These 6 Things Happen To Your Body When You Eat Turmeric Every Day
Turmeric
has been used for over 4,000 years to treat a variety of conditions.
Studies show that turmeric may help fight infections and some cancers,
reduce inflammation, and treat digestive problems. – University of Maryland Medical Center
Native to southwest India, turmeric is a herbaceous plant of the ginger family. It
is most commonly used as a spice in various foods, including
Bangladeshi cuisine, Indian cuisine, and Pakistani cuisine and curries.
Turmeric is also one of the world’s ancient herbal medicines, having
been used in Asia for thousands of years. Today, medical professionals
and herbal practitioners in various fields note turmeric’s ability to
treat and/or alleviate a number of different health conditions.
HERE ARE 6 BENEFITS OF TURMERIC IF CONSUMED REGULARLY:
1. REDUCES INFLAMMATION
Turmeric is believed to be a powerful anti-inflammatory. In fact, the
abundant spice contains over two dozen anti-inflammatory compounds.
Curcumin, one of turmeric’s most abundant compounds, has been noted in
various studies for its excellent anti-inflammatory properties.
Of the many studies that have been conducted, one of the most prominent was published in the October 2007 issue of Alternative and Complementary Therapies. Dr. James Duke, a well-respected ethnobotanist summarized his findings in the July 2008 issue of the American Botanical Council.
After reviewing over 700 studies, Duke concluded that turmeric
effectively outperformed many pharmaceutical drugs prescribed for a
variety of chronic, debilitative conditions, with no significant side
effects.
2. REDUCES CANCER RISK
While studies noting
turmeric’s effectiveness against cancer are in the early stages,
various lab and animal studies have yielded promising results.
Researchers at the American Cancer Society note that curcumin, a
prevalent compound in turmeric: “interferes with several important
molecular pathways involved in cancer development, growth and spread.”
In another study published by the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health,
researchers again note curcumin’s cancer-fighting properties. The study
further details various “pathways” that curcumin counteracts to achieve
such properties.
In their summation, researchers of the study emphasized the cancer-fighting properties of curcumin in a resounding fashion:
“The activity of curcumin reported against leukemia
and lymphoma, gastrointestinal cancers, genitourinary cancers, breast
cancer, ovarian cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, lung
cancer, melanoma, neurological cancers, and sarcoma reflects its ability
to affect multiple targets. Thus, an “old-age” disease such as cancer
requires an “age-old” treatment.
3. AIDS DIGESTION AND RELIEVES DIGESTIVE-RELATED DISORDERS
Partially since turmeric is such a powerful anti-inflammatory, the
substance is also effective at improving digestion and reducing some
symptoms of digestive disorders.
A study performed
at the University of Maryland Medical Center notes a variety of
different conditions in which turmeric may be helpful, including
indigestion and ulcerative colitis. Here are some of the study’s key
findings:
– Curcumin, a component of turmeric, stimulates bile production in the gallbladder, which is believed to help improve digestion.
– Turmeric serves as a potential safeguard against remission in those
with ulcerative colitis, a chronic disease of the digestive tract with
intermittent symptoms.
One noteworthy exception to the above benefits of turmeric is stomach
ulcers. The researchers did not find any evidence of alleviation to this
condition. In fact, turmeric is advised against for the condition,
since it may increase the production of stomach acid.
4. PROMOTES BRAIN HEALTH
Among turmeric’s most powerful health benefits are its positive effects
on our cognition. According to researchers, curcumin aids by enhancing
our ability to learn and process in different environments. Further,
curcumin may assist with warding off neurodegenerative conditions –
dementia disorders and Alzheimer’s among them.
Scientists sought to gain further insight into curcumin’s brain benefits by conducting a study, which was subsequently published in the Public Library of Science.
Utilizing a curcumin-fortified diet, scientists tested the behavioral
performance in rats after a 6-week and 12-week time period. At the
study’s conclusion, researchers noted enhanced spatial and non-spatial
memory and a possible link between curcumin treatment and enhanced
cognition and neurogenesis.
In other words (this is exciting): turmeric may aid in neuroplasticity – the development of new brain connections…incredible.
5. PROMOTES HEART HEALTH
Curcumin in turmeric also aids with ensuring a healthy heart. In the same study by
the University of Maryland, scientists came to this conclusion by
observing curcumin’s effective plaque-removal properties. Plaque buildup
in the arteries can lead to a heart attack or stroke – a condition
known as atherosclerosis.
Curcumin is also effective in reducing bad cholesterol known as LDL and
preventing blood clots. One important note to the latter, turmeric may
interact with certain blood-clot medications – make sure to seek a
doctor’s advice before supplementing turmeric in this case.
6. ALLEVIATES ARTHRITIS SYMPTOMS
Because of turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties, it is believed to be
effective at alleviating arthritis symptoms. Many health professionals
subscribe to the notion that turmeric is more potently anti-inflammatory
than many – if not most – other pharmaceutical and over-the-counter
alternatives.
In a study published in the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health,
rheumatoid arthritis patients who supplemented curcumin into their
diets experienced a “reduction in tenderness” and a reduction in
“Disease Activity” in numbers far-greater in proportion to those who did
not.
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