I made it to Columbus. Things are going well. Have been talking to people in my orientation class about nutrition and healthy eating...two of my favorite subjects. I'm really looking forward to finishing orientation and getting back to taking care of patients.
I've been doing some reading and research on herbs and spices. My new focus is turmeric. It is an Indian curry spice with a long history of fighting inflammation. In addition, it has been used as a natural dye for cotton, silk, paper, foods, cosmetics, wood, and as a food preservative. As an antioxidanet turmeric may prevent oxidation of blood fats. Like ginger, curcumin (active ingredient in turmeric) may be a much safer anti-inflammatory agent than standard NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Curcumin helps prevent oxidation of cholesterol in the blood, which damages blood vessels and builds up in the plaque that can lead to stroke or heart attack. Turmeric is also high in vitamin B6. Studies in India show that elderly people whose diets were high in turmeric have lower levels of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's.
There are so many health benefits in our spice cabinets. They make excellent salt substitutes and can increase the flavor of our foods. The next time you're cooking and feel adventurous, check out your spice/herb rack and see what interesting things you find.
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