemical which gives garlic its flavour could be used in a “smart bomb” to fight cancer, scientists say. more..

Curry Spice ‘Help for Arthritis’
Extract of a spice used in curry could help prevent rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, US research suggests. more..

At the end of the day you need to make your own decision as to what is right for you, along with consultation from a medical professional, however it is very interesting to note that many Curry dishes have a number of ingredients that appear to have excellent side effects.