It’s hard to miss all the buzz about the “magic spice” known as turmeric. Closely related to ginger, turmeric is a powerful medicinal herb that has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a variety of illnesses. It is also responsible for giving curry its beautiful yellow-gold color.

The magic of turmeric

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is grown throughout the Indian subcontinent and some parts of Southeast Asia. While it is mainly used as an ingredient for most curries and other Indian dishes, turmeric is revered for its medicinal properties which can be attributed to its primary compound, curcumin.

Curcumin is not only responsible for turmeric’s color and flavor; it is also the reason behind its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

“Any time you have brightly colored foods, you know there are plant compounds that are doing something great,” said Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN, in a statement. “And turmeric is a bright golden — there’s nothing like it.”

Here are just five of the many health benefits of consuming turmeric:

It is a powerful tool against inflammation

Numerous studies have highlighted the potent anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin. Inflammation is incredibly important to deal with as it is usually the root cause of many health conditions, such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative conditions. It has also been associated with the development of cancer.

It kicks free radicals to the curb

Curcumin acts as a powerful antioxidant agent that help combat free radicals, which can damage cells. The National Cancer Institute reports that high levels of antioxidants can prevent free radical damage associated with cancer.

It is key to a healthy heart

The World Health Organization ranks heart disease as the number one cause of death in the entire world.

Inflammation and heart disease often go hand in hand, with oxidative damage closely following behind them. Curcumin’s antioxidant activity has been shown to alleviate these conditions.

Another way that turmeric quells the effects of heart disease is by improving endothelial function. Research shows that a malfunctioning endothelium is a major driver of heart disease because it affects blood clotting (coagulation) and blood pressure. A study conducted by Japanese researchers found that curcumin ingestion and aerobic exercise could improve age-related decline in endothelial function, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

It can keep cancer away

Turmeric and curcumin have been studied extensively for their effects on cancer development and their potential role in cancer treatment. Curcumin is found to have positive activity against certain cancers, stunting development and preventing cell proliferation at the molecular level. An animal study published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer found that turmeric has a protective effect on stomach and skin cancers in mice.

It prevents Alzheimer’s disease

The powerful antioxidant content in turmeric could stimulate brain activity and prevent cognitive decline, which often appears as Alzheimer’s or dementia. Scientists from California report that curcumin is effective at eliminating Beta-amyloid plaques, which are indicators of Alzheimer’s progression.

Spice up your diet with this golden spice today and enjoy its scientifically proven health benefits and improve your overall well-being.

Sources:

OrganicFacts.net

Healthline.com

Prevention.com

Cancer.gov

WHO.int

Link.Springer.com

ScienceDirect.com 1

ScienceDirect.com 2

TAndFOnline.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov