Turmeric is an herb that promotes wellness and good health. Incorporating this herb into one’s lifestyle presents many benefits of taking turmeric. Often used in a powdered form, this golden-yellow health supplement boosts immunity while it is known for its antioxidant, anti-cancer, and other properties.
Over the years, turmeric is becoming popular across the world. As turmeric, or haldi, is a staple used in Indian cooking and the popularity of Indian cuisine to has popularized the use of this organic health supplement. However, turmeric is not restricted to curries alone and can be incorporated into a number of interesting dishes as well.
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Benefits Of Taking Turmeric
Turmeric is a root with a unique flavor that is slightly bitter. The root is available, much like its cousin ginger, but turmeric powder is easily accessible in stores since it is a key ingredient widely used in Indian cooking. The key component of haldi is curcumin, which presents a host of benefits that improves health.
Some of the benefits of taking turmeric include the following:
- effective anti-inflammation compound
- helps keep heart disease in check
- keeps depression at bay
- prevents cancers
- helps manage diabetes
- provides pain relief
- relief from eczema
- improves liver function
- helps manage endometriosis
Effective anti-inflammation compound
Another major benefit of taking haldi is that it helps protect the body from attack and repairs any resulting damage. Inflammation performs a protective function as it steers away bacteria, and other pathogens, from causing harm to the body. However, short-term inflammation may have positive effects but persistent, or chronic, inflammation may hamper the quality of life.
Chronic inflammation results from the attacks of body tissue. Research suggests that cancer, metabolic syndrome, and heart disease can be attributed to inflammation. However, taking a turmeric supplement can help one maintain good health and ensure that the major causes of inflammation are suppressed.
Help keep heart disease in check
Heart disease is often attributed as one of the leading causes of death caused by a condition the world over. However, over the years researchers have studied the effect of turmeric on heart disease which is a complicated condition. It has not yet been proved that turmeric can eliminate the risk of heart disease. However, it can help keep it at bay which is one of the benefits of taking turmeric.
Keeps depression at bay
One of the key benefits of taking turmeric is that it keeps depression at bay. Studies suggest that taking haldi over a period of time helps treat depression as it serves as a natural anti-depressant. The consumption of turmeric increases brain activity and has a positive impact on the memory and learning part of the brain which in turn inhibits depression.
Some studies suggest that turmeric helps boost dopamine and serotonin. Moreover, the addition of Haldi in one’s diet can help ease anxiety as well, which has a positive impact on mental health and overall wellness.
Prevents cancers
There has been much debate on whether turmeric can help prevent cancer. However, ongoing research suggests that curcumin does play an active role in the prevention of the growth of cancerous cells. Moreover, turmeric aids alleviating some of the side effects caused by cancer as it helps reduce the inflammation that is often the source of the pain caused.
The benefits of taking turmeric also include the protection of healthy cells preventing damage from radiation treatment. Also, the curative effect of Haldi helps reduce radiation dermatitis as a result of radiation treatment since it has antiseptic properties. Furthermore, turmeric paste can be applied to the skin to help it heal post-treatment.
Helps manage diabetes
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Haldi help in the effective management of diabetes for a number of reasons. For one, it helps improve bring down blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, and bad cholesterol. However, in order to receive the best results the intake of turmeric must be complemented with a balanced diet and exercise of maximum benefit.
Provides pain relief
One of the benefits of taking turmeric is that is a natural pain reliever. It is often recommended that those with arthritis pain can find relief by incorporating haldi in their diet instead of relying on pain management medication. However, it is available in the tablet form as well for hassle-free consumption in case it proves to be a challenge to add this ingredient to one’s diet.
Relief from eczema
Eczema is a skin condition where the skin becomes flaky and itchy. However, one of the benefits of taking turmeric is that it helps treat eczema. As mentioned earlier, the anti-inflammatory properties of Haldi help relieve symptoms. Additionally, it can be used as a topical as well as an oral agent. Turmeric powder can be mixed with water to create a paste that can be applied on the affected region to provide relief.
Improves liver function
Turmeric is widely known as an ingredient known for its antioxidant properties. For this reason, this organic health supplement helps improve liver function by stopping toxins from attacking the liver. It is particularly helpful for those who take strong medication to treat diabetes or other health ailments that hamper liver function over time.
Helps manage endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common disorder associated with the reproductive system. The endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus and spreads to the ovaries, outer uterus surface, and fallopian tubes, which cause pelvic pain that, can be severe. However, turmeric helps alleviate the pain caused by this condition since it inhibits the inflammation caused and suppresses the migration of the tissue outside the uterus walls. Also, it helps improve the overall health of the reproductive system as well.
What is an effective dose of turmeric?
According to research studies, anywhere between 500 to 2,000 mg of turmeric can help boost one’s health. However, the effectiveness is dependent on the concentration of curcumin. At the same time, caution must be exercised when including this health supplement in the diet since excess use of turmeric may lead to an upset stomach, dizziness, or nausea.
Like all good things, there are a number of benefits of taking turmeric but it must be taken judiciously. It is an excellent health supplement that is both easily available and can be incorporated into one’s diet.