&
March 2016
FOOD BITES
By Angela S. Hoover, Staff Writer
Turmeric for Food Safety
Turmeric, a spice used often in
Indian cuisine, may be used in the
future to help prevent E. coli outbreaks. Researchers at Southern
Illinois University are incorporating
turmeric into food processing and
preparation surfaces such as cutting boards, knives and countertops.
Turmeric’s food safety powers come
from its primary component, curcumin. Curcumin has antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial
properties. The researchers have
developed a way to bind curcumin to
metal and glass using nanotechnology: tiny bubbles called nanovesicles
that enclose a curcumin compound.
The coated surfaces kill microbes,
including E. coli, and prevent food
from spoiling without adding turmeric flavor to it.
Homemade Remedies
for Cough
Basic ingredients you probably
already have in your spice cabinet can
be used to make soothing drinks for
different types of coughs. For treating
general and dry cough, use:
Honey.
Eating a spoonful of honey can
ease a sore throat, but having honey
in a warm tea is even more soothing.
The simplest version is honey poured
into boiling water. Another common way to enhance a tea made with
honey is to add a squeeze of lemon
to it. Some people add coconut oil
into the mix. And many add a shot of
bourbon.
thyme leaves in a cup of boiling
water for 10 minutes, then straining.
Adding honey and lemon rounds out
the flavor and adds extra soothing
power as well.
Licorice.
Teas made with licorice root and
licorice candy soothe throats and
ease coughing. You can even make
your own licorice tea with red or
black licorice candy that contains real
licorice. Slice 1 ounce of candy and
steep it for 24 hours in water.
35
To treat a wet cough, try:
Black pepper and honey tea.
Black pepper and honey is said
to work because pepper stimulates
circulation and mucous flow and
honey is a natural cough reliever. Put
1 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper
and 2 tablespoons of honey in a mug
and fill with boiling water. Cover and
steep for 15 minutes. Strain and sip.
To soothe a sore throat, try a warm
saline gargle. Adding salt to lukewarm
water and gargling with it soothes
itchiness in the throat. It also helps
warm up the body.
Ginger.
Place 12 slices of fresh ginger in a
pot with 3 cups of water and simmer
for 20 minutes. Strain and add 1
tablespoon of honey and a
squeeze of lemon. If the
tea is too spicy, add more
water to your cup.
Thyme.
Thyme tea can be made by
steeping 2 teaspoons of crushed
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