Spices have a long history of being used as traditional remedies for treating a number of health issues. Even though there are various spices that offer different kinds of benefits, turmeric is undoubtedly the most popular and effective one as more and more experts manage to prove its ability to heal a great number of ailments.
So, today we will tell you everything important you should know about this incredible spice. Just keep reading and you will find out how you can benefit from using this super healthy spice!
History of Turmeric
Native to India, Turmeric is a spice that comes from the root of Curcuma longa. For thousands of years, this spice has been used as a folk remedy in South Asia for treating asthma and coughs while hot water extracts were taken orally to reduce inflammation. This golden spice was also used in the case of liver obstruction, ulcers, and jaundice.
Besides from being used for its healing properties, turmeric was also used for cultural and spiritual properties. This spice was linked to fertility and prosperity, so this is the main reason why it represented a good luck and was usually applied to a bride before the wedding ceremony.
Turmeric and Curcumin
First of all, it is very important to distinguish between “turmeric” and “curcumin”. As we said before, turmeric is the spice derived from the root of the plant Curcuma longa. Just like any other plant, turmeric has phytonutrients, and one of its most beneficial compounds is called curcumin.
Thanks to curcumin, turmeric has the ability to reduce inflammation, relieve symptoms of arthritis, and prevents skin diseases and even Alzheimer’s.
Even though a lot of people use the words curcumin and turmeric interchangeably, keep in mind that curcumin is only one substance among others beneficial substances found in turmeric.
Health Benefits of Turmeric
It is scientifically shown that turmeric can provide plenty of benefits:
- It protects cardiovascular health
- It prevents diabetes
- It treats depression
- It treats asthma
- It reduces inflammation
Turmeric has a rich content of vitamin C and vitamin B6 and is a great source of magnesium, potassium, and manganese.
Turmeric For Alzheimer’s
The Indian Academy of Neurology conducted a study which showed that turmeric is a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. It was shown that turmeric contains a compound known as aromatic-turmerone that has the ability to increase the amount of neural stem cells of the individual consuming it, thus treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Turmeric For Arthritis
Due to its potent anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric can effectively relieve symptoms of arthritis. Due to its ability to block inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, turmeric can effectively prevent joint inflammation in arthritis. Many people claim that after taking a supplement called Meriva, they experienced significant improvement in pain reduction and movement.
Turmeric For Cancer
It is shown that turmeric has the ability to kill cancerous tumor cells. The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists conducted a study which proved that curcumin can inhibit the growth of tumors by killing tumor cells. Turmeric can provide even better results than chemotherapy because it does not damage the healthy cells, only the cancerous cells.
Turmeric For Depression
Turmeric is an effective and natural anti-depressant. According to a study published by the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, curcumin can effectively reduce depressive symptoms caused by chronic stress. This is because curcumin has the ability to naturally restore levels of dopamine and serotonin.
Enhancing Turmeric Naturally
We need to mention that curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is not very “bioavailable”. In other words, it is difficult for our body to digest it. Our body metabolizes curcumin so fast that our digestive system is not able to get the maximum benefits from it.
So in order to obtain the best results, it is recommended to consume turmeric with black pepper. Black pepper contains Piperine, a compound that slows down the digestive properties and makes our body more efficient at digesting nutrients. In this way, your body will have enough time to digest the curcumin effectively, thus making sure you obtain the maximum benefits from turmeric!
How Much Turmeric To Take Daily
These dosages are recommended by the University of Maryland Medical Center and they refer to adults:
- Cut root: 1.5 to 3 g per day
- Dried, powdered root: 1 to 3 g per day
- Tincture (1:2): 15 to 30 drops, 4 times per day
- Standardized powder (curcumin): 400 to 600 mg, 3 times per day
- Fluid extract (1:1) 30 to 90 drops a day
Source: Healthy Food House