Turmeric: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & More
Turmeric is a spice that may be the most effective nutritional supplement on the market.
Turmeric has been shown in numerous high-quality research to have significant health and cognitive advantages.
Curcumin, the principal active component, is responsible for many of these advantages.
Contents
What Is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a very tall plant native to Central America and Asia. It is also known as the golden spice or the Indian saffron.
Turmeric on spice cabinets is made from the plant’s underground roots.
Processed turmeric’s vivid yellow color has encouraged numerous cultures to utilize it as a dye.
Curry powder usually contains a lot of ground turmeric. Turmeric extracts, teas, capsules, and powders are among the worldwide available turmeric products.
Turmeric contains the active component curcumin, which has potent biological activities.
Turmeric is widely used for a huge number of health concerns by medicine in Ayurveda.
It is an ancient treatment method of Indian origin. Inflammation and chronic pain are often treated with turmeric.
Turmeric Benefits
Type 2 Diabetes
Curcumin may be effective in preventing or treating type 2 diabetes since it can help combat inflammation and maintain blood sugar levels.
One study monitored 260 persons with prediabetes for nine months and discovered that taking a curcumin supplement reduced their chances of getting diabetes.
Although research is ongoing, the majority of studies to date have focused on animals rather than humans.
Depression
Turmeric has several chemicals that may benefit your health.
Curcumin is the most well-known of them. Curcumin’s potential to alleviate depression and improve antidepressant effectiveness has scientists intrigued.
However, research findings have been mixed thus far.
Helps With Viral Infections
If you’re feeling under the weather, try drinking some turmeric tea.
Research has shown curcumin may aid in the battle against a range of viruses, including herpes and influenza.
However, the majority of this research was conducted in a lab rather than on humans.
Keep in mind that turmeric contains only approximately 3% curcumin, and your body doesn’t absorb curcumin properly, so a cup of tea now and again won’t be enough.
Helps With Symptoms Of Premenstrual Syndrome
Curcumin pills were found to help relieve PMS symptoms in a recent study that monitored women for three menstrual cycles in a row.
A study on guinea pig and rat muscles reveal that turmeric may also help with menstrual cramps.
Having said all that, you might want to note that turmeric is also used as one of the main ingredients in the supplements like Provitalize.
What Is Turmeric Good For?
Cholesterol Problems
The evidence of the potential of turmeric to protect your heart is quite conflicting.
Turmeric is already proven to lower your bad cholesterol in certain studies. Though sometimes it had no impact on different studies.
Turmeric’s properties of protecting your heart are currently being researched by several scientists.
Turmeric is shown in a short trial in aiding persons who have had heart bypass surgery to avoid heart attacks.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s patients often have chronic inflammation. As turmeric appears to contain anti-inflammatory properties, it might help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Though unfortunately, there is no definite scientific proof that consuming turmeric will help prevent the condition.
Arthritis
Turmeric’s capacity to relieve joint pain, stiffness and inflammation has shown promise.
However, additional research is needed before turmeric is recommended as an arthritis treatment.
If you opt to try turmeric for joint pain, consume it with black pepper to assist your body to absorb natural curcumin.
Cancer
Turmeric has been shown in lab and animal tests to inhibit tumor cell development, improve the function of detoxifying enzymes, and more.
What these studies can’t tell us is what happens in the human body when turmeric is consumed.
Additionally, turmeric has the potential to interact with some chemotherapy medications.
Turmeric Powder
Turmeric powder is prepared by dry grinding mature turmeric rhizomes into a bright yellow powder (underground stems).
Turmeric has been used for coloring and flavoring food, as well as for cosmetic and medicinal uses since India’s ancient Vedic culture.
Turmeric powder has an earthy, mustard-like fragrance and a warm, bitter black pepper flavor.
The World Health Organization, the European Parliament, and the US FDA have all accepted curcumin, a brilliant yellow substance generated by the turmeric plant, as a food additive.
There is no high-quality clinical evidence that taking turmeric or curcumin is useful for treating any ailment, despite its long use in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is also known as hard.
Turmeric Pills
Turmeric has been utilized in Ayurveda and other traditional Indian medicinal systems, as well as Eastern Asian medical systems like traditional Chinese medicine, for centuries.
It was traditionally used in India for skin, upper respiratory tract, joints, and digestive system diseases.
Turmeric is now recommended as a dietary supplement for a wide range of ailments, including arthritis, digestive problems, respiratory infections, allergies, liver illness, depression, and more.
Turmeric supplements are typically produced from the dried rhizome and contain a combination of curcuminoids.
Turmeric can also be turned into a paste to treat skin problems.
Serious Side Effects Of Turmeric
There are several side effects of turmeric. Some of the are as follows.
It Might Cause Contractions
Though there is very little clinical evidence in support of this claim, researchers have found that turmeric might help people with PMS symptoms.
Pregnant women should avoid turmeric supplements for their blood-thinning properties. It is fine to use a very less quantity of turmeric as a spice in cuisine.
Risky During Pregnancy
Turmeric as a spice in food is acceptable for pregnant women to consume, however, turmeric pills should be avoided.
There is not much research on the effects of turmeric on breastfeeding and pregnant women at the time.
It is also unclear whether the medicinal components of turmeric could pass into breast milk.
Might Make Blood Thin
The cleaning qualities of turmeric could cause an individual to bleed more easily. It is not clear why this occurs.
Some turmeric advantages, like decreased blood pressure and cholesterol, are due to the way turmeric works in people’s blood.
Individuals who take blood thinners, such as Coumadin or Warfarin should avoid having significant quantities of turmeric.
Occurrence Of Gallbladder Issues And Gallstones
Turmeric is high in oxalate, which is a chemical that could raise the incidence of gallstones.
According to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, when people had turmeric, their urine included higher levels of oxalate than the control group.
Turmeric doses of 30-40 mg were similarly linked to increased gallbladder contractions.
Turmeric pills should be avoided if you have gallbladder problems.
Is Turmeric Good For You?
Turmeric, like other colorful plant foods, is high in plant pigments, which are beneficial to our health.
Curcumin, the spice’s principal active component, accounts for around 3% of the root’s weight and is responsible for much of the spice’s fame.
Although curcumin is an impressive component, it’s important to realize that turmeric is known for hundreds of bio-active chemicals.
These protective chemicals are valuable because they aid the body in combating the harmful effects of oxidation.
This process can result in chronic inflammation, which can contribute to age-related illnesses like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
Our bodies will be better able to manage aging and the inflammation that comes with it, as well as exercise-induced inflammation and muscular discomfort if we include protective nutrients in our diet.
A tablespoon of turmeric powder contains approximately:
- 30 kcal/124 KJ
- 8g protein
- 2g fiber
- 2g fat
- 195mg potassium
- 8mg iron
- 5g carbohydrates
Turmeric Benefits For Skin
Could Aid In The Treatment Of Acne
This is effective on multiple levels. Turmeric, for starters, keeps skin cells from clumping together and clogging pores.
It may effectively limit the growth of acne-causing germs because it is antiseptic and antibacterial.
Additionally, its anti-inflammatory effects aid faster healing by soothing irritated tissues.
Hyperpigmentation Is Lightened
Turmeric prevents the formation of melanin, the pigment that causes dark patches and other forms of hyperpigmentation.
A turmeric-based cream can help unsightly spots go away naturally, giving skin a more even-toned appearance with continuous usage.
Deals With Dull Skin
As inflamed, congested, or damaged skin is rarely radiant and smooth, turmeric’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cleansing properties might help you glow.
Increasing the amount of turmeric in your skincare routine might also help to improve microcirculation, leaving your skin feeling more supple and firmer.
Reduces The Appearance Of Dark Circles
When you combine turmeric’s microcirculation-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and skin-lightening properties, you have got a solution of one ingredient for combating dark circles in your under-eye.
Conclusion
Turmeric, especially its most active ingredient, curcumin, has a very long list of health advantages that are scientifically documented.
Some of them include the ability to protect against cancer and Alzheimer’s disease and boost heart health.
Turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It might also assist with arthritic problems and depression.
While these advantages have quite potential, they are currently limited. This is due to curcumin’s low bioavailability, and also more research is required.
- This article is written for informational purposes only.
- Under no circumstances do we intend to provide medical advice, cure, or treatment using this article.
- This article is not an alternative cure or treatment for a medical condition.
- These statements are not backed by any FDA authority.
- In case of allergies or medical issues, consult a health expert before consuming any product.