Turmeric is a golden orange root spice used for centuries in spicing up food and medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda both use turmeric to treat specific ailments. Many studies show how beneficial turmeric is to one’s health and how it can prevent various illnesses. It’s among the most nutritious natural supplement. But, what exactly are the health benefits of turmeric?
The dominant active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin which is very beneficial to your brain and body. Curcumin is a very potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory benefits. In Ayurveda, turmeric is used to manage pain and inflammation in the body. Western medicine is catching up to these benefits and discovering even more hidden benefits of this root.
Health benefits of turmeric
Turmeric is a piece you can add not only to your smoothies but also to your stews and curries. It contains several health benefits, which include:
Reduces inflammation
When one has chronic inflammation, it leads to various illnesses that can cause a lot of trouble. However, turmeric helps lessen inflammation in tissues. Inflammation is usually good for the body as it helps repair damage and fight invaders.
However, good inflammation is always short-term. But chronic inflammation occurs over time and attacks your body’s tissues. Since turmeric is good for anti-inflammation, it can reduce pain for people who suffer from arthritis. To get the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric, you need to take it in high doses.
According to Arthritis Foundation, taking around 400 to 600 milligrams of turmeric upto to three times a day can help relieve inflammation. Even though turmeric can sometimes not help an active flare-up, it can prevent remission.
By lowering inflammation, turmeric can play a huge role in specific conditions, including heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, and various degenerative diseases. By preventing inflammation, turmeric can play a huge role in preventing these conditions.
Boost memory
According to a study, taking 90 milligrams of curcumin twice a day daily can help improve memory in people with dementia. Scientists recently discovered that neurons can multiply and grow, forming new connections in different areas of the brain. What drives the growth of neurons is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). It’s a gene involved in making a protein responsible for the life of neurons.
The brain-derived neurotrophic protein plays a role in memory and learning. There are many brain disorders linked to decreased levels of BDNF proteins. Some include Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Specific animal studies have shown that curcumin can increase BDNF levels in the brain.
There is a need for human studies to prove the benefits of increasing BDNF levels. However, curcumin may help improve memory and attention if it does this.
Reduces pain for arthritis
In ancient Chinese and Indian medicine, turmeric was mainly used to help lessen pain from that arthritis. There are different types of arthritis. However, all of them cause inflammation in the joints. Considering curcumin helps with inflammation, it’s excellent for helping with arthritis.
There are several studies that prove it helps with joint inflammation. Specific research looked into the effects of curcumin on rheumatoid arthritis. The results showed that curcumin was even better than anti-inflammatory drugs. There have been several other studies proving this. Hence it’s the best option for those with any form of arthritis.
Contains antioxidants
Tumeric is full of antioxidants. Oxidative damage is known to cause not only again but also many diseases. Free radicals are the elements that cause oxidative damage. They can affect substances like proteins, DNA, and fatty acids. Antioxidants are essential because they protect the body against free radicals and the damage they can impose.
Due to curcumin’s chemical structure, it can neutralize free radicals. Studies also indicate that curcumin may not only block the action of free radicals but also stimulate the work of other antioxidants.
May lower your risk of heart disease
Since curcumin can help reduce inflammation and oxidation, it can inadvertently lower your risk of heart disease. To reduce the risk of heart disease, the first action would be to lower blood pressure which curcumin has been shown to do in several studies.
Curcumin can also improve the lining of blood vessels, known as endothelium. The dysfunction of endothelium is what drives many heart diseases. Alongside other types of medication, curcumin may help manage cholesterol levels.
Can prevent and manage depression
Depression is mainly caused by the reduction of the protein BDNF and your hippocampus starts shrinking. The hippocampus helps with memory and learning. However, curcumin can help reverse this by boosting the levels of BDNF production.
Besides that, curcumin can also help boost the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the body, which regulate mood and other bodily functions. So, one can consume more turmeric to get these benefits and reduce depression.
It may help prevent cancer.
Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth. Supplementing curcumin can, however, impact many forms of cancer. Studies have shown it to be a very beneficial herb when it comes to cancer treatment.
Several studies have shown that it can kill cancerous cells, prevent the spread of cancer, and reduce angiogenesis. When it comes to cancers affecting the digestive tract, curcumin has been shown to help prevent their growth.
Final thoughts
So now that you know about turmerics active compound curcumin you should now understand all of the health benefits of turmeric. It’s a good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Tumeric can help reduce symptoms of depression and arthritis similarly. However, if you get gastrointestinal distress every time you consume a drink or food with turmeric, it’s best to check for intolerance by taking an Intolerance Test. Even though you may have an intolerance, your doctor will advise you on the amount of this medicinal spice you can consume without suffering from symptoms so that you can also get the benefits of turmeric.
