Cardiovascular Nutrition: Turmeric

The spice turmeric is best known as an ingredient in Indian curry and yellow mustard. Turmeric has been Dr. Sinatra’s number one cardiovascular nutrition spice for years.

Turmeric’s yellow color comes from curcumin—a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound that’s been found to reduce the excess platelet aggregation that occurs in sticky, clot-forming blood.

Curcumin has an impressive list of positive research findings. In one study, investigators at Japan’s Kyoto Medical Center found that curcumin helps support healthy blood pressure levels in addition to preventing cardiac hypertrophy. They concluded that curcumin “may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for heart failure in humans.”

So don’t be afraid to use turmeric in your cardiovascular nutrition repertoire. You can add it to rice, soup, chicken, or tofu dishes, or you can blend it with melted butter and drizzle it over cooked vegetables. 

For even more information on maintaining healthy blood pressure levels and cardiovascular nutrition, visit www.drsinatra.com.