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Curcumin: Good as gold

What: Polyphenol that gives the spice turmeric its rich yellow color. Think of turmeric as the apple tree, but curcumin as the apples.

Why: 2,000 published research papers every year show it as a big-time anti-inflammatory – the root of all chronic degenerative diseases. Studies show it may help everything from arthritis to triglycerides, allergies to IBS.

Where: Because of its color, supplements first. But because of technologies that keep the health benefit but remove the color, look for it in beverages and foods.