7 amazing effects of turmeric on your body
‘’A certified health professional in this other part of the world recommended that I add turmeric to my diet. She said it was because this “not really mighty food” actually contains compounds that work wonders in the body.
I wondered how this brightly colored food that leaves stains on my palms, tooth, and tongue could benefit me. Well, since a health professional recommended it, I tried it. My next medical checkup made me leap for joy.
My blood pressure was lowered and the many other benefits that came with it…’’
This is one of the reviews we got when we questioned how turmeric benefitted some individuals, health-wise…
Turmeric is more than just the main ingredient in curry. Also known as the golden spice (it is of course, golden) or Indian saffron.
In as much as it is a flavorful spice used in dishes, it is also a genuine and wonderful supplement that delivers amazing health benefits. It is mostly used in capsules, powders, teas, and extracts.
There are tons of research and studies that link to turmeric’s capability to improve the state of your health and ensure your body is functioning at its best. And we all want that.
Turmeric, Curcuma longa, has been used and appreciated before now as a traditional medicine- specifically in India for pain and inflammation.
This wonder spice is mainly cultivated from the roots or the rhizomes of a flowering plant. It is primarily cultivated in India and some parts of Southeast Asia.
Asides from being a potent flavor in dishes, turmeric also contains a powerful compound that is responsible for most of the benefits it delivers. Plus, it also possesses unbelievable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Curcumin is the active and powerful compound found in turmeric. This compound is responsible for the spice’s yellow color and all the benefits it delivers.
These benefits include the prevention of heart and Alzheimer’s disease, preventing depression, and possibly, fighting premature aging. This is just the tip of the iceberg as this food can do much more.
Someone said there is really no point in consuming turmeric because we eat it every day. We eat it every day, I asked?
She said turmeric is available in curry and curry is incorporated into dishes almost every time.
Truth is, consuming curry twice a week or thrice is not enough to supplement turmeric’s potential health benefits. This is because the curcumin content in this spice is low, it is just 3% in regards to weight.
Therefore, to reap the benefits of curcumin, you need to consume turmeric or turmeric supplement.
To still reap the benefits or boost the effect, you could combine black pepper with turmeric. This combination helps turmeric absorb properly into the bloodstream by 2,000% since on a normal, it wouldn’t. And this ability is a result of the compound present in black pepper, piperine.
The best turmeric supplements contain curcumin and piperine.
Summary
Turmeric is a powerful and flavorful spice that was used in India as traditional medicine. Presently, it is used as a spice and a supplement to boost health. Turmeric contains an active compound, curcumin, which is responsible for the benefits it delivers.
Since turmeric cannot easily be absorbed into the body, combining it with black pepper can make absorption easy. This combo could also double the health effects since black pepper contains a potent compound, piperine.
Nutritional facts for turmeric.
What is in this flavorful and bright yellow spice that makes it amazing for the health?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), one tablespoon (tbsp.) of ground turmeric powder contains the following:
- 29 calories
- 91 grams (g) of protein
- 31g of fat
- 31g of carbohydrates
- 1g of fiber
- 3g of sugar
- 26% of daily manganese value
- 5% of daily potassium value
- 3% of daily vitamin C value
- 16% of the daily iron value
Turmeric is relatively low in calories and abundant in fiber, making it ideal for those who are trying to lose weight. As a matter of fact, you could consume one or two tablespoons without feeling guilty or adding extra pounds.
Also, since it is a fiber-rich food, it could increase satiety, help with digestion and promote gut health.
Plus, it is loaded with heart-healthy potassium.
Health benefits of turmeric
Below are the potential health benefits of turmeric.
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Has Anti-inflammatory Properties
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and this property is attributed to curcumin. The curcumin content of turmeric helps to fight inflammation.
According to a study, taking curcumin in the right dose and quantity is actually more effective in fighting inflammation than some medications meant to treat inflammation- aspirin, ibuprofen.
Chronic inflammation is a major contributor to various severe health conditions such as arthritis.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, the consumption of 400 to 600 milligrams (mg) of turmeric capsules three times per day can help to reduce joint pains.
Other severe health conditions that occur as a result of inflammation are cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and degenerative conditions.
But the use of a potent substance with anti-inflammatory properties like turmeric can help fight inflammation.
Summary
Chronic inflammation has contributed to a series of terrible health conditions all over the globe. Turmeric contains an active compound, curcumin, that has anti-inflammatory properties. And can prevent inflammation and the occurrence of these diseases.
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Natural Pain Relief
Do you feel pain in your joints as a result of a tough day at the gym or a bad sleeping position?
Turmeric is a natural pain reliever. Known to also relieve arthritis pain, this spice can also help to relieve headaches, back pain, etc.
You could try turmeric capsules if u want to relieve pain but also try to include them in your dishes. Plus, add it to your tea.
Summary
Turmeric is a natural pain reliever for any kind of pain, even arthritis.
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Promotes Heart Health
Turmeric contains heart-healthy potassium that helps to prevent heart-related diseases such as stroke, heart failure, and high blood pressure.
A tablespoon of turmeric contains about 196mg of potassium which is about 5% of your daily potassium needs.
Heart disease is one of the major diseases in the world and as such, we need natural and easy-to-get supplements to help us suppress our symptoms and prevent the occurrence of this disease.
Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound that can help to hinder some of the steps that occur during the heart disease process. Curcumin promotes heart health by improving the lining of the blood vessels and endothelial function. And by doing this, blood pressure can be lowered.
Also, aging and an increase in the risk of heart disease are linked to lower endothelia.
Curcumin improves endothelial function hence preventing a breakdown by protecting against age-related symptoms and reducing your risk of developing heart disease.
A study found that curcumin has super effects on endothelial function in people with type 2 diabetes.
More study is needed to evaluate the effects of turmeric and curcumin in relation to heart health and whether it could be an effective treatment for heart disease
Summary
Curcumin may be effective in treating and preventing heart disease. More studies are needed to prove the effectiveness of this compound.
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Prevention of Cancer
Inflammation is linked to the growth of cancerous tumors. Turmeric is richly loaded with a compound that can help prevent some kinds of cancers – prostate, breast, pancreatic, and gastric cancers.
Curcumin does this by preventing the formation, growth, and spread of cancerous cells at various stages. At most, the cancerous cells will die.
Research is still ongoing to prove that curcumin can treat cancer.
Summary
Curcumin may help prevent the formation, growth, and spread of some cancerous cells. It is effective for some kinds of cancers like breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancer.
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Improves Digestive Function
Although turmeric is the major ingredient in curry that adds flavor to dishes, it could also help in digesting that dish after consumption.
Turmeric has been used long before now in Ayurvedic medicine by the Indians to treat bowel issues like diarrhea and constipation. They believe that the compounds in turmeric can prevent and heal any digestive-related problem.
Turmeric contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help slow digestion and prevent digestive problems.
Summary
The compounds in curcumin can help ease digestive problems. In traditional medicine, it was believed that turmeric could help treat constipation, diarrhea, and other bowel-related diseases. But, more research is needed to confirm this.
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May Help Ease Arthritis
One of the most interesting and potential health benefits of turmeric is that it helps in reducing, regulating, and fighting inflammation. Inflammation is one of the causes of some chronic conditions like arthritis, diabetes, and cancer.
Between turmeric and anti-inflammatory drugs (non-steroids), the former has proven to treat inflammation better.
People with arthritis can count on turmeric to help ease their symptoms especially the relief of joint pains and their ability to walk better.
Summary
Turmeric contains anti-inflammatory properties and as a result, can prevent and fight inflammation. Inflammation is one of the major causes of arthritis.
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Support Cognitive Function
Turmeric contains another compound, turmerone that assists in brain function and aids the repair of damaged cells.
Likewise, some conditions like stroke, brain disorders like depression, and Alzheimer’s are linked to a decrease of a special hormone that functions in the brain. When this hormone is low, the onset of brain disorders occurs.
Fortunately, curcumin helps to increase the levels of this hormone thereby preventing brain disorders and other malfunction of the brain caused by aging.
Consuming turmeric can also make you smarter, think faster, and remember quickly. But, more studies are needed to confirm this.
Summary
Turmeric contains two compounds, turmerone, and curcumin that can help to improve brain function and reduce age-related brain disorders.
Other benefits of turmeric include:
- Turmeric may help in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Turmeric may help prevent and treat depression.
- Turmeric may help delay premature aging and other age-related diseases.
- Turmeric is amazing for the skin
- Turmeric may boost the immune system
- Turmeric helps to support liver function
Conclusion
Turmeric contains an active compound, curcumin that is responsible for all the mind-blowing benefits enlisted in this article.
The benefits include the prevention of depression, heart, cancer, liver, and Alzheimer’s disease.
You could buy turmeric or curcumin supplements to reap the benefits of these flavorful spice.
Always choose curcumin supplements with BioPerine (piperine), so that your bloodstream can absorb it by 2,000% instead of just 3%.
If you decide to just consume the ground turmeric in your tea or dish, ensure to add black pepper to it. Black pepper contains piperine, a compound that allows the absorption of turmeric into your body.