Tumeric
Healthy Addition to Dog Treat Ingredients
Know about tumeric? It can give home made dog treats a deep yellow color. Beyond food coloring, the herb can enhance your natural dog treat recipes with spicey flavoring and natural healing properties.Other names for it are curcuma, turmeric, Indian saffron and yu jin.
>Photo by McKay Savage in Chennai India
Turmeric is a healthy dog treat ingredient.
If you live in India or China, you already know what curcuma, Indian saffron or yu jin is. However, most Americans are not familiar with it.
Mostly known as a spice (the main ingredient in curry), it has been used in India as a tonic for the whole body, as a diuretic (water pill), and to promote the flow of bile into the intestines.
In China, healers prescribe the spice for liver problems and colic (soothes the stomach and reduces excess gas)--and, externally (applied to the skin), to reduce the pain and itching of small wounds and ringworm.
Today, herbalists in the US recommend using Indian saffron for reducing the pain and inflammation of arthritis, enhancing liver function and preventing gall bladder disease.
Animal studies have confirmed its positive effects on the liver. (American Pharmaceutical Association)
Tumeric as a
Yellow Food Coloring
This deep yellow spice contains an orange-yellow oil. The oil, possessing curcuminoids, is responsible for its food coloring and also its medicinal effects. In fact, it is the coloring used in the mustard that you probably put on your hot dogs and hamburgers.To use this yellow powder as a food coloring, simply add 1-2 teaspoons to your dog cookie recipes.
Medicinal Properties of Curcuma
Intestinal DisturbancesThis herb has been used traditionally to calm an upset stomach and to reduce flatulence or gas. In addition, one of its curcuminoids—curcumin--fights a number of bacteria, including protozoans that are responsible for infectious diarrhea.German health authorities endorse curcumin for indigestion. And the herb has also proven, in animal studies, to have a protective function on the liver. CancerThere have been a number of test tube studies, and some animal studies, that have shown that tumeric may help to prevent tumors and cancer. It is believed that curcumin and other substances found in the spice serve as antioxidants, helping to remove toxic substances from the system.Although these studies have been positive and hopeful, more research needs to be done.
Natural Dog Treat Recipes
with Indian Saffron
To try a recipe or two that includes this healthy spice and gives you a natural yellow color, try one of these home made dog treat recipes:Dog Treat Icing - Cheese Press Cookies
- Halloween Cookies
- Puppy Pizzas
- Gas Busters
- Smiley Face Cookies
If food coloring is acceptable to you--it's much cheaper and probably easier to find in the stores.I prefer not to use artificial food coloring, so I like tumeric for that nice yellow color. It should be available in the spice section of your grocery store. If not, and you live near a big city, you will find it in an Indian or Chinese grocery store--or you can just order some at Amazon.
Tumeric to Dog Nutrition
Turmeric to Best Dog Treats
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