Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a root from the herb of a perennial plant of the ginger family. It has been used in India for many years as a spice and a medicinal herb.
Curcumin is the main ingredient and one of the important healing compounds found in Turmeric. It has antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Turmeric is one of the top medicinal herbs in all of science today. Other popular herbs are garlic, ginseng, milk thistle, ginger, cinnamon.
What are the health benefits you can get from using Turmeric?
May Slow or Prevent Blood Clot Formation
Blood Clot is the process by which blood stays attached to the site where it was formed and blocks the blood flow through the circulatory system.
Curcumin is a dietary spice from turmeric, a study was conducted to test the antiplatelet action of curcumin. The results suggest that curcumin has inhibited the formation of blood clots.
Reduces Depression Symptoms
Depression is one of the most common but serious mood disorder. It affects how you feel and handles your daily activities.
Curcumin found in Turmeric has shown some benefits in reducing depression symptoms.
A trial of 60 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) was randomized into 3 groups.
One group was given a fluoxetine (Prozac), the other group took curcumin only, and the last group was given a combination of Prozac and curcumin.
At the end of the 6-week trial, they have discovered that curcumin was almost equally effective as Prozac. And the group that took Prozac and curcumin together has a slightly higher improvement. Not only curcumin is effective it is also well tolerated by the patients.
This study shows that curcumin is as effective as an anti-depressant.
Fights Inflammation
Turmeric has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for inflammatory conditions.
Common diseases today such as cancer, arthritis, ulcerative colitis, high cholesterol levels, and chronic pain are all associated with inflammation.
A 2004 study evaluated some anti-inflammatory agents and found that aspirin and ibuprofen, two of the most common NSAIDS(non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) were least potent. And curcumin is one of the most effective anti-inflammatory compounds.
Curcumin has properties that may inhibit known molecules responsible for inflammation.
It may top common arthritis drug
Curcumin found in Turmeric is known to have a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties.
A study was conducted on 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis on the effectiveness of curcumin. One group were given a curcumin alone, while the other group has taken diclofenac sodium (arthritic drug), and the last group a combination of both.
The curcumin group showed the highest percentage of improvement. It seems like a high dose of curcumin can be as effective or more than the most common medication for arthritis.
May help prevent cancer
Extensive research over the last 50 years has indicated polyphenol derived from turmeric can prevent and treat cancer. Turmeric has anticancer potential because of its ability to suppress the growth of a wide variety of tumor cells.
It may suppress tumor initiation, promotion, and metastasis, and it is found to be safe. The study shows the big potential of turmeric in the prevention and therapy of cancer.
May Prevent or Treat Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading and most common neurodegenerative disease in the world.
There have been studies about the effect of curcumin (turmeric) on Alzheimer’s disease.
Curcumin may aid the macrophages clear the amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer’s disease.
Chronic inflammation of nerve cells is one of the causes of Alzheimer’s disease. The anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin may help prevent it.
With its anti-oxidant property, it decreases the production of free radicals that cause the deterioration of neurons.
Helps in Detoxification
We are likely exposed to dietary and environmental toxins every day. These chemicals may cause our human body inflammation and may trigger cancer formations.
Conclusion
These are just some of the major health benefits of Turmeric. Our turmeric supplement has piperine which enhances the absorption of curcumin.
