There’s been growing hype over turmeric in recent years. It’s a well-known ingredient in traditional medicine, with a range of documented benefits. Known as Curcuma longa, turmeric contains curcumin, which makes turmeric yellow and provides many of the claimed health benefits.
Some of these surprising benefits include the following:
1. Fights Inflammation
One of turmeric’s reported benefits is fighting inflammation. This is due to curcumin’s anti-inflammatory powers. Some even say that curcumin in the right dose can be more effective in treating inflammatory diseases than pharmaceutical medicines.
You may therefore wish to use curcumin to treat chronic inflammation like arthritis, pancreatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Some people even use it to relieve joint pains in pets, and this link explains such claims.
2. Increases Antioxidant
Aside from its anti-inflammatory effects, turmeric’s chemical structure is also known to neutralize free radicals. These radicals are behind the body’s oxidative damage leading to many diseases and the effects of aging.
Free radicals can negatively react with DNA, proteins, fatty acids, and other important organic substances. That’s why increasing the body’s antioxidants is essential as they fight free radicals. By taking turmeric regularly, you can help boost your antioxidant enzymes.
3. Maintain Blood Sugar Levels
Turmeric can also use it to help prevent the risk of type 2 diabetes. With diabetes, your body can’t properly regulate blood sugar levels. That’s why some people are using turmeric to regulate glucose levels in the blood.
If one has diabetes, some people suggest that turmeric extract can make the disease manageable. The extract is mostly found in over-the-counter supplements. When using supplements, you may want to gauge how your body reacts to them by starting with a low dosage. If you don’t feel any allergic reaction such as a stomach upset, you can continue and build your dosage from there. It’s always best to consult with your doctor before you start and regularly during treatment with alternative therapies.
4. Improves Cognitive Health
Another significant benefit of turmeric is for cognitive health. Brain conditions like dementia may be linked with inflammation. This inhibits the brain’s function and damages the brain cells. As a result, one may also experience memory loss and cognitive decline.
Aside from its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant components, turmeric is also claimed to have neuroprotective actions as follows:
- Decreases the brain’s accumulation of abnormal protein deposits, which can cause Alzheimer’s disease.
- Similar to exercise, it helps regenerate brain cells.
- Detoxifies heavy metals, which damages brain mechanisms
5. Helps Skin Glow
Aside from the health benefits above, turmeric can also help your skin to glow. It does this by reducing skin inflammation and regulating the immune system. Since skin is the biggest organ that acts as the body’s first line of defense, it’s more prone to diseases.
Turmeric can help reduce wrinkles and fine lines when added to moisturizers. It also contains manganese, which helps in collagen production. That’s why several cosmetic products contain turmeric as a main ingredient.
Conclusion
Turmeric contains components that are beneficial to the health and skin. Curcumin in turmeric can relieve pains from inflammatory disease and fight free radicals, which helps to prevent illness. There are potential benefits for diabetics, and for people wishing to improve the glow and condition of their skin. Consider adding turmeric to your daily regime to see the benefits for yourself.