Despite how widely used it is, there are still a lot of things about turmeric that you definitely don't know. Everything you need to know about this fantastic spice and how to use it will be covered in the list that follows.
HISTORY OF TURMERIC
The spice turmeric is made from the root of the tropical Indian plant Curcuma longa.In South Asia, turmeric has long been utilized as a traditional remedy. The plant's rhizome, which is a component, was most frequently utilized. It was widely used to treat coughs and asthma and could be prepared in a number of different ways. To lessen inflammation, hot water extracts were administered internally. Additionally, ulcers, jaundice, and hepatic blockage were all treated with turmeric.
Turmeric was employed for cultural and spiritual goals in addition to medical ones. Before the wedding ceremony, brides frequently had turmeric applied to them as a good luck charm because it was thought to bring fertility and prosperity.
Turmeric roots may have also been given as gifts on special occasions, such as when visiting a pregnant woman.
TURMERIC AND CURCUMIN
Many websites use the words “turmeric” and “curcumin” in a way that makes it seem like they are one in the same, making it difficult to specify precisely what each of these words actually mean.
Turmeric is the spice that is derived from the root of the plant Curcuma longa. Turmeric, like all plants, have phytonutrients, and one of its most beneficial and popular substances found in turmeric is called curcumin.
Curcumin is responsible for many of the health benefits granted by turmeric, including its ability to reduce inflammation, its assistance in relieving symptoms of arthritis and its protection against skin diseases, and possibly even Alzheimer’s.
Although many people use the words turmeric and curcumin interchangeably, it is important to note that curcumin is just one substance among many others in turmeric that make it such a beneficial spice.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF TURMERIC
Many of the health benefits provided by turmeric have been scientifically proven by studying the effects of curcumin. These include:
- Protecting cardiovascular health
- Preventing diabetes
- Treating depression
- Reducing inflammation
- Treating asthma
It’s pretty obvious that curcumin provides numerous health benefits that can help treat symptoms caused by a variety of disorders.
The fact that it can be found in turmeric makes it even more beneficial due to its nutritious properties. Turmeric is a good source of vitamin C and vitamin B6 and is also abundant in magnesium, dietary fibre, potassium and manganese.
Now that you have a basic overview of the history and nutritional information about turmeric, let’s look at the health disorders that turmeric can treat.
Turmeric For Alzheimer’s
According to a study conducted by the Indian Academy of Neurology, curcumin seemed to be a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
However, curcumin alone may not be the only reason turmeric can be useful for treating Alzheimer’s. A study found that a compound in turmeric called aromatic-turmerone can increase the amount of neural stem cells of the person consuming it, which makes it useful for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Turmeric For Arthritis
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties come into play when it comes to relieving symptoms of arthritis. The curcumin found in turmeric blocks inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, which may explain why it helps prevent joint inflammation in arthritis.
Studies found that patients with osteoarthritis have improvement in pain reduction and movement after taking a turmeric supplement called Meriva.
Turmeric For Cancer
Turmeric has been shown to be fairly effective at killing cancerous tumor cells. According to a study conducted by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, curcumin inhibits the growth of tumors by killing tumor cells through a variety of steps.
It is also an extremely effective chemotherapy alternative due to the fact that it does not damage normal cells like chemotherapy does, it targets only the cancerous cells.
Turmeric For Depression
Turmeric is a natural and effective anti-depressant. According to a study conducted by the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, curcumin was effective in reducing depressive symptoms caused by chronic stress. They found that this was due to the fact that curcumin naturally restored levels of serotonin and dopamine.
ENHANCING TURMERIC NATURALLY
Unfortunately curcumin, the most beneficial compound in turmeric, is not very “bioavailable”, meaning it is hard for our bodies to digest it. This is because our bodies metabolize curcumin so quickly that our digestive system can’t get the full benefits from it.
This is why you should always consume turmeric with black pepper. Piperine, a compound found in black pepper, makes our bodies more efficient at digesting nutrients and also slows down the digestive properties.
This works perfectly as it gives your body enough time to digest the curcumin and also makes your body more efficient at digesting it, ensuring you get the full benefits from your turmeric.
How Much Turmeric To Take Daily
There is a lot of confusion surrounding how much turmeric a person should take on a daily basis to optimally benefit from all of this root’s healing properties. Most of this stems from the variety of different ways it can be taken. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends these dosages.
The following doses are recommended for adults:
- Cut root: 1.5 to 3 g per day
- Dried, powdered root: 1 to 3 g per day
- Standardized powder (curcumin): 400 to 600 mg, 3 times per day
- Fluid extract (1:1) 30 to 90 drops a day
- Tincture (1:2): 15 to 30 drops, 4 times per day
Cardiovascular Health: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22481014
Diabetes: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22773702
Depression: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23832433
Inflammation: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15489888
Asthma: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22888226
Turmeric for Alzheimer’s: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2781139/
Turmeric for Arthritis: http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/natural/supplements-herbs/guide/turmeric.php
Piperine: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9619120
Dosage recommendations: http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/turmeric