We have all heard an apple a day will keep the doctor away, but maybe a curry meal a day will keep the doctor away too. A new clinical trial suggests the benefits of a curry meal could help support a healthy heart and blood vessels.
In a typical curry meal you would expect to find a combination of many spices including clove, coriander, cumin, garlic, ginger, onion, and turmeric. These ingredients and the phytochemicals naturally in them have been suggested by scientists to protect against heart disease, inflammation, cancer, and promote brain health.
A recent clinical was performed to determine if a meal containing these spices could have a positive impact on blood vessel function.
A total of 18 males aged 33 to 64 years were recruited for the study. They did not have any history of high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. Participants in the study consumed a meal with or without spices with measurements taken before and after.
The meal consisted of ground beef, tomato, tomato puree, and a blend of spices. The total calorie count was 200 calories of rice with 180 of the meat/curry meal. The total meal was approximately 480 calories. The ‘control meal’ without spices according to the authors of the article said it takes like spaghetti.
The ‘spice’ blend used in this clinical trial:
- Clove (g) 0.9
- Coriander (g) 1.8
- Cumin (g) 0.9
- Garlic (g) 3.6
- Ginger (g) 2.7
- Onion (sautéed) (g) 9
- Red pepper (g) 0.09
- Turmeric (g) 4.5
Here are the main results of the study:
(FMD is flow mediated blood vessel dilation. By increasing FMD there is less pressure on blood vessel walls.)
- FMD improved after the meal with spices from 5.2% to 6.6%
- FMD decreased after the meal without spices from 5.8 to 5.1
- These findings suggest a single meal with curry spices improved blood vessel function
Take away message: A single meal containing spices found in curry dishes has been shown in a randomized controlled clinical trial to improve blood vessel function by 1.4%. Improvements in blood vessel function by 1% in other clinical studies have been shown to decrease cardiovascular events by 9%. The results of this clinical trial provide evidence that meal choices and the spices we cook with can benefit our heart and blood vessels after just one meal.
Nutrition Journal. 2014 June 28; Volume 13: Page 67-73.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Food, Heart, Plant Medicine