Are you familiar with turmeric? You might know it as the spice that gives curry its yellow coloring. I’ve been using it in recipes for a while, but didn’t really know all the possible benefits until recently. I’m not a big fan of using medications to treat things that can be dealt with more naturally, so I was excited to learn about how turmeric could possibly improve health.
The active ingredient in turmeric is called curcumin, which is what can be credited with providing the benefits. Turmeric contains about 3% of this active ingredient. Curcumin has been shown to have antioxidant and ant-inflammatory properties which can prevent or reduce many health issues. There has also been some evidence that it can be beneficial for treating cognitive disorders, cancer, arthritis, and depression.
How Turmeric heals and prevents disease
Chronic inflammation has been known to cause heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome and Alzheimers. Turmeric lowers the risk of different diseases/disorders in the following ways.
- Heart disease- improves the lining of blood vessels
- Cancer- helps kill cancer cells, reduces the formation of new blood vessels to tumors, and reduces the spread of cancer cells throughout the body. It may even prevent it in the first place
- Alzheimers- help clear the protein tangle build up associated with the disease
- Arthritis- anti-inflammatory properties reduce the symptoms
- Depression- increases the level of BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor). Low levels have been associated with depression
How to get more
It’s encouraging to think that one ingredient can help prevent or treat so many common diseases/disorders. However, you should know that curcumin is not easily absorbed by the body. It’s been found that consuming turmeric/curcumin with black pepper improves absorption. It’s fat soluble, so it may be more easily absorbed when eating it with high fat foods. Also, since there is only 3% curcumin in turmeric it’s quite difficult to consume enough in your food to be beneficial. You’ll probably have to opt for a supplement to get a high enough dose.
There are several ways to add it to your diet without starting a supplement. You can find it in many Indian recipes, like curry. It can be found in teas. Or, you just add it to other recipes. I’ve started sprinkling it on my scrambled eggs. I also make golden milk occasionally, which is easy to make and contains turmeric and black pepper.
Turmeric might not be for everyone
As with any supplement, you should consult your doctor before starting it, especially if you are dealing with a current /chronic medical condition. It’s been recommended that turmeric should not be consumed in high doses by people that are pregnant or breast feeding, those with blood disorders, iron deficiencies, and before or after surgery.
Many studies have been small scale and not always done on humans, so the results are not always conclusive on how beneficial turmeric may be and for what uses. I’d say the current research is at least promising and I’m willing to give it a try in hopes that the findings above are accurate.
Will you start consuming turmeric or already do? Let me know your thoughts.
