Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a yellow pigment present in the spice turmeric (Curcuma longa) that has been associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, and antibacterial activities as indicated by over 6,000 citations. In addition, over one hundred clinical studies have been carried out with curcumin. One of the major problems with curcumin is perceived to be the bioavailability. How curcumin should be delivered in vivo, how bioavailable is it, how well curcumin is absorbed and how it is metabolized, is the focus of this review. Various formulations of curcumin that are currently available are also discussed.
Absorption* ; Biological Availability* ; Curcuma ; Curcumin* ; Metabolism* ; Spices*

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare customers' perceptions of the need for a low-sodium diet and sodium-reduced operations in the industry foodservice by age. The relationships between health concerns and perceptions of the need for sodium-reduced operations and low-sodium diets in the industry foodservice were analyzed.METHODS: A survey was conducted among 340 industry foodservice customers aged 20–50 years and residing in Seoul, Korea. This study investigated the respondents' health concerns, their perception of the need for sodium-reduced foodservice operations, their perception of a sodium-reduced diet, and the general details of the foodservices they used. A cross-tabulation analysis and ANOVA were performed to identify differences in measurement items by age, and a simple regression analysis was performed to examine relationships between measurement items.RESULTS: For the customers' perception of the need for a sodium-reduced foodservice operation, the item “it is necessary to provide separate spices and sauces to reduce sodium intake” achieved the highest score (3.88 points out of a possible 5 points). For the perception of a sodium-reduced diet, the item “I think it is helpful for one's health” obtained the highest score (4.13 points). Respondents' health concerns had a positive effect on increasing the level of perception of the need for sodium-reduced foodservice operations and that of a sodium-reduced diet.CONCLUSIONS: Foodservice nutritionists could help enhance their customers' perceptions of the needs for sodium-reduced foodservice operations and sodium-reduced diets by frequently providing them with sodium-related health information.
Diet ; Diet, Sodium-Restricted ; Korea ; Nutritionists ; Seoul ; Sodium ; Spices

No abstract available.
DNA, Viral* ; Hep G2 Cells* ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Spices*

This study was designed to investigate factors related to recovery from cerebrovascular accidents(CVA). Medical charts of 100 CVA patients(40 males and 60 females) who had been treated at Bul-Guang hospital in Teagu from June to December 1994 were reviewed to assess their recovery from CVA. Not only types of CVA, blood pressure and serum cholesterol and triglyceride were factors affecting recovery from CVA, but also smoking and drinking status and food preference seemed to be important factors. The percentages of recovered patients were higher in the order of cerebral thrombosis(83.3%), subarachnoid hemorrhage(57.1%), cerebral embolism(50.0%), and cerebral hemorrhage(26.7%). Recovery rates of patients with serum cholesterol below 200mg/dl, 200-239mg/dl, over 240mg/dl were 81.8%, 66.6%, and 16.6% respectively. Recovery rates of patients with serum triglyceride below 160mg/dl, 160-209mg/dl, and oover 210mg/dl were 84.6%, 72.8%, and 35.7% respectively. Patients with standard weight recovered better than those with overweight or obesity. Recovery rates of underweight, standard weight, overweight and obesity patients were 73.3%, 85.7%, 45.8%, and 31.6% respectively. Smoking and drinking seemed to be important factors which inhibited recovery from CVA. Patients preferring spiced foods were recovered better than those preferring salty or pungent foods.
Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Drinking ; Food Preferences ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spices ; Stroke* ; Thinness ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to develop a textbook of the integrated education of Korean food culture and language for married female immigrants. METHODS: An analysis was conducted with the textbooks and researches for married female immigrants, and dietary life related contents were extracted. The contents were organized by activity oriented approach which is acquired the culture. The evaluation was conducted through depth interview with 6 married female immigrants through an analysis of the qualitative materials. RESULTS: The text book comprised of 30 Korean food recipes with the target expressions and vocabularies. It also included Korean basic table setting, Korean table manner, main dishes and side dishes, basic cutting, seasoning and garnish, measure of the ingredients, symbolic food, regional food culture, choice of food ingredients, shopping, bargaining, taste expression, color expression, all sorts of spices, Korean traditional festival food, and seasonal customs and food. For intensifying communication, activity which is close to real life was added. Through cooking, married female immigrants expose words and sentence patterns and that allows to evaluate their level of understanding. We observed that the developed textbook is suited for married female immigrants' needs and cognitive level. The text book included a comparative study between Korean culture and their country's culture, which could provide the motive for accepting each other’s cultures. The study showed how to develop a textbook that integrates Korean language education and Korean food culture and how to apply the textbook in real life. CONCLUSIONS: The correct understanding about Korean food culture could lead to improvements communication ability. Useful information which relates to Korean food, recipes, and food culture could increase daily life satisfaction. Conducting both cultural education and language education could increase the participation of married female immigrants in learning activities. Therefore this study could help these females to adapt Korean society and manage family dietary life effectively.
Communication ; Cooking ; Education* ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Female* ; Holidays ; Humans ; Learning ; Seasons ; Spices ; Vocabulary

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food", as said by the father of medicine, Hippocrates in 431 B.C. Nature has provided us with a variety of treatment modalities in the form of food. For the first 5,000 years of civilization, humans relied on herbs and foods for medicine. Only in the past 60 years have we forgotten our medicinal "roots" in favor of patented medicines. While pharmaceutical ingredients have their value, we should not overlook the well-documented, non-toxic and inexpensive healing properties of food. As an individual we consume food several times a day without a complete understanding of its innate qualities. As part of a daily diet, food plays a significant role in helping our bodies function at their best. There are hundreds of extremely nutritious foods, but the items in this article do more than providing healthy nutrients. Many of them consist of ingredients with hidden pharmaceutical qualities ranging from anti-inflammatory to anti-carcinogenic agent. They not only boost our innate immunity but also act as an adjunct to medicines for specific treatment. Prevention and management of symptoms can often be improved significantly through the foods we consume regularly. This paper overviews these beneficial traits of food ingredients, consumed on a daily basis, in various oral diseases.
Diet ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Oral Health* ; Plants, Medicinal ; Spices*

It is possible to begin new teaching opportunities in a variety of ambulatory care venues and design these teaching and learning programmes using the SPICES approach to curriculum reform. In an ambulatory care teaching programme it is possible to stimulate more student-centred learning and to move away from clinician-focused teaching. Opportunities for integrated learning and problem solving can be provided and an inter-professional approach fostered. Learning in the clinical context can be structured to meet both students' needs and curriculum requirements. Finally, opportunities for elective studies can be taken by students with a particular interest in a topic encountered. Developing a new teaching programme in an ambulatory care venue provides an opportunity to introduce elements of the SPICES approach to learning. The new programme created can be a model of innovative teaching in a medical school wishing to develop a revised undergraduate curriculum.
Ambulatory Care* ; Curriculum ; Humans ; Learning ; Problem Solving ; Schools, Medical ; Spices* ; Teaching

This article aimed to explain the reasons why Asian spices including pepper, ginger, and cinnamon were considered as special and valuable drugs with curative powers in the Medieval Europe. Among these spices, pepper was most widely and frequently used as medicine according to medieval medical textbooks. We analyzed three main pharmacology books written during the Middle Ages. One of the main reasons that oriental spices were widely used as medicine was due to the particular medieval medical system fundamentally based on the humoral theory invented by Hippocrates and Galen. This theory was modified by Arab physicians and imported to Europe during the Middle Ages. According to this theory, health is determined by the balance of the following four humors which compose the human body: blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm. Each humor has its own qualities such as cold, hot, wet, and dry. Humoral imbalance was one of the main causes of disease, so it was important to have humoral equilibrium. Asian spices with hot and dry qualities were used to balance the cold and wet European diet. The analysis of several major medical textbooks of the Middle Ages proves that most of the oriental spices with hot and dry qualities were employed to cure diverse diseases, particularly those caused by coldness and humidity. However, it should be noted that the oriental spices were considered to be much more valuable and effective as medicines than the local medicinal ingredients, which were not only easily procured but also were relatively cheap. Europeans mystified oriental spices, with the belief that they have marvelous and mysterious healing powers. Such mystification was related to the terrestrial Paradise. They believed that the oriental spices were grown in Paradise which was located in the Far East and were brought to the Earthly world along the four rivers flowing from the Paradise.
Asia ; Europe ; History, Medieval ; Humans ; Phytotherapy/*history ; *Reference Books, Medical ; Spices/*history ; Textbooks as Topic/*history

Many Chinese medicinal materials, vegetable oils and extracts, and even Chinese patent medicines are spicy, which influences the medication compliance of patients, especially children. Different from the sour, sweet, bitter, salty, and umami tastes, it is a painful sensation formed when the spicy substances stimulate the nerve endings. At the moment, there are a few studies on the spicy components and mechanism and masking technology for the spicy flavor of Chinese medicine in the pharmaceutical industry, and the findings in food science are usually taken as a reference, which fail to guide the masking of the spicy flavor in Chinese medicine preparations. According to literature research, the exterior-releasing medicine, dampness-resolving medicine, and interior-warming medicine are spicy, especially some vegetable oils and extracts. Taking Zingiberis Rhizoma and prescriptions containing this medicinal as an example, the spicy components in Chinese medicine and the structure-activity characteristics were analyzed to reveal the mechanism for the spicy flavor: spicy components activate the transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily member 1(TRPV1). The advantages and disadvantages of separation, neutralization with sugar, and inclusion for the masking of the spicy flavor were summarized and the applicability in Chinese medicine was analyzed. Moreover, the future development direction was put forward. This study is expected to promote the development of spicy masking technology for Chinese medicine prescriptions for children.
Child ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Spices ; Technology ; Plant Oils ; Plant Extracts

For people living with diabetes, it is very important to put fundamental principles into practice to ensure an as stable as possible glucose level. The key principles that should be followed are 'have regular meals. Eat a diet well-balanced in nutrients. Practice proper portion control.' This study provides methods for practicing diet therapy in people with diabetes and discusses ways to achieve the dual target of 'healthy meals' and 'delicious meals.' Included herein are some tips for cooking healthy meals to successfully manage diabetes. Included in these suggestions are 'Choose healthy seasoning,' which means use less salt and simple sugars and fats and use more herbs and spices, vinegar and seasonings. 'Choose healthy cooking methods' is another tip, indicating the practice of sort cooking method well-matched ingredients. The final suggestion for cooking for diabetics is to 'Choose healthy ingredients,' for example, choose foods high in fiber and utilize low-calorie ingredients whenever possible. By following these suggestions, people with diabetes will find it easier to achieve glucose control.
Acetic Acid ; Carbohydrates ; Cooking ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet Therapy ; Diet* ; Fats ; Glucose ; Meals ; Seasons ; Spices