It’s a pleasant day to learn about the many health benefits of turmeric.
What is turmeric?
Turmeric, also called Curcuma longa, is a spice that is used in many cultures to add flavor and color to food.
It originates from another spice family, the ginger family, which also seems to have many of the same health benefits as turmeric.
It is derived from the rhizome part of the herbal plant and has a characteristic yellow color.
One of the superstar spices in this broad category of veggies, herbs, and fruits is the amazing turmeric.
Turmeric or curcumin has been used for years to treat different health conditions.
Here is my list of the health benefits of turmeric.
- May give your immune system a boost.
- May contain curcumin.
- May help your dental health.
- May help reduce inflammation.
- May help your respiratory system stay healthy.
- Turmeric has antioxidant effects.
- May help your urinary system.
- May improve joint health and fight arthritis attacks.
- May help maintain eye health.
- The use of turmeric may help relieve pain.
- May have antibacterial properties.
- May improve heart health and cholesterol control.
- May improve wound healing.
- Turmeric can reduce stress levels.
- May be good for your hair.
- May help reduce cancer risk.
- May support mood improvement and regulation.
- May give a more radiant skin and treat some skin conditions.
- Turmeric curcumin supplements may aid in losing weight.
- May improve brain health.
- May assist with diabetes conditions.
- May help treat cystic fibrosis.
- May be very good for your liver.
- May have gastro-intestinal benefits.
- May increase longevity.
- May be a home remedy for tooth abscess.
Please keep reading if you want to find out more.
1. Turmeric And Curcumin May Give Your Immune System A Boost
Curcumin, which is found in turmeric, is a powerful compound that is good for your health and has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects.
Curcumin doesn’t get into the bloodstream very well.
To increase the effects of curcumin, you may want to add black pepper.
Black pepper has a compound called piperine that helps it get into the bloodstream better.
According to traditional Ayurvedic medicine, the combination of black pepper, turmeric, and ginger is a strong immune-supporting tea.
2. Contains Curcumin (Main Source Of Turmeric Benefits)
Turmeric contains a chemical called curcumin.
It’s said that most of the health benefits of this herb come from this particular substance.
Curcumin has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants.
However, some research indicates that curcumin is poorly absorbed by the body.
This is why it’s combined or consumed with black pepper, which enhances its absorption.
3. Curcumin May Help Your Dental Health
A study shows that curcumin mouthwash is just as good as chlorhexidine mouthwash at treating gingivitis by reducing inflammation.
(Efficacy Of Curcumin In The Treatment Of Chronic Gingivitis)
It also works well to get rid of plaque and stop gums from bleeding.
4. May Help Reduce Inflammation (Even Chronic Inflammations)
Curcumin is the most powerful part of turmeric, and it is well-known as an anti-inflammatory agent.
While short-term inflammation in the body is important in repairing damage and fighting foreign bodies, chronic inflammation is almost always a problem.
Inflammation usually causes all kinds of difficulties for people who mainly suffer from arthritis.
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory property generally aids in reducing the pain of people enduring arthritis.
Some studies suggest that turmeric might even work better than popular over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin in this way.
Curcumin in turmeric may be the better choice, as it has no side effects like those pharmaceutical drugs might have.
5. Turmeric May Help Your Respiratory System Stay Healthy
Turmeric has been used for thousands of years to treat flu symptoms right away.
In India, turmeric milk is a common way to treat coughs and colds.
You can also use turmeric oil to help with coughs and phlegm.
Inhaling the smoke from burning turmeric might help clear up a stuffy nose.
Also, taking curcumin from turmeric as part of your treatment for bronchial asthma may help open up your airways and make it easier to breathe.
Lime water is also beneficial for respiratory health. You may learn more about its health advantages by clicking here.
6. May Contain Powerful Antioxidants
Turmeric not only has antioxidants, but it also makes your body make more antioxidants.
You can read more about it in this study (Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin).
Antioxidants are important in the body as they can prevent or protect your body from oxidative damage that can cause early aging and different kinds of chronic diseases.
7. Turmeric May Help Your Urinary System
Microbes that cause urinary tract infections can’t grow as fast when curcumin is in the body.
Curcumin’s ability to fight free radicals helps treat kidney diseases like diabetic nephropathy, chronic renal failure, ischemia and reperfusion, and kidney toxicity from drugs like adriamycin and gentamycin.
Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory that helps stop inflammation in the kidneys.
Inflammation of the kidneys is a common sign of both short-term and long-term kidney diseases.
8. May Improve Joint Health And Fight Arthritis Attacks (My Preferred Health Benefit Of Turmeric)
Mobility and overall joint health may seem like less important parts of our health, especially when we are young and active, but they become more and more important as we get older.
Studies on people with rheumatoid arthritis, which is a long-term condition caused by inflammation of the joints, showed that turmeric was just as effective at treating the condition as some prescription drugs, like Diclofenac.
With sufficient concentrations, curcumin, which is present in turmeric, is just as good as aspirin and ibuprofen in pain and inflammation relief.
If anything, it could be even better.
Curcumin reduces the production of histamine, prostaglandins, and inflammatory cytokines.
Turmeric is also a COX-2 inhibitor.
Osteoarthritis patients have used it successfully to treat knee pain.
It may be as useful as a cortisone shot.
One study showed patients who received the “best possible care” plus 200mg of curcumin showed significantly lower inflammation.
Curcumin is an active ingredient found in turmeric.
Some doctors are hoping it can phase out the use of NSAIDs for mild to moderate cases of osteoarthritis.
9. Turmeric May Help Maintain Eye Health
Turmeric can help keep your eyes healthy.
Curcumin in this herb may be useful in treating eye diseases, including glaucoma.
You can check this study (Topical Curcumin Nanocarriers are Neuroprotective in Eye Disease) to get more details on what we’ve mentioned above.
10. May Help Relieve Pain (May Include Rheumatoid Arthritis)
Turmeric contains curcuminoid, which is the actual ingredient that has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.
The yellow hue of the rhizome is due to the curcuminoid present in the plant.
These curcuminoids are good for you because they are antioxidants that reduce inflammation, kill bacteria and viruses, and fight cancer.
Turmeric works to heal cuts, wounds, and other serious skin injuries because it reduces inflammation and kills bacteria.
You can mix turmeric with coconut oil in a saucepan.
You then apply the mixture to the wound using a cotton pad.
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties usually help heal a wound or injury completely.
Tonka beans may also aid with pain relief. You may find out more about its health benefits by going here.
11. Turmeric May Have Antibacterial Properties
Turmeric is known to have antibacterial properties.
It’s useful in the healing of wounds.
It’s also good for removing harmful bacteria in your gut, which can then promote better digestive health.
12. May Improve Heart Health And Cholesterol Control (Popular Benefit Of Turmeric And Curcumin)
If you eat more turmeric, you can lower your risk of heart diseases like heart attacks and strokes.
The herb also helps to reduce arterial plaque buildup.
This is because it helps in the better circulation of blood.
High blood sugar and chronic inflammation in the body can lead to oxidative stress, and oxidative stress in turn can cause cholesterol levels to rise.
Turmeric comes in handy here, as we’ve seen that it reduces inflammation in the body, thus helping us keep our bad cholesterol levels in check.
Research shows that if you take 500 mg of turmeric every day for 7 days, your cholesterol level could drop by up to 11.63 percent.
Turmeric can also enhance endothelial function.
The endothelium is the lining of blood vessels.
When the endothelium doesn’t work right, things like blood clots and an inability to control blood pressure can make the heart fail or get sick.
Curcumin improves the way endothelial cells work, which lowers your risk of heart disease and may even cure it.
13. Turmeric May Improve Wound Healing
Turmeric has natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties that help wounds heal faster.
It’s been used for generations as a traditional home remedy for curing burned or cut skin.
14. May Boost Stress Tolerance
Curcumin is an adaptogen, which is a kind of chemical that helps the body cope with the harmful consequences of regular stress.
Adaptogens are talked about more in the world of herbal medicine, but their benefits can’t be denied.
What they do is help the adrenal glands regulate their rate of stress hormone release, meaning your body won’t react too strongly to stress factors, whether internal or external.
15. Turmeric May Be Good For Your Hair
Turmeric has many beneficial effects for keeping your hair healthy.
This herb has an active compound that can block the effect of TGF Beta 1.
This can prevent hair loss.
It has also been seen to help get rid of dandruff and make your scalp healthier.
Shallots may also help keep your hair healthy. You may learn more about its health advantages by clicking here.
16. May Help Reduce Cancer Risk
Cancer is a horrible disease.
But some studies show that turmeric can be a helpful part of treating cancer.
This means it can be used in the prevention and possible treatment of cancer.
Curcumin, which is found in turmeric, is thought to lower the risk of cancer in people who take it regularly.
To be specific, curcumin helps slow the growth and development of cancer in the body system.
Tests on animals have shown that curcumin might kill tumor cells outright as well as stop them from growing.
Prevention is better than cure.
Another great thing about turmeric is that it can stop cancer before it starts to spread in the body, especially in organs like the stomach, breasts, intestines, prostate, and skin that are more likely to be affected.
17. Turmeric May Support Mood Improvement And Regulation
In addition to the brain-building protein BDNF, turmeric also has a lot of curcumin, which helps prevent depression by making the brain produce serotonin and dopamine, which are “feel-good” hormones.
Some of the most popular anti-depressants on the market today, like Prozac, may be replaced by turmeric, which is a natural, healthy alternative.
18. May Give A More Radiant Skin And Improve Skin Health
Turmeric is a powerful anti-aging ingredient that can make a big difference in the health of your skin if you eat it often.
It works in our bodies as an antioxidant, which is any substance that works to reverse the aging effects of oxidation on body cells and tissues, such as the skin.
It can lighten skin pigmentation, improve the skin’s elasticity, and reduce wrinkles, acne, and pimples.
To make things even better, the anti-oxidant properties of turmeric can be enjoyed whether the spice is taken with food or applied directly to the skin as a lotion or ointment.
Turmeric has been used by Indian women for centuries for beautiful skin.
Some say that it rids your skin of troublesome acne and keeps your skin looking great.
You can make a paste from turmeric and yogurt and apply it topically.
You can learn more about turmeric’s health benefits for the skin here.
19. Curcumin Supplements May Aid In Weight Loss
People who are overweight are more likely to get life-threatening diseases, and high-stress levels are one of the many reasons why.
Cortisol, which is the hormone our body releases in times of stress, encourages the accumulation of fatty cells in a person’s stomach region.
This region is more sensitive to the action of cortisol as well because fat is a very efficient energy-storage medium.
Turmeric can stop the whole thing from happening by helping you make a healthy amount of cortisol.
A healthy dose of turmeric may help reduce your chances of becoming obese.
Needless to say, you still need to have a good diet and regular exercise.
20. May Improve Brain Health
Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Studies have found that curcumin can help to improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Strong cognitive functions and a good working memory are two of the best ways to tell if your brain is in good shape.
Our brain’s health is something none of us can afford to take for granted, especially as we get older.
Turmeric can increase the enzymes responsible for the secretion of Omega 3 fatty acids.
And as you may also know, Omega 3 is a fatty constituent of our brains.
Turmeric has also been shown to play a role in the production of a protein known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which helps in the development of neural connections within the brain.
This serves to delay and/or reverse the cognitive decline usually brought about by aging.
It also promotes the growth of new cells in areas of the brain.
Low levels of BDNF make people more likely to get depression and Alzheimer’s, especially as they get older.
Jasmine tea may also help with cognitive function. You may find out more about its health benefits by going here.
21. Turmeric May Help Prevent Diabetes Or Assist With Diabetes Conditions
Another turmeric health benefit is its role in restraining insulin levels.
In general, having blood sugar fluctuations usually causes several strains on the body.
One of these abnormal body issues is diabetes, which turmeric may be able to treat.
Turmeric can stimulate the release of insulin.
This will assist in the storage of glucose and help ease diabetic symptoms.
Researchers have found that turmeric can help with some of the worst side effects of diabetes by keeping the levels of glucose in the body stable, which is what a healthy metabolism should do.
Turmeric helps people who already have diabetic symptoms, and there are also signs that it might be able to keep people from getting type 2 diabetes.
22. May Help Treat Cystic Fibrosis
Turmeric also helps in treating cystic fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that is linked to proteins.
This kind of problem is usually fixed by curcumin in turmeric.
Overall, curcumin helps the liver work better by making it easier for the body to filter out waste.
23. Turmeric May Be Very Good For Your Liver
Turmeric is a blood purifier that helps the liver release toxins quickly.
It’s so effective that some doctors say it may be able to reverse the effects of cirrhosis of the liver.
It has also been shown to make the gallbladder make more bile and let it out more quickly.
This helps eliminate and remove waste from the body.
24. May Have Gastro-Intestinal Benefits
Turmeric can assist you in restoring gastrointestinal digestion.
Curcumin stimulates the gallbladder to release bile.
This will assist in effective fat and lipid digestion.
It also has benefits for treating ulcers.
It inhibits the secretion of stomach acids significantly.
It also stops the enzyme pepsin from being made, which makes ulcer symptoms worse.
So next time you have ulcers, consider asking your doctor about taking turmeric.
25. Curcumin May Help Delay Aging
With all the other specific health benefits we’ve listed above, this will lead you to have a longer and healthier life.
Now, depending on your circumstances, I think that most people would like to live longer.
Living longer should also mean that you’re living with a sound mind and body.
Shiso may also help you live longer. You may learn more about its health advantages by clicking here.
26. May Be A Home Remedy For Tooth Abscess
A tooth abscess is a buildup of pus within the tooth.
It is caused by a bacterial infection.
This kind of infection on the tooth is usually painful.
It can spread from the roots of your teeth up to the bones that support them.
You can use turmeric to fight bacteria, decrease inflammation, and reduce toothaches.
You can make a paste out of turmeric by mixing it with water.
Apply the paste to the affected tooth and leave it for about 25 minutes.
Conclusion
Turmeric has shown itself to be one of the world’s true superfoods, and the great thing about it is that we can get it in more than one form.
Add turmeric to your diet to start taking advantage of the many health benefits it can bring.
Whether it’s as fresh turmeric root, ground turmeric powder, or a turmeric supplement capsule, we can all get our daily share of turmeric’s health benefits.
I have a bottle of turmeric extract supplements just in case I do not have time to prepare meals or turmeric tea.
There are almost no bad side effects to turmeric unless you eat way too much of it, so you can feel safe giving it to everyone in your family.
With all these health benefits that turmeric can offer, which one are you most interested in?
I’m interested in the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric in the list of health benefits.
Although turmeric is used worldwide, you should still first check with your doctor or other medical professional if it’s safe for you to consume it.
Please share this article if you find value in it.
I’ve written a few articles about the health benefits of different spices. Here is where you can find out more about them.
Thank you!