Ground turmeric is also a major ingredient in curry powder. Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric, and it has powerful biological properties. Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional Indian system of treatment, recommends turmeric for a variety of health conditions.
These include chronic pain and inflammation. Western medicine has begun to study turmeric as a pain reliever and healing agent. This article explores the nutritional content of turmeric, how it might benefit health, as well as some of its negative side effects. That same 1-tbsp serving provides:. While turmeric is a flavorsome spice that is nutritious to consume, it has also traditionally been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory conditions, skin diseases, wounds, digestive ailments, and liver conditions.
The Arthritis Foundation cites several studies in which turmeric has reduced inflammation. This anti-inflammatory ability might reduce the aggravation that people with arthritis feel in their joints.
The foundation suggests taking turmeric capsules of to milligrams mg up to three times per day for inflammation relief. Turmeric is thought of as a pain reliever. The spice is reputed to relieve arthritis pain as well. Studies seem to support turmeric for pain relief, with one study noting that it seemed to work as well as ibuprofen Advil in people with arthritis in their knees.
Though dosing recommendations seem to vary, those who participated in the study took mg of turmeric in capsule form each day. Turmeric has been getting attention recently because of its antioxidant abilities. The antioxidant effect of turmeric appears to be so powerful that it may stop your liver from being damaged by toxins.
This could be good news for people who take strong drugs for diabetes or other health conditions that might hurt their liver with long-term use. Curcumin shows promise as a cancer treatment. Studies suggest it has protective effects against pancreatic cancer , prostate cancer , and multiple myeloma. Turmeric adds flavor to food, which explains its presence in curry powder. However, turmeric can also play an important role in digesting that food. The spice can contribute to healthy digestion as a result of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Turmeric is used in Ayurvedic medicine as a digestive healing agent. Now Western medicine has begun to study how turmeric can help with gut inflammation and gut permeability, two measures of your digestive efficiency.
Turmeric is even being explored as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. The same agents in turmeric that support digestive health can cause irritation when taken in large amounts. Some participants in studies looking at the use of turmeric for cancer treatment had to drop out because their digestion was so negatively affected.
Turmeric stimulates the stomach to produce more gastric acid. Other suggested benefits of turmeric, such as lowered cholesterol and lowered blood pressure , probably have something to do with the way turmeric functions in your blood.
People who take blood-thinning drugs like warfarin Coumadin should avoid consuming large doses of turmeric. You may have heard that eating foods seasoned with curry can stimulate labor. Because of its blood-thinning effects alone, pregnant women should avoid taking turmeric supplements. It appears that there are health benefits to including turmeric in your diet. The golden spice supports immune health, helps relieve pain, and can aid in digestion, among other things.
But because of some of its side effects, turmeric may not be worth taking for some people. As with any alternative therapy, speak with your doctor before you use turmeric to treat any health condition that you have.
If you want to buy a turmeric or curcumin supplement, then there is an excellent selection online with thousands of great customer reviews. Read the article in Spanish. In this Honest Nutrition feature, we explore the practice of "clean eating," and why this concept has been a controversial one for researchers.
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Home How to Guide Top 5 health benefits of turmeric. What is turmeric? Contains bioactive compounds which have protective properties Colourful plant foods are good for our health because of their plant pigments, and turmeric is no exception.
May help ease arthritis The potential health benefits of turmeric, and curcumin in particular, include better regulation of inflammation in the body. May support cognitive function Another active ingredient in turmeric is turmerone.
May lower the risk of cardiovascular disease Studies suggest that the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin may protect against some of the steps involved in the development of heart disease, including improving cholesterol levels.
May support the immune system Interesting studies suggest curcumin may act as an immune modulator influencing important immune cells including T cells, B cells and Natural Killer cells. Is turmeric safe for everyone? If you are pregnant you should avoid taking medicinal quantities because studies on animals suggest curcumin may alter levels of the hormone oestrogen. That said, enjoying the spice in small amounts, for example in a meal or drink, may be beneficial during pregnancy.
If you have iron deficiency anaemia , avoid turmeric in high quantities. This is because compounds in the spice appear to bind to iron in the gut, making it unavailable for absorption. If you suffer from gallstones, bile duct obstruction or liver disease you should be aware that because turmeric increases bile secretion, including large amounts in your diet may aggravate your symptoms.
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