Top 10 top health benefits of turmeric

Feb 26, 2023 News

Health Facts…

By: Rehanna Ramsay

Kaieteur News – In India, turmeric was traditionally used for disorders of the skin, upper respiratory tract, joints, and the digestive system. Today, turmeric is promoted as a dietary supplement for a variety of conditions, including arthritis, digestive disorders, respiratory infections, allergies, liver disease, depression, and many others.

Here are the top ten health benefits of turmeric.

Protective bioactive compounds

Colourful plant foods are good for your health, thanks to their plant pigments. Turmeric is no exception. Much of the publicity around the spice is due to curcumin, the main active component which makes up about 3% of the root by weight. Although an impressive constituent, curcumin is just one of the hundreds of bioactive compounds found in turmeric.

Has antioxidant properties

The value of protective compounds like curcumin is that they help the body combat the damaging effects of cell oxidation. Over time, this process may lead to chronic inflammation and, as a result, age-related conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer may occur.

Including protective antioxidant foods in your diet makes the body better placed to cope with ageing and its associated inflammation. It also helps with exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness.

May help ease arthritis

Studies comparing the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric with those of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) have shown great promise. Animal studies exploring curcumin’s therapeutic potential as a treatment for arthritis have also been encouraging.

Nevertheless, more well-designed clinical trials are needed to determine the efficacy of curcumin for arthritis patients, particularly those who rely on NSAIDS to manage their condition.

May support those with Alzheimer’s or dementia

Another active ingredient in turmeric is turmerone. Although less is known about turmerone, studies suggest it may be useful for treating conditions such as stroke and Alzheimer’s disease, since it helps trigger cell repair and may potentially support the recovery of brain function.

However, these studies typically involve animal and cell models only, and because the active constituents of turmeric are often poorly absorbed in humans, more research is needed before it can establish how beneficial turmerone may be.

May lower the risk of cardiovascular disease

Studies suggest the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin may protect against some of the steps inherent in the development of heart disease, such as helping balance cholesterol levels.

May support the immune system

According to studies, curcumin may act as an immune system modulator, influencing important immune cells; these include T cells, B cells and natural killer cells. In addition, curcumin appears to down-regulate pro-inflammatory cytokines, compounds whose prolonged activity can lead to the damage caused by inflammation.

When consumed at low doses, curcumin may also enhance antibody responses, helping us fight off infection. Animal studies suggest it may even play a role in controlling allergic conditions such as hay fever.

May help prevent cancer

Curcumin also appears to lead to a number of cellular changes that may help in the fight against cancer. Active at different stages of cancer development, studies suggest curcumin may help limit the growth of new blood vessels in tumours, reduce the spread of cancer and contribute to the death of cancer cells.

May boost mood

Once again, it is curcumin that may be responsible for helping the spice lift your mood and alleviate some of the symptoms of depression. One study examining its anti-depressive effects found that curcumin was as effective as the drug, Prozac.

There’s also a suggestion that curcumin may boost feel-good brain chemicals, including the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine.

May help with memory

Animal studies suggest that curcumin increases the levels of a brain hormone called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This helps promote the life of nerve cells and plays an important role in memory and learning.

More human studies are needed to fully investigate these benefits, but initial findings look promising.

May have anti-ageing properties

Curcumin may help slow the ageing process by activating certain proteins and protecting cells from damage. Thus, it may delay the progression of age-related conditions and alleviate the associated symptoms.