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Turmeric is a spiced root that does much more than taste food. You should put a pinch of turmeric in practically anything you eat.
Turmeric comes from the Curcuma longa plant. It's a root, like ginger. They're close cousins from the same family. Turmeric is knobby but smaller than ginger, with a bright gold-orange hue. This deep colour indicates that turmeric has a lot of curcumin.
It is an ancient spice that Asian medicinal practitioners have used for ages, notably to treat toothaches, bruises, and other minor ailments.
It's also a key element in curry, the spice blend that takes centre stage in dishes bearing the same name. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) also prove that turmeric has various health benefits. Take a look!
5 Benefits Of Turmeric To Look
1. Turmeric May Help Alleviate Symptoms Of Osteoarthritis
Turmeric has significant anti-inflammatory qualities that make it a potentially safe and effective long-term therapeutic choice for osteoarthritis (OA) patients. That was the conclusion reached by the authors of a review of curcumin's clinical application in the treatment of osteoarthritis. According to NIH, in a previous trial, patients with osteoarthritis who took 1,000 mg of Meriva daily reported significant improvements in stiffness and physical function after eight months, while the control group saw no changes. Meriva is a proprietary treatment containing a natural curcuminoid mixture.
2. Curcumin May Help Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
Turmeric has shown potential as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) due to the presence of curcumin too, confirmed by NIH. This chronic inflammatory disease mostly affects the joints but can spread to the eyes, lungs, skin, heart, and blood vessels. RA produces severe swelling of the joints, which can cause bone deterioration over time, eventually leading to deformities and impairments. In one research held by NIH, patients with RA received 500 mg of curcumin, 50 mg of diclofenac sodium (a prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine), or both in combination seemed to improve.
3. Turmeric May Enhance Skin Health
Turmeric's anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant qualities make it potentially useful for various skin disorders, including acne, eczema (atopic dermatitis), photoaging, and psoriasis. However, robust research is missing. One evaluation suggests that oral curcumin, in particular, may be an effective and safe therapy option for psoriasis (a chronic inflammatory skin disease). Still, additional research is needed before clinicians can make recommendations.
4. Turmeric May Work As An Anti-ageing Supplement
There is currently no evidence that turmeric or curcumin directly influences longevity. Still, some previous research suggests that turmeric and curcumin may be effective anti-ageing supplements due to their ability to fight inflammation, protect the body from free radicals, and potentially delay brain degeneration and other age-related diseases. Studies also indicate that turmeric and curcumin are generally safe, while some undesirable side effects (diarrhoea, headache, rash) have been documented at doses ranging from 500 to 12,000 mg.
5. Turmeric May Prevent Eye Degeneration
Glaucoma, a set of eye disorders, is one of the main causes of blindness among persons over 60. Unfortunately, once your vision is lost, it cannot be recovered. A preliminary study suggests topical curcumin from turmeric may help protect the eyes from deterioration. Researchers gave rats a unique curcumin eye drop solution twice daily for three weeks. By the end of the trial, the untreated rats had a 23% drop in retinal cells compared to the treatment group, indicating that the curcumin treatment stopped the loss.
Now that you know about the benefits of Turmeric why not make a healthy decision to add it a little every day? The spice is best for new tastes too!
