Turmeric is something I’ve been using for a while now. For the past few months, I’ve gotten countless family members trying turmeric various ways. We all strive to be healthier whether it’s our physical appearance or just to live longer. Well for those that don’t know, what exactly is turmeric? 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 ayurvedic and other forms of traditional medicine in China and India. Check the turmeric health benefits that you may not know about below.
Help with Type 2 Diabetes
Because curcumin can help fight inflammation and keep blood sugar levels steady, it could be a useful tool to prevent or treat type 2 diabetes. One study followed 240 adults with prediabetes and found that taking a curcumin supplement over 9 months lowered their odds of developing diabetes. According to the CDC, there are more than 38 million Americans with diabetes. About 90 to 95% of them have type 2 diabetes.
Help with High Cholesterol
Research on turmeric’s ability to protect your ticker has been mixed. Some studies have found that turmeric can lower LDL “bad” cholesterol, while others concluded that the spice has no effect. Scientists continue to investigate the heart-protective possibilities of turmeric. One small study found that turmeric can help ward off heart attacks in people who have had bypass surgery. You can check out some surprising causes of high cholesterol here.
Alzheimer’s Disease
People with Alzheimer’s have chronic inflammation, and turmeric seems to have natural anti-inflammatory effects. So, does turmeric fight Alzheimer’s? Sorry, there’s no strong scientific evidence yet that taking turmeric is an effective way to prevent the disease.
Arthritis
Turmeric has shown promise for its ability to ease joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation. However, we need more research before turmeric becomes a go-to arthritis treatment. If you decide to try it for your joint pain, help your body absorb natural curcumin by eating your turmeric along with black pepper. This one is personal to me because my mother suffers from arthritis in her legs. After taking turmeric for three weeks, she said her legs haven’t felt that good in years. Not saying this will help anyone, but I’ve heard from someone firsthand.
Cancer
Before you think that turmeric is a cure for cancer hold up a minute. In lab and animal studies, turmeric has stopped the growth of tumor cells, helped detoxifying enzymes work better, and more. What these studies can’t tell us, though, is what will happen in the human body when a person eats turmeric. Plus, there’s a chance that turmeric might interfere with some chemotherapy drugs.
Issues with Your Stomach
With the changes in foods nowadays, people suffer from stomach issues all the time. According to the American Medical Association affects between 10 to 15% of adults in America suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Early research, including a pilot study of 207 adults and another one using rats, has found that turmeric could help improve IBS symptoms such as abdominal pain. Turmeric is also being studied as a treatment for diseases like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
Headaches
Since its relative ginger is a well-known natural headache remedy, it’s no surprise that turmeric gets recommended as a headache treatment. Although people sing its praises online, there’s little scientific evidence showing that turmeric can treat or prevent headaches, although one study suggests it could be part of a new approach.
Great for Your Skin
This is another one that I’ve seen with my own two eyes. My daughters have beautiful skin, and they have talked about how turmeric is the main reason for it. My oldest daughter had acne bad at one point and she turned to turmeric. My youngest daughter had sensitive skin and suffered from acne also. After using turmeric for a while, they both have amazing skin.
Depression
Several compounds in turmeric may support your health. The most well-known of these is curcumin. Scientists are excited about curcumin’s potential to ease depression and help antidepressants work better. But so far, research results have been mixed.
Viral Infections
The next time you’re under the weather, you may want to sip some turmeric tea. Curcumin might help you to fight off a variety of viruses, including herpes and the flu. Keep in mind that turmeric is only about 3% curcumin, and your body doesn’t absorb curcumin well, so the occasional cup of tea won’t be a cure-all.
As you can see, the verdict is out on a lot of cases when it comes to turmeric. What are your experiences with it? Was it helpful? Leave some feedback below about anything related to turmeric.
