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Health updates: Turmeric and U.S. meat

February 24, 2012

Food, Health

The following is new information regarding some of the health benefits of the magical medicinal root, turmeric, and drug-resistant bacteria that has been found in meats in the United States.

This spice doubles as a powerful anti-inflammatory

In cultures that are thousands of years old, there tend to be deep traditions of cooking daily meals with medicinal roots and herbs. Turmeric is one such medicinal root that has made its way into many Indian recipes. Research shows that turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and antioxidant properties. Inflammation, if left untreated, can become a chronic health issue. And unlike aspirin or ibuprofen, turmeric’s curcumin reduces inflammation naturally, without damaging the liver or kidneys.

Healthier Talk reports: “It has been found especially helpful in treating conditions like arthritis, sports injuries, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, tendonitis and various autoimmune diseases. Some research even suggests that curcumin may also help those suffering from asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and even cancer.”

Nearly half of U.S. meat tainted with drug-resistant bacteria

Drug-resistant bacteria may be lurking in your grocery meat aisle. A study found that Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria that causes most staph infections, was present in meat and poultry from U.S. grocery stores at “unexpectedly high rates.” Researchers found nearly half of the meat and poultry samples were contaminated. In addition, more than half of those bacteria were resistant to at least three classes of antibiotics.

According to the New York Post: “For the study, researchers looked at 136 samples involving 80 brands of beef, chicken, pork and turkey from 26 grocery stores … According to the findings … industrial farms, where food animals are steadily fed low doses of antibiotics, ‘are ideal breeding grounds for drug-resistant bacteria that move from animals to humans.’”

 

Sources: Healthier Talk April 10, 2011; Alternative and Complementary Therapies February 2003:9(1): 34-38; Clinical Infectious Disease May 2011: 52(10):1227-30; New York Post April 15, 2011; and www.mercola.com May 07, 2011.

Reprinted from AZNetNews, Volume 30, Number 3, June/July 2011.

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