The Healing Powers Of Turmeric You Can’t Afford To Miss

If you want to boost your health, there’s one spice that you can’t afford to miss out on. Turmeric. Used in a variety of different recipes, turmeric is one of the best health boosters around and can benefit just about everyone. Hailing from India, turmeric is what gives foods a yellow color. When talking about the health benefits of turmeric, we are referring to curcumin, as this is the active compound found in turmeric exerting the effects. If you would rather take turmeric as a supplement, you would have to look for a curcumin-based supplement.

So let’s go over the main benefits that this compound can provide you so you can see more clearly why you should strongly consider adding it to your diet plan.

Before we begin, we should also note that for maximum absorption of the beneficial compounds, be sure to eat your turmeric with a fat. It is fat-soluble, meaning the added fat will help it absorb better, providing the health benefits we’re about to discuss.

Reduced Inflammation 

The first key benefit is a lower level of inflammation. When inflammation is present in the body, it can be either good or bad. Short-term inflammation, such as if you stub your toe, will help to heal any injury quickly. Long-term inflammation, however, which is typically the result of poor lifestyle choices such as a bad diet, not enough exercise, or bad sleep quality, can result in an increased risk of many illnesses and conditions. For instance, inflammation is linked to diabetes, obesity, heart disease, stroke, as well as arthritis. Keeping your inflammation levels low as best as possible is the key for maximizing your health and this spice can help. 

Antioxidant Support 

Another benefit you’ll get from using turmeric in your plan is a high degree of antioxidant support. Antioxidants are compounds that protect against free radical damage, which can also lead to various diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants help combat the free radicals that lead to oxidation, which is essentially the process of aging. By taking a higher level of antioxidants each day, you’ll be doing your part to combat aging. 

Enhanced Brain Function 

Did you know that a spice could actually improve your cognitive processing ability? It’s true. Turmeric is great for helping to boost brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which helps to keep your brain healthier. When levels begin to drop, there is a direct correlation with an increased risk of depression as well as Alzheimer’s disease. On top of this, those who take turmeric regularly report having a better overall memory capacity compared to those who aren’t taking it. Overall, if you want to keep your cognitive functions working optimally into your older years, turmeric can play a key role. 

Reduced Risk Of Heart Disease 

Another great benefit you can look forward to when getting turmeric into your diet is a lower risk factor for heart disease. We already spoke about how this spice can help to lower inflammation, which in turn reduces your risk of heart disease, however this is not the only way that it does. The first way in which this spice can help is by improving the overall endothelial function, which helps improve the ability of blood to move through the blood vessels. The less work the heart has to do to push the blood through these vessels, the less risk of a heart attack you face. In fact, some research suggests that this spice can work as well as some drugs to achieve the same effect, illustrating how powerful alternative medicine can be. The second way it helps benefit your heart is through reduced levels of inflammation as well as oxidation. Both of these are linked to a higher risk of heart disease so gaining control over that also moves you in the right direction.

Treating Alzheimer’s Disease

If Alzheimer’s disease runs in your family, you’ll want to be taking precautions against its development in yourself as early as you can. Turmeric can help. Since inflammation has a key role in this degenerative condition of the mind, the better you control inflammation, the lower your risk will be. In addition, turmeric may also help to reduce the buildup of amyloid plaques, which are also associated with a higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. While eating turmeric daily won’t necessarily eliminate any risk, it definitely will do its part to help reduce it. 

Lowered Discomfort Due To Arthritis

Finally, if you’re someone who’s suffering from arthritis, you’ll be interested to note that turmeric is one of the best natural treatments for this condition. This is again thanks to the fact that it acts as an anti-inflammatory agent in the body, reducing inflammation and lowering joint pain. This can be applied to those who are suffering from regular arthritis as well as rheumatoid arthritis, so no matter what type of condition you suffer from, consider adding turmeric to your diet plan. Some research has also suggested that curcumin may be more effective at managing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis than anti-inflammatory drugs.

So there you have the key benefits to note about why you should consider adding turmeric to your diet plan. Try using it in scrambled eggs, tossing it over roasted vegetables, stirring it into a rice dish, or using it in a smoothie. There are plenty of ways to get it into your day if you get a little creative in the kitchen.