Covid 19 cases in India have crossed 15 lakh cases, as of yesterday tally of cases stood at 15.30+ lakh, with deaths standing at 34,191, with recovery rate of about 67%. It means that as of yesterday there are more than 5.10+ lakh active cases in the country, which is still not a small figure. Mumbai city achieved a unique record yesterday when it logged only 700 fresh cases, which is its lowest figure in 77 days. But rest of Maharashtra is facing crisis, as cases in some of the areas there are increasing very fast. It only implies that Maharashtra govt in the beginning tried to control the situation in Mumbai and other major cities city, and after the relaxation in lock down conditions, the Covid situation in other area worsened.
In my other topic of the day- many age old ancient Indian practices are being revived, with scientific reasons to prove their worth. The usage of TURMERIC also known by term Haldi, as a medicine and in cuisine for healthy life is such practice. Many Indian wedding rituals follow the haldi tradition in their pre wedding rituals as a cleansing bath given to the bride and groom. Haldi being part of parcel of our lives, and it is only now that we realise its importance as a super food. Some of the properties of turmeric are :
Anti-inflammatory
This is a very important property of turmeric, in keeping us healthy as well as healing us, when we fall ill due to some infections and resulting in inflammations. It helps our body to fight foreign particles and also repair it as well. Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful medicinal compound, which is highly anti oxidant and has anti inflammatory properties. This is what makes it much coveted medicinal spice.
Anti oxidant
As it has anti oxidant properties that helps it fight the oxidative damage in our body. The various pollutants, that we are exposed to cause free radicals to occur in our body, and these are highly damaging. Anti oxidants protect our body from these radicals. The curicumins in turmeric help in neutralising the free radicals, as well as boosts the anti oxidant enzyme activities present in our body.
Lower risk of brain disease
An essential factor of aging happens to be loss of memory, Alzheimer’s disease etc. Many of these brain disorders have been linked to the reduced levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a type of growth hormone in brain. The curicumin present in the turmeric can help increase the levels of BDNF in the brain, which in turn, indicates that it can help prevent brain disorders. Research have prove that this not only stop but also reverse these brain disorders. It also help in improving the memory.
Prevents or lowers the risk of heart disease
The inflammatory and anti oxidant properties of turmeric due to presence curicumin is also an important factor that can help in keeping heart diseases at bay. There is also evidence that suggests that curicumin helps improve the functioning of endothelium, the lining of blood vessels. And this directly benefits the heart, malfunctioning endothelium results in blood clotting, irregular blood pressures and many other issues that plays havoc with the heart.. One of the studies which involved coronary by pass patients, who were assigned curicumin, concluded that it resulted in a 65% reduced risk of heart attacks.
Anticancer
One of the most popular benefit of curicumin that has been talked about recently happens to be its anti cancer properties. Studies have shown that curicumin has restricted the growth of certain tumour growths, cause the death of cancer cells, and also prevent it from spreading, as it works at the molecular levels. Intensive studies are happening to see how curicumin can be used in cancer treatment.
The anti inflammatory properties of turmeric, also make in highly effective for arthritis patients. Even at present times of Covid pandemic, turmeric helps in building one’s immunity. So with positive effects on the brain, cells, and overall body, and help in the prevention of many common diseases, it appears that turmeric can help you to stay healthy and young.
Waiting for your feed backs/comments/views.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
29th July 2020.
R. N. Mungale
Mumbai is better but other cities is a concern.
Good information on haladi.