Proven Health Benefits Of Turmeric & Curcumin
The amazing health benefits of turmeric and curcumin include the ability to reduce inflammation, heal wounds, improve skin health, protect cognitive abilities, and ease menstrual difficulties. Turmeric also helps prevent depression, alleviate pain, slow down aging, protect the digestive tract, and prevent cancer.
What is Turmeric?
Closely related to the other members of the ginger family, turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a perennial herb native to India. The herb itself is derived from the rhizome of the plant, which is dried before the useful powdered form can be acquired. It needs a rather specific temperature and environment to thrive, so it is not widely cultivated throughout the world but is exported due to its desirability. The bright yellow color of this herb, due to the curcumin it contains, is perhaps its most striking characteristic. You’ve certainly seen it, even if you haven’t recognized it, and if you have ever enjoyed Indian food, you have almost certainly consumed it.
Turmeric smells slightly like mustard but has a hot, almost pepper-like bitterness to it that complements a variety of dishes. The herb has also been praised as one of the most comprehensive and powerful herbal medicines in Ayurvedic treatments and other traditional cultural remedies. Curcumin is the most important active ingredient of this “super herb”.
Promotes Liver Health
Turmeric and its active organic compounds have also been found to improve liver function through the stimulation of bile production via the liver and excretion via the gallbladder, which in turn helps with fat digestion. Research published in the journal, Food and Chemical Toxicology, also indicates that turmeric lowers lipid peroxidation through enhancing antioxidant enzymes, thereby helping to protect the liver. According to a 2018 review of research, the antioxidant activities of turmeric can be effective in reducing liver damage and the spice can be included as a complementary treatment for liver ailments such as cirrhosis and fatty liver disease.
Improves Brain Function
In traditional medicine, turmeric was often relied on to boost cognitive abilities, increase concentration, and boost memory retention. Many of those traditional beliefs have now been legitimated through research, and turmeric is still considered a brain-boosting herb today. It can also protect the neural pathways from long-term oxidative stress and the build-up of plaque.
Prevents Blood Clots
Turmeric powder is a very powerful anticoagulant due to the presence of curcumin. Curcumin extends blood clotting times, working to prevent tiny cells called platelets from clumping together when they shouldn’t.
Improves Heart Health
Turmeric rich in curcumin and vitamin B6 boosts your cardiovascular health. Vitamin B6 is a cofactor in the metabolizing of homocysteine, which is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke.
Curcumin also helps balance cholesterol levels by reducing LDL (unhealthy) cholesterol while increasing serum HDL (healthy) cholesterol. This can help prevent atherosclerosis and when combined with stronger blood vessels, the herb represents a promising addition to treatment for a wide range of heart issues.
Anti-cancer Properties
A study conducted on mice by the researchers at the Cancer Research Institute, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, India documents the potential protective effect of turmeric on stomach and skin cancer. The most extensive research on turmeric’s cancer prevention effects has been in colon cancer, whereas other types of cancer research related to curcumin are currently underway. Additionally, an animal study by Ramadasan Kuttan et al. (Cancer Letters Journal) indicated that the turmeric extract and curcumin inhibited the growth of the tumor. Researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center found that curcumin’s potential ability to kill cancer cells may be helpful in future drug development. Additional studies need to be done to confirm and better understand the health benefits of this spice pertaining to cancer.
Prevents Alzheimer’s
As a powerful antioxidant herb, turmeric decreases the main chemical responsible for inflammation and therefore may have a role in the prevention and treatment of certain forms of dementia including Alzheimer’s. As per a study by Srikant Mishra from the Department of Neurology, Plummer Street, Sepulveda, CA, curcumin is highly efficient in clearing out the amyloid plaque, which is a major indicator of Alzheimer’s progression. A study also found that turmeric supplements improved mood and cognitive function in healthy adults.
Other Benefits
Other turmeric and curcumin benefits include:
Reduces Pain
In a study published in the journal, Surgical Endoscopy, turmeric was found to improve postoperative pain. There is also evidence showing that turmeric may help relieve the pain associated with osteoarthritis, menstrual cramps, and even dental pain.