10 Health Benefits Of Turmeric You Must Know
Do you know that you have a magical golden spice in your kitchen? You heard it right! We are talking about none other than turmeric. It is a golden spice that is also known and used as a food dye. Its rich yellow color gives color to your food but this is not all.
It is known for a number of health benefits. Luckily, you can benefit from them in numerous ways.
Turmeric is a deep, golden-orange spice known for adding color, flavor and nutrition to foods. A relative of ginger, turmeric comes from the rhizome (root) of a native Asian plant and has been used in cooking for hundreds of years. It has also been used in forms of traditional medicine in China and India and other part of the world.
According to research, the active component in turmeric is a polyphenolic natural substance called curcumin, which possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics.
According to Brown, not all of curcumin's biological functions are fully understood. Similar to other vibrant plant-based meals, turmeric is packed with phytonutrients that may guard the body from harm by scavenging free radicals (pollution, sunshine) and neutralising them. The prevention of diseases like cancer and heart disease is linked to diets high in plant-based foods.
READ ALSO » Skin Benefits Of Turmeric & How To Use It
Including turmeric in food may be helpful for anyone attempting to manage inflammation. Inflammatory illnesses like allergies, infections, colitis, arthritis, and other joint problems.
Excess turmeric may have a mild laxative effect. Usually, this isn’t anything to worry about as long as your digestive system tolerates it. In fact, if you are feeling constipated I would give turmeric a try before using a laxative supplement.
The benefits of turmeric will vary depending on the person and if you are taking any medications.
Top 10 Health Benefits of Turmeric That You Have Not Known
- Antioxidant
- Reduces Inflammation Properties
- Antimicrobial Properties
- Relief for Arthritis
- Helpful for those with cancer
- Helps in Fighting Alzheimer’s Disease
- Helping in fighting colds
- Skin Protection
- Sleeping Aid
- Could Aid in Weight Loss
1. Antioxidant
Comparative research findings show that turmeric's antioxidant effects are comparable to those of blueberries. The best-known property of antioxidants is their capacity to fend off your body's cellular-damaging free radicals.
This is crucial since free radical damage relates to diseases like cancer, heart disease, and others that antioxidants can help to delay or prevent.
2. Reduces Inflammation Properties
Curcumin, the primary active ingredient in turmeric, has numerous anti-inflammatory advantages. According to a 2006 research in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, the effectiveness of curcumin in treating osteoarthritis symptoms was on par with that of steroid therapy.
A study that was published in the April 2008 issue of Pharmacological Research suggests that turmeric may also aid with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
3. Antimicrobial Properties
READ ALSO » 7 Health Benefits Of Lemon Water You Must Know
In Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has been utilized for ages as an antiseptic and antibacterial agent. Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis are two bacteria whose growth can be inhibited by turmeric extracts.
A 2009 study published in Phytotherapy Research suggested that turmeric may also be effective against the influenza virus. Include turmeric in your healthy diet, and it just might save your life one day!
4. Relief for Arthritis
By lowering inflammation, turmeric helps to relieve the discomfort associated with arthritis. In a study, researchers discovered that the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of turmeric's curcumin were comparable to those of ibuprofen.
5. Helpful for those with cancer
Human breast cancer cells were used in a laboratory experiment where it was discovered that the turmeric compound curcumin inhibits the proliferation of these cells.
Curcumin is thought to block several enzymes involved in the formation of new blood vessels, which tumours require in order to develop, as well as other enzymes necessary for tumour growth.
It is recommended to consume turmeric in its natural state rather than as a dietary supplement. This is due to turmeric supplements' low bioavailability, which means that little of it is absorbed by the body.
Combining curcumin with fresh ginger juice or black pepper will increase its absorption. Piperine, an ingredient in black pepper, prevents an enzyme from removing curcumin from your body.
6. Helps in Fighting Alzheimer’s Disease
Since ancient times, people have used turmeric as a natural remedy for a variety of diseases and disorders. Scientific studies suggest that it may aid in the prevention and treatment of a wide range of illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease, according to the University of Maryland Medical Centre.
7. Helping in fighting colds
READ ALSO » Top 10 Health Benefits Of Banana You Should Know
Laboratory tests suggest that the turmeric compound curcumin may inhibit a number of chemical processes involved in inflammation and cell damage linked to heart disease, according to the University of Maryland Medical Centre.
Regular turmeric use may help prevent colds because some respiratory illnesses are known to have inflammation as a significant component.
8. Skin Protection
In addition to its many other health advantages, turmeric also contains antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory qualities. Curcumin may prevent or treat skin problems like psoriasis, dermatitis, and allergic reactions, according to study.
9. Sleeping Aid
Turmeric's curcumin, which blocks a hormone that stimulates brain cells involved in waking up and suppresses chemicals that make you sleepy, can help you fall asleep.
Curcumin is the only known drug that affects neurotransmitters and inflammation, according to a 2009 study that appeared in Neuropsychopharmacology.
10. Could Aid in Weight Loss
Turmeric stimulates the production of various enzymes, including cytochrome p450, which helps raise your body's metabolic rate.
This enzyme aids in the liver's breakdown of lipids so that they can be converted to energy. Increasing this enzyme also increases the amount of fat your body burns for energy.
Turmeric has many advantages when consumed.
You can add this magical spice to soups and gravies as winter approaches and have a cosy evening. In addition to possessing antibacterial characteristics, turmeric warms your body and aids in warding off the wintertime chills.
Conclusion
Aside many other health benefits of turmeric, here are 10 reasons to add turmeric to your diet.
- It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.
- Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.
- May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by removing amyloid plaque buildup in the brain. It stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
- Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.
- May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management. Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.
- A Potent, Yet Safe Anti-Inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.
- Is a natural liver detoxifier and a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.
- Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
- May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.
