Functional foods can cure ailments
Researchers developed a “functional food” called Karkuma Super Food, which was given to women who suffered from various physical ailments during menstruation
Medicines are known to cure diseases, however, a group of nutritionists in Bangladesh have proven, through research, that certain ailments can be cured through "functional foods".
The research report titled "Safety and Efficacy of Curcumin-Based Formulated Food (Karkuma Super Food) on Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms: A Randomised Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial" was released at an event on Saturday at the auditorium of the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council, organised by Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University (MBSTU).
The study was conducted by Dr Khaleda Islam, a professor at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, the University of Dhaka, and Dr AK Obaidul Haque, a professor of Food Technology and Nutritional Science at MBSTU.
Researchers developed a "functional food" called Karkuma Super Food, which was given to women who suffered from a range of physical issues during menstruation.
According to nutritionists, in addition to meeting nutritional needs, medicinal foods, called functional foods, may be natural or scientifically produced. Researchers have developed Karkuma food from raw materials procured from reliable, organic sources, certified by the United States Department of Agriculture.
According to researchers, individuals who have ingested this food have seen a steady and significant reduction in physical ailments. The study found that sufferers of severe menstrual cramps have experienced a significant reduction of pain.
Menstrual cycles were divided into three categories based on the type of issue experienced by female participants of the study. 47% of women suffer from normal problems, 45% from moderate problems, and 8% suffer from a range of problems, including severe cramps.
During the research, women were divided into three groups based on three types of issues – physical, mental, and behavioural.
Khaleda Islam said, "There is a clear difference between those who were given the Karkuma food and the control placebo group. Individuals in the former group were less likely to get sick. People who suffer from severe menstrual cramps have also felt much better after this food. No side effects were found."
During the five-month study, clinical trials were conducted on 52 women for three months. One group has been given Karkuma food on a regular basis, while the other control group has not.