Each ingredient that you add to your meals throughout the day can have a unique impact on your body, and this includes spices. Turmeric is a spice that has been used for thousands of years to flavor foods, and it is derived from the root of the turmeric plant. Originally, it was used in curry and other similar types of dishes in the Middle East and India. Over the years, its use has spread throughout Asia, and it is now commonly used the West as well. While it is most commonly used to add flavor to dishes, its health benefits are becoming more well-known. When you learn more about the incredible impact that turmeric can have on your body, you may be eager to begin consuming more turmeric regularly. In this complete guide to turmeric and your health, we will provide you with a lot of information to help you chose if adding turmeric to your diet is right for you.
Turmeric is derived from a root-like plant that is now grown domestically rather than harvested in the wild. This spice is notably recognizable through its bright yellow hue. Its taste is best described as pepper-like, but you will notice that the flavor is uniquely different than pepper. It is an excellent spice to use to add more zest and individuality to your dishes. More than that, there are substantial benefits of turmeric for your body. When you spend time learning about all of the incredible benefits that this increasingly popular spice offers, you will see why this is an excellent spice to begin using regularly with your dishes.
A Digestion Aid
Digestive issues are unfortunately common. They can create pain and discomfort as well as embarrassing symptoms and more. There are several ways that turmeric and digestion are linked. For example, when you consume a small amount of this yellow spice regularly, inflammation in the stomach and intestines can be reduced. This promotes excellent digestive health and can reduce related discomfort associated with digestive issues. In addition, the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric can also aid in the creation of sucrose, maltase, and lipase in the intestines. These elements are essential for proper digestive health farther down the digestive system.
In addition to this link between turmeric and digestion in the stomach, this spice can also relieve the often-painful symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome. This is likely because of the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric. Because the intestines are not as inflamed when you consume turmeric regularly, the digested material can more easily pass through the body without causing the pain and spasms that are associated with irritable bowel syndrome. This condition can dramatically impact your lifestyle, and consuming something as simple as the turmeric spice regularly can help you to overcome this issue.
A Heartburn Treatment
The symptoms of heartburn include a painful burning feeling in the chest, a tightness or clenching in this area, unpleasant burping and even vomiting in some cases. When left untreated, heartburn can lead to health issues in the esophagus. Heartburn can be related to high levels of acid in the body, and it is most commonly associated with consuming foods that do not agree with your body. This condition can also be caused by high levels of stress.
Turmeric is a special spice that has anti-inflammatory properties that work well when treating heartburn. Keep in mind that turmeric can also help you to better manage your stress level, and this can also decrease the incidence or severity of heartburn. While you may still want to take steps to manage your diet better for heartburn control, you may find that increasing your consumption of turmeric may decrease your reliance on heartburn medications.
Turmeric for Your Liver
Your liver is responsible for filtering unhealthy elements from your blood. It also plays a direct role in your metabolism, and it is responsible for storing vital nutrients, such as vitamins A, D, E and K. When your liver is not healthy, you can see that the impact on your total body health can be significant.
In addition to promoting excellent digestion, there is an additional benefit of turmeric for your liver. Your liver function can deteriorate over time because of high cholesterol levels, diabetes, an unhealthy lifestyle and more. Studies have shown that turmeric can actually protect the liver from damage related to these factors. Even if you do not currently have significant liver issues, consuming turmeric could help you to reduce the change of developing issues in the future. More than that, it also could even regenerate a damaged liver for optional health and well-being. If you have been told that you have reduced liver function or even a liver condition, turmeric may be an excellent spice to begin consuming daily.
The Effect on Arthritis
Arthritis can be a debilitating condition that causes regular pain and that may interfere with your ability to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. As mentioned, turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is a common cause of pain for those who suffer from both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. In severe cases, the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis are so severe that the individual cannot hold a book or a remote control. In some studies, turmeric for arthritis has been used as a preventive treatment. The unique properties of this yellow spice can reduce the risk of both types of arthritis from forming.
If you already have rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, keep in mind that turmeric may also be used to reduce the severity of your painful symptoms. Simply consuming turmeric on a regular basis in conjunction with your favorite foods can provide some relief for your arthritis symptoms.
The Turmeric and Cancer Link
Cancer is a very serious health condition. It develops when your cells in various areas of the body begin growing abnormally. In some cases, significant rounds of debilitating chemotherapy may cure the condition. In other cases, chemotherapy does not work, and the cancer may spread. This can be a fatal condition in many cases.
When examining the benefits of turmeric for your body, it is important to analyze the significant impact that this spice can have on the development and even treatment of cancer. For example, some studies have shown that turmeric is an excellent substance to use in conjunction with chemotherapy for liver cancer. Consumption has been shown to have beneficial and reliable results that have prevented liver cancer or even reduced the size of the affected area in some cases.
Liver cancer is not the only type of cancer that turmeric can be used for. In fact, it has been shown to provide excellent results when used to prevent or even to treat a variety of cancer types. This includes cancers of the pancreas, stomach, colon, skin, lymph system and more. If you are concerned about cancer or if you have already been diagnosed with one of these types of cancers, researching more about the studies that have been conducted in this area can be helpful. You can also discuss with your doctor some of the studies linking turmeric and cancer. Your doctor may advise you to increase your consumption of turmeric while also proceeding with a chemotherapy or other type of medical treatment.
The Benefit for Menstruation Regulation
Many women suffer from a wide range of menstruation issues. This includes everything from severe premenstrual symptoms and cramps to tender breasts, mood issues and more. A heavy or irregular flow is also common. More serious PMS symptoms include flu-like symptoms, depression or rage, vomiting from cramp pain and more. Some of these conditions can affect your personal or professional relationships, your ability handle your daily responsibilities and more. Taking turmeric for menstruation regulation is one solution to consider. Pre-menstrual symptoms can range in severity from mild to severe. PMS symptoms may be reduced or eliminated through the regular consumption of turmeric.
Turmeric can also increase or stabilize the body’s natural creation of estrogen. Estrogen is important in managing and moderating menses, and it also has other important health effects on the body. Through the consumption of turmeric, menses may be regulated. This includes in terms of the frequency of your periods as well as the flow rate. If you struggle through your menstrual cycle each month, increasing your intake of turmeric through your regular meals may provide you with the relief that you need in a natural way.
Depression and anxiety are associated with menstruation as well. Regardless of whether you suffer from these conditions only related to a menstrual cycle or on a regular basis, turmeric may be helpful for you to consume regularly. This spice has been used to moderate moods and to reduce stress levels for centuries. It can even be used to moderate your brain chemicals, improve your quality of sleep and more. These are all factors that can lead to depression and anxiety symptoms, and they may be treated with something as simple as a common spice added to your foods.
Turmeric for Weight Loss
If you are concerned about your weight, you may consider using turmeric for weight loss on a regular basis. Turmeric should not be viewed as a catch-all solution for being overweight or obese. It does not provide significant and fast results for weight loss, but you must follow an exercise routine and maintain a healthy diet, It has also been shown to moderate or increase your metabolism. This can result in more calories being burned throughout the day.
Another way that turmeric may assist in your weight loss efforts is through fat reduction. It has properties that can target the type of fat that is commonly associated with obesity. Some studies have shown that turmeric can assist in weight loss through its fat reduction properties as well as in moderating how carbohydrates are used by the body. Studies have also revealed that turmeric can assist with weight control, and others have indicated that weight loss may be possible when turmeric is consumed regularly. Each person is unique, so you will need to experiment with adding this spice to your diet to determine how effective it is for you.
Turmeric and Heart Health
Cardiovascular disease kills more people each year than all types of cancers combined. It is a serious issue, and it often is a silent killer. This is because many people with heart disease or other heart-related issues are not aware that they have a health issue. You may be able to reduce your risk of developing heart health problems by consuming turmeric regularly. If you already suffer from a heart condition, this could potentially reduce the severity of your symptoms or even improve your health in some cases.
Because turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-thrombotic properties, it may reduce your chance of suffering from a stroke, heart disease, and other similar conditions. Keep in mind that these are serious issues that often result in disability, a lower quality of life and even death in many cases.
Another heart health concern relates to the health of your arteries. Hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, is usually caused by fat deposits in the arteries. The fat control and reduction properties of turmeric can reduce symptoms of this condition. Turmeric may also be used to prevent atherosclerosis from developing.
There are other benefits for heart health that are associated with consuming turmeric regularly. For example, turmeric may lower your cholesterol level and reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the body. Cholesterol can be damaging for overall heart health, and your ability to control the impact of cholesterol on your body is a significant benefit.
Turmeric and Your Energy Level
Many people struggle with fatigue and even downright exhaustion throughout the day. This can affect your performance at work, your personal relationships and your overall inclination to lead an active, healthy lifestyle. Rather than turn to caffeine to find the extra energy boost that you need, you may be able to consume a reasonable amount of turmeric for energy. When you have a naturally higher energy level, you may be more active. Physical activity is important if you are trying to fight obesity. Remember that obesity plays a role in cancer, diabetes, heart health and more.
The Effect on Healing
Regardless of whether you have a small cut from a kitchen mishap or a major incision from a surgical procedure, you understandably want to heal as quickly as possible. Turmeric works well to help your wounds heal faster. In fact, its fibroblasts and keratinocytes are excellent for healing diabetes-related wounds. Furthermore, its anti-inflammatory properties can assist with the healing of all types or minor and major wounds.
In addition to helping your body heal from cuts and wounds, turmeric may also promote healing from burns. Studies have indicated that those who consume turmeric regularly may see a dramatic increase the healing rate for minor or serious burns. This may be related to the spice’s anti-inflammatory properties as well as to its antiapoptotic properties.
Anti-Aging Benefits
Aging is associated with the developing of fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin and other unpleasant physical issues. It also is associated with dementia, which can dramatically decrease your quality of life in your later years. Turmeric is rich in anti-oxidants. While anti-oxidants are known for cancer-fighting properties, they also fight free radicals in your body that can attribute to the signs of aging. Through the regular consumption of turmeric, you may be able to increase the number of healthful anti-oxidant properties in your body. This can have powerful benefits that promote youthful health.
Turmeric for Your Skin
Many people suffer from different types of skin conditions. The look and health of your skin can affect your outward appearance and how others see you. In addition, you may feel self-conscious and less confident when you are suffering from skin issues. The good news is that turmeric for skin issues works well in many cases. Anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric can be used to reduce redness and inflammation of the skin. Disinfectant properties in turmeric could be used to combat acne.
Some people will apply turmeric topically to their skin in an effort to reduce the signs of aging, such as sun spots and wrinkles. Turmeric can also be used to heal minor wounds on the face more quickly. Before you apply pure turmeric to your skin, however, be aware that this spice can potentially discolor your skin for a short period of time. While discoloration is not ideal for everyone, some people do apply this spice to the skin simply to change their skin tone temporarily.
Turmeric for Hair
Hair is a common cosmetic concern for many people, and you may be pleased to learn that turmeric for hair can be used to alter the color, prevent hair growth or promote hair growth in different ways. Just as this spice can temporarily tint the skin, it can also tint your hair. This is a short-term hair color solution that is ideal for individuals who only want to change their look for a short period of time.
Hair loss can be attributed to multiple causes. If you are suffering from hair loss associated with a vitamin deficiency, an auto-immune condition or other factors, rest assured that turmeric may be used as an effective treatment. In fact, in many Middle Eastern and Asian countries, turmeric has been used for centuries to combat hair loss caused by these factors.
When hair growth is a problem, turmeric can spur new growth. However, when you apply this substance to areas where you already have hair growth, a different result may occur. Turmeric can actually erode away existing hair. It potentially could color your skin in the process. Because of this, you may want to test a small area that is not highly visible to others. When you learn more about how turmeric impacts hair growth and skin coloration on your own body, you can then decide how to use it to impact your own hair growth issues.
Knowing How Much Turmeric to Consume
Turmeric can be applied topically if you want to enjoy some benefits, but many of the health benefits occur when you consume turmeric orally. Before you begin using turmeric in your recipes on a regular basis, you need to know how much you need to consume to enjoy various health benefits. Keep in mind that consuming turmeric can potentially provide you with all of these benefits at the same time. This is a potentially powerful and highly beneficial substance that can have a profound effect on your total body health.
Curcumin is the agent in turmeric that has the substantial health benefits on your body. Some turmeric that you buy in the store is pure turmeric, but other turmeric products may be diluted with other ingredients or agents. Always ensure that you are buying pure turmeric if you want to enjoy the most significant health benefits possible.
Turmeric root extract typically contains 95 percent curcumin. In 1000 mg of pure turmeric, you can expect to consume approximately 25 to 50 grams of curcumin. Each of the health studies conducted to discover the health benefits of turmeric used different amounts of turmeric and curcumin. Many used between 250 and 500 milligrams of turmeric, and this amount was consumed as frequently as three times per day. This may sound like a significant amount of turmeric to consume. However, keep in mind that many Indians consume approximately 2.5 grams per day. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to expect to consume 500 milligrams by simply using this spice to season one or two of your dishes each day.
While some people may be thinking about increasing their consumption of turmeric for total body health, others may have specific health or beauty concerns that are causing them to take a closer look at this spice. Turmeric has a distinctive flavor, and some people may need to take time to get used to it. However, when you make an effort to incorporate more of this spice into your dishes regularly, you can expect to enjoy these substantial health benefits. Remember to try turmeric as a topical health substance as well, for even more beneficial results.
We hope that this complete guide to turmeric and your health has been informative to you. The health benefits of turmeric are amazing and it tastes great too. Because of this, it’s not a hard spice to incorporate into your diet. So eat up and enjoy!
