Turmeric, the secret to a flavorful hot curry, is known to brighten up the larders of many homes in India, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and many other Asian countries, as it has interwoven into everyday life, the cuisine and cultural traditions, for a very long time. A cherished member of the ginger family, it has been long engrained in the earliest ayurvedic practice and has been recognized to encourage the holistic well-being of the body. Spread turmeric over wounds, and it’s reckoned to fight infection. Blend it with milk, and the mind calms and functions better. Color the entrance of new homes with a paste to welcome good fortune.
Turmeric has now turned into a beacon of hope offering a dazzling array of properties that are beneficial to health.
Curcumin — a vibrant ingredient that provides turmeric its yellow color — is accountable for most of these health benefits. Here, we outline some of the many potential health benefits of turmeric and tips to incorporate more of it into your diet:
1. Turmeric is an Anti-Inflammatory
Inflammation is an essential process in the body, as it fights off destructive attackers and repairs damage caused by germs, viruses and injuries. However, long-term inflammation has been suggested in most chronic circumstances such as heart disease and cancer, so it must be controlled. The curcumin in turmeric has confirmed, strong anti-inflammatory properties that obstruct the action of inflammatory molecules in the body. Studies show worthwhile effects of curcumin on people suffering from circumstances such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, amongst others.
2. Turmeric is a Powerful Antioxidant
Curcumin has been revealed to be a strong scavenger of oxygen free radicals, which are chemically active molecules that cause harm to the body’s cells. Free radical injury, along with inflammation, is a key driver of cardiovascular disease, so curcumin can play a role in averting and handling heart disease (Gunnars, 2018).
3. Turmeric Assists in Digestion
When eaten raw while suffering from a digestive issue, turmeric can support in managing the condition. The main elements of the spice encourage the gallbladder to produce bile, immediately making the digestive system more effective. It is also known to diminish signs of bloating and gas.
4. Turmeric Helps Improve Immunity
Lipopolysaccharide – an element in turmeric with anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal agents assists in stimulating the human immune system. Take a teaspoon of the spice powder in a glass of warm milk every day and you'll see it do magic as it decreases your chances of catching a flu.
5. Turmeric Helps in Detoxifying Your Liver
Turmeric has been identified to enhance the production of the important enzymes that detoxify our blood in the liver by breaking down and decreasing the toxins. By refining blood circulation too, turmeric is instrumental in fostering good liver health.
6. Curcumin May Avert (and Possibly Help Treat) Cancer
As inflammation is connected to tumor development, anti-inflammatory components such as curcumin may play a part in treating and averting a variety of cancer types, including colorectal, pancreatic, prostate, breast and gastric cancers. As a matter of fact, research in mice proposes that curcumin may help slow the spread of tumor cells and may even stop tumors from forming in the initial stage. It may do this in numerous ways, including interrupting the formation of cancerous cells at several phases in the cell cycle, interfering with cell signaling pathways, and even making those cancerous cells to die (Gunnars, 2018).
7. Turmeric May Help Delay or Reverse Alzheimer’s Disease
Turmeric may even safely guard your brain against common deteriorative diseases like Alzheimer’s. In what way? By enhancing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein situated in the brain and spinal cord that plays a vital role in keeping nerve cells healthy, as well as maintaining communication between nerve cells, which is critical for learning and memory (Gunnars, 2018). As common brain disorders like Alzheimer’s are linked with lower levels of BDNF, turmeric may help delay or reverse brain deterioration.
By Natasha Hindurangala
Bibliography
Gunnars, K. (2018). 10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin. Retrieved 1 November 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric
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