I've always touted the health benefits of spices. Now a new and exciting study indicates that turmeric is indeed packed full of them. It's being evaluated for its ability to soothe skin disorders like psoriasis, calm the nervous system and PMS, and even fight cancer because of its active ingredient, curcumin, which works as a powerful anti-inflammatory.
So how can you get more of it into your daily diet? Turmeric has a stringent tart flavor and it's the spice that gives curry powder its characteristic bright yellow color. However, using it in small amounts in your favorite recipes is easy since it comes in powder form. Add a teaspoon the next time you make chili or sprinkle some on a fresh mango with a squeeze of lime, then throw it it on the grill. Or, this weekend, have a movie night and served spiced popcorn.
Get Jennifer's Spiced Popcorn recipe after the jump.
Spiced Popcorn
Makes 4 cups of spiced popcorn
4 cups popped, unseasoned popcorn
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon sweet chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 tablespoons melted trans-fat free margarine
Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir or toss until well combined and serve. Store in an air-tight container for up to 5 days.
Learn more about Jennifer at skinnychef.com, and read her exclusive Slashfood blogs every Monday and Friday.
6-08-2009 @1:49PM Edible Aria said... Unfortunately, curcumin has low bioavailability; only around 1% makes it into the bloodstream, where it is mostly destroyed by the liver.
The good news is that you can easily increase curcumin's bioavailability by as much as 1000% by adding piperin (black pepper).
No so great for popcorn, maybe, but great for curry!
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6-08-2009 @2:10PM Matt_M said... I disagree. A little black pepper on popcorn never hurts. :)
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