Is Turmeric Good for Your Health?
Turmeric is a spice used as a medicine for centuries in Chinese and Indian herbal traditions. It’s known for its anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to help treat many diseases and conditions. But how effective is turmeric? And what’s the best way to use it? Let’s understand all this, plus how you can incorporate turmeric capsules into your diet if you want to try it out!
A Spice That Has Been Used as a Medicine
It is a spice that has been used as a medicine for centuries in Chinese and Indian herbal traditions. It’s made from Curcuma longa, and its active ingredient is curcumin. As such, it has many health benefits because of its antioxidant properties.
Curcumin Is the Active Ingredient
Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric. It’s a polyphenol that has natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it suitable for your overall health, especially if you want to manage pain or inflammation in your body.
It suppresses a molecule called NF-kB, a transcription factor that regulates the expression of specific genes involved in inflammatory responses. Research has shown that curcumin may help reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
May Help Improve Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
The spice can help reduce joints’ inflammation, leading to increased pain and stiffness. It may also help improve mobility and reduce joint pain. Studies have shown that turmeric reduces symptoms such as morning stiffness and joint swelling, improves overall function and reduces the need for other medications in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Although more research is needed before doctors recommend turmeric capsules for rheumatoid arthritis, adding this spice to your diet could be beneficial if you’re suffering from this condition.
May Help in the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
One of the most promising areas of research regarding this spice involves IBS. Research has shown that curcumin may help reduce symptoms in people with IBS and may be as effective as some medications for this condition. IBS is a disorder that makes the digestion of food difficult and causes abdominal pain, bloating and changes in bowel habits. It affects up to 10% of people worldwide.
May Slow Down the Growth of Cancer Cells
A few small studies have found that taking turmeric capsules or eating foods containing this spice can help prevent, treat, or even slow the growth of some types of cancer. One study in mice found that curcumin helped stop cancer from spreading to other parts of their bodies.
It is also rich in antioxidants, chemicals that protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals and toxins in your body. It’s thought that antioxidants may play an essential role in preventing many types of cancer.
May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
Studies have shown that turmeric can reduce the number of amyloid plaques in the brain and beta-amyloid proteins in the brain. Amyloid plaques are sticky clusters of proteins that build up between nerve cells.
They’re associated with Alzheimer’s disease, although it’s not clear whether they cause the condition or just occur along with it. Beta-amyloid proteins are also linked to Alzheimer’s disease, but they aren’t as harmful as amyloids; they’re more like an early warning sign for the disease.
Turmeric has been used for centuries in Chinese and Indian herbal traditions, but it’s only recently become popular in Western countries. Scientists have discovered many ways in which turmeric may be useful as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant or cancer-preventing agent.
