HEALTH BENEFITS OF TUMERIC


According to many dietitians a superfood offers high levels of desirable nutrients linked to promoting personal health and wellness or preventing disease and sickness. Such desirable nutrients include antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents and other vitamin and trace element. Rich turmeric scientifically known as curcuma longa. It is a bright yellow spice used throughout Asia for centuries grown for its root. Turmeric has an ancient history of uses in cooking fabric, dyeing, cosmetics and especially as a traditional medicine in China, Pakistan and India. Its use in conditions such as rheumatism, severe pain, fatigue and breathing problems has been well documented for over 4 000 years. Scientists have identified a key ingredient of turmeric that quite literally gives turmeric its superfood properties, this key ingredient is known as curcumin. Curcumin is a pigment found in turmeric that not only gives it its characteristic bright yellow hue but also has a range of health benefitsthese include antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Because of these wide ranging functions turmeric has been studied in relation to arthritis, eye conditions, cancer, heart diseases, alzheimer's disease and much more. Some of these top scientifically proven health benefits of turmeric are;

1- Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory compound, inflammation is incredibly important for our body. It helps to fight bacteria and viruses and also has a role in repairing the damage done in your body by free radicals. It's a body's way of protecting itself although short-term inflammation is beneficial. It can be a concern if it becomes long-term or chronic and attacks your body's own tissues. Chronic low level inflammation plays a key role in the development of many diseases including heart diseases, cancer, metabolic syndrome, alzheimer's disease and various degenerative conditions. That's why anything that can help to fight chronic inflammation is important in the prevention and treatment of these conditions. The curcumin in turmeric has proven strong anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the damage done by chronic inflammation in the body. Studies have shown positive effects of curcumin on people suffering from conditions such as rheumatoid, arthritis, inflammatory, bowel disease and many others. This anti-inflammatory ability of turmeric reduces the worsening of pre-existing joint problems as well as development of new ones in the people with arthritis. In addition turmeric also has pain relieving properties, the spice is reputed to relieve arthritis pain as well dietitians suggest taking turmeric capsules of 400 to 600 milligrams up to three times per day. 

2- Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant curcumin has potent antioxidant properties. Oxidative damage is believed to be one of the main mechanisms behind aging and the development of many chronic diseases. The main reasons antioxidants are so beneficial is that they protect your body from this oxidative damage and the development of many diseases like cataracts glaucoma and macular degeneration in the eyes.

3- Curcumin can boost brain health before scientists had a better understanding of neurons. It was believed that they were not able to divide and multiply after early childhood, but studies have shown this isn't true. Neurons are capable of forming new connections and in certain areas, the brain they can multiply and increase in number also one of the main drivers of this process is brain derived neurotrophic factor also known as BDNF. This protein is responsible for promoting the life of neurons and also plays a role in memory and learning. Many common brain disorders have been linked to the decreased levels of PDNF protein including depression and alzheimer's disease. Interestingly animal studies have shown that curcumin may increase the levels of BDNF in the brain. By doing this it may be effective in the delaying or even reversing many brain diseases and age related decrease in brain function. Also there is growing evidence that curcumin can cross the blood-brain barrier and may help to protect against alzheimer's disease it works to reduce inflammation as well as the buildup of protein plaques in the brain, that are characteristic of alzheimer's disease sufferers still since these studies were performed in animals. It's hard to say what the results mean for humans and more studies are needed to confirm this. 

4- Curcumin may lower your risk of heart diseases. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the world. Researchers have studied it for many decades and learned a lot about why it happens. Unsurprisingly heart disease is incredibly complicated and various things contribute to it including oxidative stress by free radicals. Curcumin may help to reverse many steps in the heart disease process perhaps the main benefit of curcumin when it comes to heart disease is improving the function of endothelium which is the inner lining of your blood vessels. When endothelium gets affected it is unable to regulate blood pressure, blood clotting and various other factors and this dysfunction is a major driver of heart diseases. Several studies suggest that curcumin can lead to improvement in the health of endothelium. One study found that regular consumption of turmeric is as effective as exercise in post-menopausal females in addition curcumin can help to reduce inflammation and oxidative damage which can play a key role in the development of heart diseases. In one study of 121 people undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery researchers assigned them into two groups. One group received a placebo and the other group received 4 grams of curcumin per day for a few days before and after the surgery they found that the group took curcumin had a 65 decreased risk of experiencing a heart attack. In the hospital indicating that turmeric definitively reduces their heart related issues.

5- Turmeric may help to prevent cancer. Also cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth. There are many different forms of cancer that appear to be affected by curcumin supplements. Curcumin has been studied as a beneficial herb in the cancer treatment and has been found to affect cancer growth and development. Studies have shown that it has various ways that it can control cancer such as it contributes to the death of cancerous cells. It reduces angiogenesis which means it prevents growth of new blood vessels in the tumor and it reduces metastasis. Scientists explore the benefits of turmeric in their own way you can introduce turmeric in one form or other in your diet and start experiencing the benefits yourself you have the advice of billions of people who have used turmeric for innumerable purposes over the last four thousand years.