Turmeric, a root from a plant in the ginger family, has been used in Asian cultures for thousands of years. It’s not only a common cooking spice but also a natural ingredient with many health benefits. You might have tasted it in curry or other dishes, but did you know it can do more than just add flavor?
10 Benefits of Turmeric
Let’s first look at health benefits. It is active in this root that helps the body fight against inflammation. This is really a point because chronic inflammation is related to many diseases, like arthritis and heart disease. Turmeric is also an active antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals in the body, reducing damage to cells, and even slowing down aging.
Turmeric also helps in the heart. It improves blood vessels’ functioning and develops the condition of heart disease. Furthermore, it is also beneficial for the brain. This improvement in brain function can further prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s and can also improve memory and cognitive skills.
If you usually suffer from indigestion, including this spice in your diet may prove helpful. It helps with digestion, mostly in cases of stomach discomfort. Its antibacterial and antiviral properties further boost one’s immune system, especially during the cold seasons or when one is feeling weak.
Few of them actually know that turmeric is also being researched for its potential anticancer properties. Studies reveal that its active element can actually reduce the growth of cancerous cells, which seems more apparent in colon cancer. So, turmeric, in this way is not just a spice, but a naturally occurring substance that might have some medical use.
Moreover, it regulates blood sugar, hence beneficial for diabetic people. These properties make this ingredient versatile for health purposes, both internally and externally. Do you know most skincare products contain turmeric? It cures acne and can also be used to improve eczema conditions.
Okay, now let’s summarize the top 10 benefits of turmeric!
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Prevent heart disease
- Prevent Alzheimer’s disease
- Aid digestion
- Enhance immunity, prevent colds
- Anti-cancer
- Regulate blood sugar
- Improve acne
- Support joint health
Uses of Turmeric
Turmeric is put to many uses in everyday life. You may know it from preparing Indian or other Asian dishes with its flavor and coloring. This spice has been used as a traditional medicine in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine in an attempt to cure everything from health issues to others. In the modern health industry, active extract of turmeric is made into capsule and powder forms for ease of use.
It is now catching on in the skincare world, too, where many creams and masks have turmeric formulation to help cure skin problems such as dark spots and inflammation. Its brilliant yellow color makes it even used for naturally dyeing food, clothes, and cosmetics.
More recently, turmeric has been developed in health drinks, such as teas enhancing digestion and immunity. It helps people with arthritis by soothing joint pains due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Scientifically, it is being researched for its possibilities in the treatment of cancer.
Conclusively, turmeric holds a significant place in the lives of people in Asia, but modern science has also been increasingly discovering a lot of health benefits for this spice. The inclusion of turmeric into everyday life- either in the form of spice or as a supplement offers a person a wide array of positive effects.
To summarize, you can use turmeric in the following ways.
- Cooking
- Traditional medicine
- Dietary supplements
- Skincare products
- Natural dyes
- Teas
- Arthritis treatments
- Anti-cancer research
- Digestive aids
- Immunity enhancers