8 Health Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric contains an abundance of antioxidants that support cellular health. But what does that mean for you? Here are some of the most well-researched benefits of turmeric and the curcuminoids that it contains.
- Promotes Balanced Mood
- Helps Wounds Heal
- Eases Aches and Discomfort
- Encourages Balanced Blood Sugar
- Soothes Irritated Tissue
- Loosens Stiff Joints
- Encourages Normal Lipid Levels
- Supports the Stomach Lining
1. Promotes Balanced Mood
Could turmeric be a potential new option for stabilizing mood? A fascinating study reported promising results with turmeric for supporting a balanced mood. One group received curcumin daily, while the other received a placebo.
After eight weeks, the group that took turmeric had better mood and anxiety test scores compared to those who took a placebo.
2. Helps Wounds Heal
Cut your finger? Curcumin may accelerate the wound healing process by soothing irritation and oxidation. As more research evaluates turmeric's ability to support the body’s natural healing abilities, it could lead to its use for a variety of new applications.
Turmeric has antioxidant properties that help the healing process. Additionally, turmeric supports collagen synthesis, improves wound contraction, and increases tissue strength and cell proliferation around a wound.
3. Eases Aches & Discomfort
Turmeric may ease knee discomfort according to a study where people who took turmeric experienced relief on par with more conventional options. The turmeric group also enjoyed more relief from joint stiffness, and further, reported fewer side effects than those following mainstream treatments.
Other experts have looked at how turmeric supplementation may help postoperative discomfort and fatigue. Patients taking turmeric experienced significantly less discomfort compared to placebo.
4. Encourages Balanced Blood Sugar
A review of how curcumin influences blood sugar and diabetes found that it promotes normal blood sugar and insulin sensitivity. It appears to interact with the production of adiponectin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels.
Curcumin positively influences insulin-producing cells within the pancreas to help balance blood sugar. It also promotes a normal response to inflammation, which otherwise contributes to the development of diabetes.
5. Soothes Irritated Tissue
Turmeric can soothe excess irritation and promote a normal response to inflammation. The swelling response is a healthy and natural mechanism the body uses to usher soothing compounds during times of crisis or repair. But most people in today's toxic, stress-laden world are under constant pressure. The tissues in the body become irritated, red, and swollen as a result.
A review of studies noted the soothing effect of turmeric is likely exerted through its ability to inhibit enzymes that cause irritation.
6. Loosens Stiff Joints
A clinical study published in Phytotherapy Research set out to determine the effectiveness of turmeric for active joint discomfort. One group received the standard-of-care medication while the other received turmeric. Patients were given symptom score sheets to assess results. According to these self-assessments, turmeric outperformed the other option on all levels and was relatively free of side effects.
7. Encourages Normal Lipid Levels
Turmeric's ability to encourage normal lipid profiles has been studied since the 1990s. Some studies show an impressive reduction in lipid profiles for turmeric-supplemented groups. In one study, group participants were given either curcumin from turmeric in small or large servings; a control group was given vitamin E only.
After just seven days, small servings of turmeric produced the most favorable and balancing effects on lipid profiles. Most importantly, these studies show that turmeric is consistently safe and has a very low risk of side effects.
8. Supports the Stomach Lining
India has used turmeric in curry dishes as a taste and color enhancer for centuries. One reason for its longstanding popularity is because of its soothing properties on digestion. Researchers tested the protective effects of turmeric on the stomach lining against acidic substances that normally would induce stomach ulcers.
When turmeric essential oils were administered first, they protected the stomach and reduced damage. Turmeric also appears to offer relief for stomach ailments.Turmeric
Turmeric is a natural wonder in the healing world and has been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, and anti-depressant since ancient times. The main component in turmeric, curcumin, has phenomenal anti-cancer properties and has been known to help to inhibit prostate, skin, colon, mouth, esophageal, lung, stomach, pancreatic, liver, and breast cancer.
Turmeric is also a known blood purifier and helps to soothe respiratory ailments, improve liver function, support the circulatory system, regulate menstrual cycles, prevent cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s, and heal gastrointestinal disorders. Turmeric significantly decreases inflammation that is attributed to arthritis and other auto-immune disorders such as lupus, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Turmeric also helps the body to digest proteins and fats as well as to regulate blood sugar for diabetics. It’s antioxidant properties have beneficial anti-aging effects and its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial properties aids in healing skin wounds and abrasions as well as inflammatory skin irritations such as psoriasis and eczema. Turmeric is available as a powder, capsule, tincture, tea, spice, and/or ointment.
Supplementing with turmeric or adding it to your diet will provide benefit for your whole body and is one of the best things you can do for prevention, repair, and longevity.
