Make room for turmeric on your table to avoid upper respiratory tract infections.

The increase in the time spent indoors with the cold weather in the winter months also increases the upper respiratory tract infections. Drawing attention to the importance of abundant fluid intake and nutrition in the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, Marmara University Head of Dietetics and Nutrition Department Assoc. Dr. Şule Aktaç recommends turmeric, which is among the functional foods. Milk drinks such as Turmeric Latte, enriched with spices such as cinnamon and ginger along with turmeric, are a good choice for warming us up in the winter months, as well as being at the forefront with their health benefits.

Upper respiratory tract infections started to enter our lives more and more with the cold weather. For prevention and treatment, experts emphasize that plenty of fluids should be consumed and attention should be paid to nutrition. Pointing out that with a better understanding of the importance of functional foods, foods and spices with different characteristics are given more place in nutrition, Marmara University Dietetics and Nutrition Department Head Assoc. Dr. Sule Aktac; explains the benefits of consuming turmeric as a beverage with its protein, carbohydrate, fat, fiber, various vitamin and mineral content.

Consuming the hot drinks with turmeric, which we prefer most during the winter months, offers both a beneficial and enjoyable experience for health. Drinks such as Turmeric Latte, which can be consumed especially hot in winter and cold in summer, are recommended for protection from upper respiratory tract infections and offer a taste experience that will be the common point of all of us.

It has a protective and therapeutic effect in relieving many diseases and pain.

Turmeric, which stands out with its health benefits, contains protein, carbohydrates, fat and fiber, niacin, vitamin A, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium and zinc minerals. Stating that turmeric is used to treat wounds, skin diseases, eye infections, respiratory ailments and digestive disorders within the scope of traditional ayurvedic practices in India and China, Assoc. Dr. Şule Aktaç, “Turmeric used as a food coloring; Contains curcumin, an odorless, heat-stable compound.

It has been shown in scientific studies that curcumin improves health by showing antioxidant, reducing inflammation, preventing tumor formation, stopping the growth of microorganisms and killing them. Curcumin is a radical scavenger several times better than vitamin E. In this respect, it has been stated that it may be beneficial as a preventive and therapeutic in the treatment of obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, digestive system diseases, fatty liver, cancer, joint diseases, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and pain relief.

Enjoy its benefits and add flavor to your life

With the increasing awareness of functional foods, spices and root plants are starting to appear more frequently in foods and beverages. In addition to the Turmeric Latte, which is one of the indispensable winter drinks of Kahve Dünyası, many natural flavors such as turmeric, cinnamon and tahini, which are mostly herbal milks, can be consumed.

Stating that turmeric is safe for consumption by all age groups, Assoc. Dr. Aktaç continues: “There are phytochemicals in turmeric, which contain more than 50 species and are known for their protective effect from many diseases. Consuming turmeric powder instead of using curcumin as an extract alone provides higher benefits for health. Today, functional foods such as turmeric are also used in foods and beverages that we consume.

In addition, consuming turmeric with a food containing oil, applying heat treatment and consuming it together with black pepper and ginger increases the effect of turmeric on the body.

To ensure this; For example, adding turmeric to hot milk in winter, along with black pepper and/or ginger, would be a good choice to prevent colds and flu. The mixtures that we will benefit more from for our health with spices such as ginger, cinnamon and black pepper are among the delicious options that warm us up especially in the winter months, and also serve as a protective against diseases.”