Turmeric, also known as Curcuma longa (yù jīn) or Yellow Ginger (jiāng huáng), is a traditional medicine that is found in many folk remedies. It contains a key active compound called Curcumin, which has many health benefits, particularly in the treatment of stomach pain.
1. What are the benefits of eating fresh turmeric?
Fresh turmeric has a bitter taste, a slightly pungent aroma, and has effects such as regulating the flow of qi, promoting blood circulation, relieving pain, reducing inflammation, and healing wounds. Recent studies have accurately identified the chemical components in fresh turmeric. The main active compound is Curcumin (a yellowish-red crystal), and turmeric also contains 1-5% essential oils that are light yellow and aromatic, 1% unsaturated carbon compounds, 5% para-tolyl methyl carbinol, 1% camphor, curcumin, starch, fat, calcium oxalate, and other substances.
Curcumin is a compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. As a result, women often use fresh turmeric as an antiseptic for wounds, burns, and bruises. Eating fresh turmeric or applying turmeric masks can also help improve skin health. Moreover, fresh turmeric is a traditional remedy for diseases such as gastric pain, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.
2. Is Eating Turmeric Effective for Treating Stomach Pain?
The benefits of fresh turmeric in supporting the treatment of gastric pain include:
2.1. Anti-inflammatory
As mentioned above, the main active compound in fresh turmeric, turmeric powder, and turmeric starch is curcumin. This compound effectively controls inflammation and has been found to work even better than the NSAIDs aspirin and ibuprofen (two common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), according to research published in the Oncogene journal in the United States.
2.2. Reduces Gastric Ulcer Formation
Most patients with gastric pain, gastritis, or peptic ulcers suffer from intense pain due to ulcer formation in the stomach. Fresh turmeric is considered a great remedy. Curcumin in fresh turmeric has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, helps form a protective layer on the peptic lining, aids in healing existing ulcers, reduces the formation of new ulcers, and minimizes peptic irritation, thereby alleviating pain for patients with gastric pain.
2.3. Stimulates Bile Production to Support Digestion
Fresh turmeric can stimulate increased bile secretion from the gallbladder, which helps enhance food digestion, absorb fats, and nutrients. Bile helps support and reduce the workload on the stomach, especially when it is inflamed or ulcerated.
2.4. Reduces Gas and Relieves Bloating Symptoms
When suffering from gastric pain, patients often experience symptoms like bloating and belching due to excessive gas in the stomach. Fresh turmeric has been shown to kill bacteria in the peptic lining, soothe the digestive system, and effectively alleviate bloating and belching symptoms.
With these benefits, it can be confirmed that fresh turmeric is very effective in treating digestive diseases, especially in supporting the treatment of gastric pain.
3. How to Eat Fresh Turmeric Correctly and How to Prepare Dishes from Fresh Turmeric
Eating fresh turmeric promptly will bring positive effects on health. It is recommended to consume about 100-200 grams of fresh turmeric per day, or 10-20 grams of turmeric starch per day.
3.1. Fish Soup with Fresh Turmeric
Fish soup with fresh turmeric is a popular dish that provides many nutrients and is especially good for the stomach. This dish is common in rural areas, particularly those near rivers and fields in Vietnam. The fish used in this soup can include snakehead fish, salmon, or red tilapia, along with vegetables such as water spinach, Vietnamese coriander, and, of course, fresh turmeric.
Preparation: Clean the fish, cut it into pieces, and marinate it with salt and turmeric juice. Cut tomatoes into bite-sized pieces, and chop the spring onions and dill. Next, heat oil in a pan, fry the fish until golden, then add spring onions and water spinach to stir-fry. Then, add boiling water and simmer. After a while, add tomatoes and adjust the seasoning to taste. Eating this soup regularly will help reduce stomach symptoms and improve the treatment of gastric disorders, acid reflux, and gastric ulcers.
3.2. Stir-fried Beef with Fresh Turmeric
For those who do not prefer fish soup, stir-fried beef with fresh turmeric is also a delicious and nutritious dish, good for stomach health. The ingredients needed are: beef fillet, long beans, carrots, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and chopped spring onions, along with seasonings such as seasoning powder, sugar, oyster sauce, chili sauce, and cooking oil.
The first step is to wash the fresh turmeric, peel it, and crush it to extract the juice. Cut the beef into square pieces, marinate with turmeric, garlic, chopped onions, oyster sauce, and chili sauce. Then, heat the oil, sauté the onions and garlic, add the beef, stir-fry quickly, and season it. In another pan, stir-fry carrots, long beans, onions, and tomatoes. Next, add the beef mixture and stir until cooked. This way, you will have a fragrant, nutritious stir-fried beef dish with turmeric.
The health benefits of fresh turmeric are undeniable; however, before using it, you should consult with a doctor or pharmacist, as each person has different health conditions and circumstances. Incorrect usage can negatively affect health.
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