Eastern cultures often turn to their kitchens as the one place that holds the cures for all maladies. For example, peek into any of your Asian friend’s pantry and you’ll find a host of colorful spices that line up their shelves. Most of these spices play multiple well-being-boosting roles apart from simply adding flavor to food.
One such important and vibrant spice you’ll spot is Turmeric. Chances are the bottle is almost finishing up or near empty, thanks to turmeric’s frequent use in Asian cooking. Just a pinch and this spice makes any recipe a luscious golden, often dyeing the utensils as well. Unscrew the lid and take a sniff of this earthy, mild spice. That right there is a treasure trove of wellness! What ancient cultures around the world knew to be true has been researched and proven by leading universities around the world time and again.
Read on to discover how turmeric is essentially a powerhouse spice that can keep you at the top of your health.
Turmeric, or Curcuma Longa, is an evergreen plant that is harvested for its underground stem. Found primarily in Indian cuisine, it is ground to a fine powder and used extensively across Asian as well as Middle Eastern food as a culinary herb. It is also used as a food and clothing dye, thanks to its intense yellow hue. Ayurvedic medicine features Turmeric in several health-boosting applications.
Turmeric is most widely researched for its natural phytochemicals and their powerful action in the human body. Curcumin is one of these phytochemicals. It is a naturally occurring antioxidant that powers Turmeric with its anti-inflammatory benefits. Curcumin is also responsible for potentially preventing neurological disorders. Natural aromatic oils and terpenes present in Turmeric also add immense benefit.
Several studies have found that turmeric has positive effects on brain health, especially that of elder people suffering from disorders such as Alzheimer’s. Curcumin has the ability to prevent the formation, as well as break up the communicating impairing protein links that form between the brain’s nerve cells. It also is able to another protein that is collected inside neurons, often the cause of Alzheimer’s onset. Curcuminoids demonstrate strong antioxidant action and reduce the presence of free radicals that deteriorate neurons in disorders such as Huntington’s and Parkinson’s.
Conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis cause weakening of joints and bones, leading to great pain and impacted mobility. When comparing the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric versus the impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), turmeric seems to have been better regulatory action. Studies have shown that turmeric is effective in reducing joint pain and inflammation, but unlike regular pain killers, this happens without any negative effect on the gastrointestinal system.
According to a UCLA study, turmeric is responsible for improving memory and moods in people suffering from age-related memory loss. In the study, people who received curcumin showed significant improvements in their attention abilities as well as memory, while those who received the placebo did not show any such results. The former group also reported improvements in mood, with encouraging brain PET scans. In other clinical trials, turmeric has been reported to reduce anxiety as well as symptoms of depression. This happens thanks to curcumin’s ability to increase the brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is a protein that maintains the health of neuronal cells in our brain.
Thanks to its ability to reduce inflammation and cut the oxidation stress in the body, turmeric can contribute to a healthier heart. Research has shown that middle-aged and older adults who received curcumin supplements for 12 weeks showed improvement in endothelial vascular function. Several other studies have shown turmeric to be helpful for patients recovering from bypass surgery, as well as having reduced the risk of heart disease by over 65%.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition caused by decreased secretion of insulin by the pancreas. It is part of a metabolic syndrome that includes insulin resistance, high blood pressure, low HDL, high LDL, and obesity. Curcumin helps bring these imbalances back in order by regulating lipid metabolism. It alters the enzymatic activity in these metabolic processes and lowers the levels of triglycerides and blood cholesterol. In people with insulin resistance, curcumin helps the musculoskeletal systems increase their glucose uptake, thereby improving insulin sensitivity and potentially reversing the onset of diabetes.
Now that we know all about turmeric and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, here’s how we can include this magic spice in our daily diet.
While turmeric is generally safe to consume in normal quantities, there might be certain side effects that you may need to be aware of. Especially if you are an expecting mother or someone taking blood thinning medication. As always consult a specialist before taking any supplements. Experts at MyPureMD are trained to understand your health from a holistic perspective, and can help you get to the root cause of any symptom you may be facing. Book a discovery call with us to take charge of your well-being, today!
