Turmeric: Benefits and Uses
Turmeric is a powerful spice with an impressive list of uses and benefits. It is recognized for its antioxidant properties and its ability to act as an anti-inflammatory.
Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has been the subject of numerous studies for its disease-fighting potential and preventative health benefits.
If you’ve done some research on the web, you’ve probably read articles about turmeric and its benefits, but do you know how to use it on a daily basis?
While many studies typically look at highly concentrated curcumin preparations, whether in powder or tablets intended for therapeutic dosing, incorporating turmeric into your daily diet is the best way to reap these benefits.
Read on to learn more about how to us a turmeric clay mask to improve your health and well-being.
What is turmeric?
Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb that has been used for centuries to treat various health conditions. This root, which comes from the plant called Curcuma longa, is from the same family as ginger.
The dried root of the plant is ground into a powder. Turmeric is used and valued for its yellow color and earthy taste in culinary traditions around the world. Modern medicine recognizes its health benefits and it is widely used in natural medicine.
Turmeric contains several chemical compounds known as curcuminoids. The active substance in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin is a compound well studied for its health benefits. Turmeric contains up to 3% curcumin by weight.
Turmeric is considered by many to be one of the most powerful herbs in fighting disease. The benefits of turmeric are vast and widely studied. Over 12,000 scientific articles have been published about its benefits.
Curcumin is one of the most widely mentioned medicinal herbs in science. The other most commonly studied herbs include garlic, cinnamon, ginger, and ginseng.
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Fights inflammation
Without a doubt, the most important aspect of curcumin is its ability to control inflammation. Curcumin is strongly anti-inflammatory. In fact, it’s so potent that it would be as effective as some anti-inflammatory drugs without the side effects!
Inflammation is the root cause of many health problems such as metabolic syndrome, heart disease, arthritis, and even cancer. Inflammation has also been shown to play a role in cognitive decline.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information has published the results of a study evaluating several anti-inflammatory compounds. The study found that aspirin and ibuprofen, two of the most common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are less effective than curcumin.
On the other hand, research results have determined that the bioavailability of curcumin is very low. It is poorly absorbed by the intestines and the absorbed fraction is quickly transformed by the liver and eliminated.
Scientists are therefore always on the lookout for a formulation of curcumin that the human body will absorb and metabolize more efficiently.
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Improves skin health
The benefits of turmeric include anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that have been shown to be effective in treating multiple skin conditions.
Turmeric would help soothe the following problems:
- accelerating wound healing
- shrinking pores to reduce acne
- acne scars
- symptoms of psoriasis
- improving skin radiance
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Strengthens the immune system
The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of curcumin make it a major health benefit. Although curcumin is not well absorbed into the blood, consuming it with black pepper improves its absorption, thanks to a substance in the pepper called piperine.
A good Ayurvedic remedy to consume as needed is turmeric cold tea with ginger and black pepper. Add a teaspoon of turmeric to 350ml of water and bring to a boil. Remove the water from the heat and add a quarter of a teaspoon of ground ginger and black pepper.
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Promotes good digestion
Turmeric helps stimulate digestion, relieve indigestion and treat gastric ulcers.
Your digestive system is made up of several parts that work together to move and process the foods you eat. From saliva in the mouth (which begins dissolving food) to muscle movements in the esophagus (which moves food down into the stomach) to bile produced by the gallbladder (which breaks down food), digestion is a complex process.
Due to a large number of organs and functions involved in digestion, the process can be easily disrupted if you do not have enough vitamins and minerals to support these organs and their functions.
The enzymes, acids, and excretions necessary for proper digestion are only produced if the diet provides sufficient amounts of nutrients on which these organs depend.
If you’re struggling to get a proper diet of whole fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and grains to ensure optimal nutrient levels, you’ll be happy to find that turmeric can help.
With its content of fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric can provide the nutrition the digestive system needs to support enzymatic reactions, acid production, and optimal nutrient absorption.
Add 1 tablespoon of grated or powdered turmeric extract to any of your dishes every day. All the benefits of turmeric complement the work of the digestive system and promote optimal and regular digestion.
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May reduce symptoms of depression
Curcumin has been shown to be able to be used in the treatment of depression by reversing harmful brain changes that occur with depression. It has also been studied for its potential to increase levels of serotonin and dopamine which are both mood regulators.
The journal Phytotherapy Research published the Relieve Indigestion and Treat Gastric Ulcers which was carried out on 60 volunteers with major depressive disorder. The aim of the study was to determine how patients treated with curcumin reacted compared to fluoxetine (Prozac) as well as a combination of the two.
Turmeric’s Potential in Addressing Addiction
Turmeric, a vibrant and versatile spice derived from the Curcuma longa plant, has garnered attention for its potential role in addressing various health issues, including drug alcohol addiction. Studies suggest that curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, exhibits neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, which could play a significant part in mitigating the effects of addiction. While more research is needed, the promising connection between drug alcohol addiction and turmeric underscores the ongoing exploration of natural remedies in the field of addiction medicine. Integrating turmeric into a balanced lifestyle may offer a holistic approach to addiction treatment and recovery.
