Turmeric can protect your lungs, liver and colon from serious diseases, according to studies
03/21/2020 / By Skye Anderson / Comments
Turmeric can protect your lungs, liver and colon from serious diseases, according to studies

Many members of the ginger family have medicinal qualities and are labeled as superfoods. Among them, turmeric is arguably the most popular and widely used as both food and supplement.

Turmeric contains an active compound known as curcumin, which is credited for most — if not all — of turmeric’s health benefits. Curcumin is said to have properties that promote the health of major organs in the body.

This article details some of the ways turmeric benefits the lungs, liver and colon.

Fast facts about turmeric

Turmeric comes from the root of Curcuma longa, a plant grown throughout India and in some parts of Asia and Central America. A prominent spice used in Asian cuisine, turmeric is best-known for giving curry its yellow-orange color.

Turmeric has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine as a natural remedy for various ailments. Common complaints treated with curcumin include inflammation, arthritis, stomach-related problems, liver-related problems, pain, fatigue, rheumatism and even cancer.

Today, turmeric is also used outside the kitchen, often to color food products and cosmetics. It is also dried and made into supplements in the form of powder, capsules, tablets or herbal teas. People who use turmeric to improve their health usually combine it with other natural ingredients to enhance its effectiveness. For instance, black pepper contains a compound called piperine, which can help the body absorb curcumin more easily.

What turmeric does for your lungs, liver and colon

Eating turmeric or drinking turmeric tea can do a lot for your body, especially when it comes to maintaining the health of your major organs. Here’s what science has to say about turmeric.

It protects the lungs from acute and chronic diseases

According to an article published in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, curcumin from turmeric can protect the lungs from injury and fibrosis (scarring) caused by radiation, chemotherapy and other toxins. Animal studies also show that curcumin has protective effects against lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) allergic asthma and lung cancer. Researchers believe that curcumin’s ability to suppress inflammation is what makes turmeric great at relieving COPD symptoms and stopping the progression of lung cancer.

It helps improve liver function, especially in people with fatty livers

The liver is important for filtering the blood and getting rid of toxins inside the body. But for people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), this function may be compromised because of the accumulation of fat in their livers. Excess fat can trigger inflammation, which can damage the liver and result in impaired liver function. But according to a recent study, turmeric or curcumin supplements can help people with NAFLD. Curcumin, in particular, can prevent the progression of NAFLD by decreasing the production of free radicals, which are known triggers of inflammation. Curcumin also prevents liver injury by stopping the production of inflammatory molecules.

It can prevent colon cancer without any adverse effects

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. This type of cancer has no effective treatments, and chemotherapy drugs used to stop its progression cause a lot of unwanted side effects. On the other hand, researchers have found that turmeric may be of help to people with CRC because it can stop cancer-promoting cell signaling pathways. It can even be viewed as a potential cancer-preventive agent. In fact, a study published in Current Pharmaceutical Design reported that curcumin stops the development and growth of colon cancer cells by disrupting the cell cycle and triggering apoptosis. Apoptosis is a form of cell suicide that helps keep the body healthy by ridding it of old or damaged cells, which could otherwise cause cancer.

Turmeric is not only a versatile superfood and natural medicine, it also offers plenty of health benefits. Start incorporating turmeric into your diet to keep your lungs, liver and colon healthy naturally.

Sources:

MedicalNewsToday.com

NCCIH.NIH.gov

Link.Springer.com

Academic.OUP.com

GI.org

ScienceDirect.com

TAndFOnline.com

EurekaSelect.com

MedicineNet.com

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