It’s such a store cupboard staple
that it’s easy to take humble curry powder for granted. We even neglect it in
our cooking, although it’s a simple way of adding depth and warmth with just a
pinch or two in a soup, a sprinkle to liven up a stir fry or, of course, a
fully-fledged Indian feast. In fact,
aside from being a little flavour bomb, a good quality, fresh curry powder
brings with it a surprising range of health benefits. In the UK,
when we talk about curry powder, we usually mean a blend of spices from East
Indian cuisine. The details may vary but we’re talking turmeric, coriander
seeds, cumin seeds, dried chillies, black pepper, fenugreek seeds, curry
leaves, mustard seeds, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, peppercorns and bay
leaves. And it
turns out such a heady mix of ingredients teams up to pack quite the health
punch:
- Reducing
inflammation
-
Fighting cancer
- Combating Alzheimer’s disease
-
Boosting your bones
-
Aiding digestion
-
Looking after your heart
-
Battling bacteria