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Culinary Purpose Or Medicinal Wonder: Find Out What Makes Turmeric Leaves Tick

by Fashionlady
Turmeric Leaves For Health

Turmaric Leaves

If you are an Indian resident, or for that matter an NRI who misses the colourful, delicious and lip-smacking Indian food, then am sure your culinary buds would love to read this blog. Not just for the taste part, but for the medicinal value too.

The product I am talking about is turmeric leaves. When you travel down South India or for that matter even Southern Asia, turmeric leaves uses will surely enthral you.

Most of us have been using turmeric in powder form. But, die-hard foodies are not shy from using turmeric leaves in various turmeric leaves recipe. Keeping food part aside, the medicinal uses of turmeric leaves are something to write home about. Let us find out how turmeric leaves can be an asset to our health. So much so that it might even solve your query that can you eat turmeric leaves?

Tracing Turmeric Across History

The biological name of turmeric is Curcuma longa. And turmeric has been very much a part of the Indian Ayurveda. Even Chinese medicine has used turmeric for several thousand years in the health domain.

[Also Read: Turmeric Milk Health Benefits]

Coming to the turmeric leaf, curcumin, which is a powerful antioxidant is an active ingredient.

Turmeric Leaves Recipe

Cosmetic Benefits Of Turmeric Leaves

Go back to Ayurveda and you will find that the best way to use turmeric leaves is by crushing it into a paste and applying it to the skin. This ancient practice is still in use in India.

It is also believed that grandma’s turmeric recipe helps keep the skin soft, smooth and glowing. It also makes your complexion fairer and says goodbye to skin blemishes. Plus, it eases out skin conditions like eczema and works as a good antiseptic for cuts and burns.

Cosmetic Benefits of Turmeric Leaves

Medicinal Benefits Of Turmeric Leaves

Turmeric is available in two forms – tablet and capsule in antioxidant preparations. These help scavenge harmful free radicals.

Curcumin, the turmeric leaf, gives you anti-inflammatory properties. This helps in reducing osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, as suggested by University of Arizona study mentioned in the March 2006 issue of the “Journal of Natural Production.

Can You Eat Turmeric Leaves

Cooking Benefits Of Turmeric Leaves

The turmeric leaves also known as haldi leaves, have been majorly used as aromatic herbs not only in Indian cooking, but Thai and Malaysian cooking too.

Well, fresh turmeric leaves are by and large used whole in few dishes, which would answer your basic query whether can you eat turmeric leaves.

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And, dried turmeric leaves can be used in cooking once soaked in water with the extract. It is a known fact and ask any Indian cook for confirmation that turmeric leaves are also used for food colouring and a basic ingredient in curry powders. In fact, turmeric leaves come of great help in improving digestion and reducing gas and bloating.

  • Turmeric leaf is your liver’s best friend. The extract of the turmeric leaves and rhizome goes that extra mile in increasing the bile flow and offers protection for your gall bladder.
  • The leaf is a potent antioxidant and helps tremendously in boosting immunity.
  • The leaf extracts of turmeric plant are said to have anti-cancerous properties. In fact, much amount of the turmeric spice has shown to slow down development of leukaemia cells in children.
  • The turmeric spice gives adequate protection from damage caused due to eating junk food, processed foods, and smoking cigarettes.
  • For those of you who are perennially down with cold and cough, leaves of turmeric is an excellent home remedy to tackle these seasonal health problems.
  • Last but not the least, turmeric leaf is just apt for skin tone and overall health.

How To Select Turmeric Leaves

As shared above, the turmeric leaf comes in both fresh and dried form. Bear in mind that the fresh ones are noted for their light green colour (mind you, the leaves should not be wilted). Always check the ‘best before date’ before you reach out to buy dried turmeric leaves.

When it comes to turmeric leaves recipe, you can cook sweet rice dumplings steamed in leaves of turmeric, baked soya dumplings with turmeric leaf, to name a few.

How to Select Turmeric Leaves

 

So how did you find the turmeric leaves uses? Like to share it with your family, friends and overseas cousins? Go ahead and tell us what they think of the humble turmeric leaf, which has been an integral part of Indian cuisine and culture.

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