Curry: useful properties and contraindications

A wide selection of herbs and spices helps turn any dish into a masterpiece. The benefits and harms of curry are determined by its special composition and peculiar taste. Coming from traditional Indian cuisine, the seasoning goes well with meat, fish and vegetables.

Composition and calorie content of curry

Curry is a mixture of individual ingredients that are individually beneficial, and has a very interesting composition:

  • turmeric - the main component;
  • coriander;
  • Cayenne pepper;
  • caraway;
  • cardamom;
  • basil.
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Curry recipes vary from region to region in India. Someone adds cinnamon or fenugreek to the main ingredients, somewhere they prefer a seasoning with the addition of mustard or fennel seeds. In any case, the benefits of the product do not diminish from this.

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Important! 100 grams of the product contains 325 kcal.

Why curry is good for you

The indisputable useful properties of curry are determined by the components that make up it. It is thanks to them that it possesses certain properties. The exotic mixture is endowed with antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial effects, is able to inhibit the development of infections and prevent bacterial attacks - this is its main benefit.

In addition, we can safely talk about the following useful properties:

  • turmeric in the composition of the product benefits the brain, as it improves its performance;
  • coriander has a choleretic effect and stabilizes the digestive tract;
  • if you systematically add the spice to different dishes, then you can count on the fact that the level of cholesterol in the blood will return to normal;
  • Zira helps to remove toxins;
  • has the ability to cleanse the blood;
  • prevents the formation of toxins;
  • improves liver function due to the fact that it helps to eliminate inflammatory and toxic processes;
  • the antioxidant properties of the product help fight free radicals that cause the aging process - this allows you to fight pathologies such as psoriasis, eczema, acne;
  • salicylic acid, which is part of the composition, gives the spice an analgesic effect - so you can get rid of migraines.
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The beneficial properties have made this product in demand in Ayurvedic medicine.

Attention! Keep in mind that curry will have many health benefits if used correctly. Otherwise, the body may be harmed.

Is curry good for weight loss?

Spicy products from India are known to many as a good way to lose weight. This is primarily due to its ability to reduce appetite and cope with hunger. In addition, the benefits of curry boil down to improving bile secretion and the ability to burn fat. Exotic spice improves metabolic processes and intestinal motility.

When using curry for weight loss, you shouldn't worry about its high calorie content.The fact is that a substance endowed with healing properties is used for cooking dishes in minimal quantities. In such volumes, it is not capable of causing harm.

While losing weight, this unique blend can be a worthy alternative to salt. Unlike the latter, a useful spice does not retain fluid in the body, but rather, on the contrary, has the ability to remove excess water from the body.

The use of curry in cosmetology

Useful properties are widely used in cosmetology.

Curry face masks

It is widely used for the preparation of masks that help narrow pores and reduce the secretion of subcutaneous fat. It also has a whitening effect, helping to cope with freckles and age spots.

  • For combination and oily skin, you can prepare the following mask: 0.5 table. tablespoons of yogurt are mixed with 1 teaspoon of curry. The resulting mixture is applied to the face. After 10-15 minutes everything needs to be washed off.
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  • You can improve the condition of oily skin with the following composition: 1 teaspoon of curry mixed with the same amount of honey. Apply the mixed mass to a homogeneous consistency on the face for 20 minutes, then rinse with water.

Curry hair masks

Apply curry for hair growth. Remedies with exotic spices nourish the bulbs well. There are known cases of using curry from gray hair.

Mask for normal hair

A mixture of 1 table is being prepared. honey, 1 teaspoon aloe juice, 1 teaspoon castor oil, 0.5 teaspoon curry. The resulting mass is mixed and applied to the curls. Leave on for 20 minutes, then wash off with water and shampoo.

For oily and normal hair

You need to take 1 teaspoon of honey, lemon juice, aloe and mix with a grated clove of garlic and 0.5 teaspoon of curry. The resulting mass is applied to the hair and washed off after 20 minutes using shampoo.

Where to add curry for flavor

Curry goes especially well with fish, meat and vegetables. If you add it to rice, then it will give it an unusual shade and pleasant taste. You can add a spicy mixture while marinating the chicken, there will be no harm from this. Meat salads, soups and stews will also go well with a healthy spice.

It can also be used as a component in the manufacture of various sauces. You can flavor drinks and desserts.

Comment! In many countries curry is called "seasoning of longevity". And this is no coincidence: the valuable component is endowed with an impressive list of useful properties.

How to make curry dressing at home

Curry spice, the benefits and harms of which are already well understood, can be prepared at home.

To do this, you need to stock up on:

  • 3 pcs. chili peppers;
  • coriander and turmeric seeds - 1 table each. spoon;
  • 2 tsp cumin;
  • 2 tsp fenugreek;
  • 1 tsp mustard;
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic;
  • 3 pcs. carnations;
  • 2 tsp salt;
  • 0.5 tsp cinnamon.

Preparation:

  1. All ingredients are fried in a dry skillet over low heat until they acquire a brown hue and a pleasant aroma.
  2. After that, they are ground in a coffee grinder or in a mortar.

It is better to apply the resulting mixture immediately. But if you get a lot, you can pour it into a glass jar with a tight lid and put it away in a dark place. Storage duration is no more than 6 months.

The harm of curry and contraindications to use

Despite its many useful properties, curry can be harmful in some situations. As a rule, this applies to cases of individual intolerance or allergic reaction to the constituent components.

In order to avoid harm, you should refrain from using healthy seasoning:

  • women undergoing breast cancer treatment;
  • patients with impaired renal function;
  • have had a heart attack or stroke;
  • people with pathologies of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • the harm can be done to patients with obstruction of stones in the gallbladder.

Curry strongly affects the process of hematopoiesis, in particular, it can slow down blood clotting.Therefore, patients with hemophilia must exercise caution.

People taking blood-thinning medications should limit the use of this hot treat. If you use a spicy product in large quantities, then there is a high risk of provoking internal bleeding.

How to choose and store curries

  • When buying a spicy mixture, first of all, you should pay attention to the components. Everyone can choose the option that suits him best. The main thing is that there are 4 main ingredients: turmeric root, coriander, cayenne pepper, fenugreek. Only in this case can you count on undeniable benefits.
  • The color of the purchased products should be bright and saturated. A tarnished version should not be taken.
  • Buy only dry product.

Store in an airtight container away from direct sunlight. The mixture prepared at home is recommended to be consumed within 2 months.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of curry are well understood. Possessing a bright, rich taste and unique aroma, it is endowed with many useful properties. This valuable product has found application not only in cooking, but also in cosmetology. Masks with this product are used for hair growth and facial skin improvement.

Reviews

Dronova Olga Maksimovna, 42 years old, Voronezh
Previously, curry was only used in cooking, but recently I discovered the benefits for hair. A friend advised me to prepare a product based on it and make a mask. I am a brunette, my hair has acquired a barely noticeable reddishness, I really like it. But the main thing is that no gray hair became noticeable!
Ermolova Marina, 36 years old, Yekaterinburg
I love curry very much, I add it to meat dishes. I don't make the seasoning myself, I buy a finished product in the store. They say that face masks are made from this spice, I want to try.

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