Lets face it, most of us love a takeaway now and again, and sometimes we just don't have time to cook dinner, so takeaway of choice for the guys at Grilla Fitness, has to be a good chicken curry. Not only is a chicken Curry great to eat, but it also has health promoting ingredients, so you don't have to feel too guilty about eating the odd one here and there! If You fancy trying to cook a curry yourself, there are some great recipes that can be found on the internet, and just have a look at our foods section  for some high quality chicken to go in the pan! we will even dice it up for you! Please bare in mind not ALL curries are healthy and some to avoid are kormas, masalas and pasandras, which contain frightening amounts of cream. The average chicken tikka masala, for example, contains about 1,500 calories. So try to stick to Dishes such as Rogan josh, madras, jalfrezi and sags (with spinach) tend to have less cream but just as many healthy spices. or anything oven baked (tandori), as these tend to be coated in yoghurt and spices and are not fried. So What do we have in curries that makes it so good for us? Curcumin Curcumin is the primary active compound in turmeric which is found in curry powders, as well as being used neat in curries. A recent study from the U.S. found that eating turmeric can slow down the build up of plaques on the brain - the main cause of Alzheimer's - by up to 50 per cent. Turmeric has also been found to help with digestion as well as guard against heart attacks and cancer of the colon. It also has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Rice White rice loses many of its healthy benefits in processing. However, it does contain phytic acid, which helps bind the mineral iron in the digestive system, letting the body absorb it easily. It is low in fat and an ideal muscle fuel. Try to stick to plain boiled rice! Ginger Ginger could act as an effective pain reliever from the agony of arthritis. The spice already comes as a supplement called Zinaxin. A study, carried out in the U.S. and presented at a recent British Medical Association conference, confirmed that two-thirds of those people involved in the study who were taking ginger supple-ments experienced a reduction in joint pain caused by arthritis. Ginger is also a traditional cold remedy and contains the antioxidants gingerol, shagaol, and zingerone. It is the zingerone that reacts with the free radicals that can cause tissue damage and joint inflammation, and so helps to reduce the pain of arthritis. Yoghurt Yoghurt is often used both as an Indian condiment in raita and also in the cooking itself. Providing fresh yoghurt is used in the raita, then it is a brilliant source of calcium and vitamin D. It is also beneficial for the intestinal tract, as well as for fighting bacteria in the stomach. Onions Onions contain an agent called diallyl sulfide, which prompts the body to make more of the cancer-fighting molecule glutathione-S-transferase. These are a family of enzymes that play an important role in the detoxification of harmful stomach bacteria. Garlic Garlic has been found to have a wide range of health benefits, from protecting the heart by lowering cholesterol to helping to purify the blood. It also contains allicin, which is a potent anti-cancer agent, and it increases protection from stomach cancer by promoting the production of protective enzymes in the stomach. Cumin Cumin contains phytochemicals - chemicals that are found in plants. Several phytochemicals, including that in cumin, have been found to block various hormone actions and metabolic pathways that are associated with the development of cancer and heart disease. The phytochemicals appear to work alone, as well as in combination with vitamins and other nutrients in food, to prevent cancer. The main anti-cancer agents in cumin are carevol and limonene. A study in Israel showed that the patients consuming high levels of cumin were less likely to develop prostate cancer. Allspice Allspice, a berry-based spice used in a lot of Indian cooking, contains eugenol, an antioxidant that enhances the digestive enzyme trypsin and so helps aide digestion. Capsicum Capsicum is the main phytochemical found in red peppers. It works as an anti-inflammatory, reduces cholesterol formation in the liver and is also used in topical preparations for arthritis relief, although eating it won't have the same effect. Studies have also shown that capsicum has a positive effect on your metabolism.....this is why it is one of the ingredients in our famous BURNBULLETS! Cardamon Cardamon comes in seeds and is considered to be a strong antiseptic and antimicrobial spice by herbalists. It is also a mild aphrodisiac as well as helping to relieve flatulence. And last but not least... Chicken! For more info on why chicken is so good for you please see our chicken blog! So go on guys grab yourselves a nice curry.... and not too too hot, Grilla Fitness will not be held responsible for extra toilet roll costs!!!