Last updated on September 4th, 2018 at 08:53 am
Turmeric is a herb belonging to the ginger family which grows mainly in Southeast Asia, primarily in India. Turmeric is most commonly used in Asia including India, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as spice. Turmeric is loaded with medicinal properties and has many health benefits. Turmeric has a special compound called ‘curcumin’ that has super healing power. Turmeric is known to cure diabetes, regulate cholesterol, improve immunity and also beneficial for arthritis. Today, we are going to learn about many health benefits of turmeric, and how to get the most of its medicinal properties.
Just like ginger, this herb is a root, and the leaf of the plant is oblong, so highly prominent. This herb is yellow or orange colour and named as “Indian Saffron”. Turmeric adds taste and colour to your foods, and also takes care of your health. Turmeric is a part of the Indian Ayurveda since time immemorial, and now more researches and studies are conducted so that it can be used in proper clinical treatments.
Turmeric is known for its medicinal and therapeutic properties. It is rich in anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and antioxidant properties and has many other health benefits. Therefore it can be used in many ways. Turmeric roots looks like ginger and its available as root, or thin powder.
Health Benefits of Turmeric or Haldi
Exhaustive researches around the globe have found that turmeric is useful in curing and preventing various fatal and dangerous diseases like cancers, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, indigestion, gastrointestinal problems, heart diseases etc.
Let us have a look at the various health benefits of Turmeric.
Treats Indigestion
Problems like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, bloating, acidity, gas and heartburn can be treated effectively by turmeric. Turmeric helps in bile production which in turn leads to proper digestion and fat absorption.
Treats Arthritis
Arthritis is a common problem not only in elderly people but also younger ones too. Due to the sedentary lifestyle and bad food habits, this disease has spread like wildfire. No medicine is there with which you can cure the arthritis completely.
But, you can surely prevent this with the help of turmeric. In arthritis, there is inflammation in the bone joints and muscles, and the turmeric’s anti inflammatory properties are very effective in this regard, it even works better than the drugs and medicines. Turmeric is considered to be the most natural treatment for arthritis.
Take care of your heart health
In the modern world, the risk of heart diseases like blockages, heart attacks, stroke, are increasing fast, the curcumin present in the turmeric can help you prevent these diseases. It promotes healthy blood vessels and does not allow blockages. This leads to proper blood circulation throughout the body.
Researches how that people who consume turmeric on a daily basis have 65% lower risks of any cardiovascular problems and ailments. Turmeric helps in maintain blood pressure and cholesterol, thus enhancing the heart health.
Diabetes treatment
Diabetes is a common disease nowadays, and turmeric can help you in treating diabetes. Turmeric helps in maintaining the proper sugar levels and insulin levels in the blood. Turmeric has been used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicines since over a thousand years, to treat diabetic patients.
According to this report, turmeric has a special compound called curcumin, which can decrease the blood glucose level and help diabetic patients in maintain blood sugar level.
Apart from maintain the blood glucose level; turmeric is beneficial for other diabetes related disorders like fatty liver or other types of liver disorders.
Take care of your mental health
In a research study, it was seen that patients who consume turmeric on a daily basis have 40% lower risk of depression than those who take Prozac and other anti depressant drugs. Turmeric helps in reducing stress and depression due to it anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Improve your immune system
If you are suffering from cold and flu, or viral infections then turmeric can help you a lot in this. Turmeric has anti viral and anti bacterial properties which make it more powerful against such infections and ailments. Consume it daily to strengthen your immunity.
Prevent Alzheimer’s
Turmeric reduces the level of plaque in the brain and promotes blood and oxygen flow. Alzheimer’s is a dementia which occurs generally to old people, but if you consume turmeric then you can prevent the disease in future. It reduces the chances of memory loss, amnesia, and inflammation.
It treats skin problems
Various skin problems like acne, pigmentation, wrinkles, pimples and tanning can be cured with the help of turmeric.
Mix turmeric powder, besan and rose water and apply the paste on your face and other affected areas. You can see the difference within a week.
Heals wounds
The turmeric can heal wounds instantly, and also prevent the infection. The antiseptic formula of the turmeric is fascinating. If your hand is cut and constant blood flow from the wound, and then apply some turmeric in the wounded area, the blood flow will stop.
Reduces body pain
From ancient times, people in India used to drink turmeric milk to get rid of normal body ache and pain. Turmeric has special properties to remove all types of pain. If you feel too tired after a hectic day at work, you should try turmeric milk. Take a cup of lukewarm milk, add half spoon of turmeric powder, and mix it well. Your shake is ready. Drink this milk before bedtime and see the difference yourself.
Helps in weight loss
Turmeric helps in weight loss, by increasing the metabolism rate in the body. With high metabolism rate, it helps in burning fat fast, calories burn faster, and you can reach your fitness goal soon enough. Bile is an important component that breaks down the dietary fiber and turmeric has a special component that increases the flow of bile. Hence, if you are working on reducing your weight, a table spoon of turmeric in your meal can help you lose weight fast.
Detoxifies the liver
One of the important functions of liver is to detoxify the blood. Liver detoxifies the blood by producing certain enzymes and turmeric is known to accelerate the production of this enzyme by the liver. Turmeric also improves the blood circulation and it’s good for the liver.
Prevents Cancer
Several kinds of cancers like stomach, liver, lung prostate, breast and colon cancer can be prevented and also cured by the curcumin that is present in the turmeric. Curcumin not only prevents the cancer cells, but also stops the cancer cells to grow and multiply.
How to consume turmeric, and standard quantity?
Turmeric can be consumed raw in the form of root or in the form of turmeric powder in cooking or with milk. You can chew some raw turmeric roots in the morning, in empty stomach. You can also have it with lukewarm water. The roots taste bitter, so you can add a teaspoon of honey with it and eat it daily in empty stomach. Besides the roots, turmeric powder is also available in the market which you can use in daily cooking or in preparing smoothies or turmeric tea.
In Indian cocking, turmeric is widely used in several dishes as an spice. Here’s what an adult can consume;
- 2 to 3 gm of raw turmeric root can be consumed daily
- 1 to 3 gm of turmeric powder can be consumed on daily basis
In general, consumption of turmeric is considered to be safe and has no side effects. But one herb may interact with the other and cause some side effects. Hence advice of a medical or Ayurveda professional should be taken before consuming turmeric to treat any specific disorder or disease.
Over to you
As you can see, this gorgeous yellow herb can take care of your overall health and also add taste to your foods. If you think that healthy foods are tasteless, then think again. Turmeric can help you in many ways, from many diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cancers and many other fatal diseases.
What are the other health benefits of turmeric, and what good do you think it does to your body?
Consume it daily and enjoy a healthy and happy life.
