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Here Is How Turmeric May Help Improve Your Health
By: Priyanka Maheshwari Tue, 30 Mar 2021 1:13:47
Turmeric has long been valued for its health-promoting properties, which are now backed by scientific evidence.
The stems of turmeric are often dried and made into teas and extracts or powdered into capsules, tablets, and paste.
When used in cooking, it is best to combine turmeric with some sort of fat, such as oil, butter, nuts, or avocado, and peppercorns, to improve its absorption in the body.
This spice also helps prevent the loss of beta-carotene from other vegetables such as carrots and pumpkin during the cooking process.
# Wound healing
Applying turmeric to a wound can help sanitize the site and enhance tissue formation, collagen deposition, tissue remodeling, and wound contraction.
Turmeric was also found useful in speeding up skin healing after a Caesarean section without causing any adverse effects.
More research is needed to determine the ideal curcumin formulation for aiding the repair of skin wounds.
# Weight management
Curcumin interacts with white adipose tissue, often thought to be the unhealthy fat store in the body, and suppresses inflammation caused by obesity.
A study found that curcumin helped with the overall weight loss, loss of body fat, and reduction of weight circumference in those that had already successfully lost weight from following a healthy diet and exercising.
# Arthritis relief
Free radicals damage body cells and induce inflammation, which lies at the crux of degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Turmeric is replete with antioxidants that can help inhibit free radical activity and thereby curb the swelling and pain associated with such inflammatory conditions.
One study compared its analgesic effects to standard painkillers, including ibuprofen and diclofenac sodium, minus the harmful side effects.
# Diabetes control
Some studies found that turmeric may help moderate insulin levels and improve glucose control in patients with diabetes or pre-diabetes when taken in appropriate amounts. It may also help improve insulin resistance, which is a precursor for type 2 diabetes.
# Proper digestion
Turmeric can stimulate your gallbladder to produce more bile to improve fat metabolism and overall digestion. This digestive aid helps reduce flatulence, bloating, and other discomforting symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.
# Skin benefits
The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of turmeric make it useful in the treatment of various skin problems such as acne and psoriasis.
It is also credited with anti-neoplastic properties that inhibit the development of skin tumors.
# Cholesterol reduction
One study found that the curcumin found in turmeric has anti-inflammatory effects and may help to lower cholesterol levels. These properties promote heart health.
# Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease
Inflammation and plaque buildup in the brain can lead to cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The curcuminoids in turmeric may be useful against Alzheimer’s disease.
# Liver disease prevention
Turmeric can help with the oxidation processes in various liver disorders, such as liver toxicity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver fibrosis.