Turmeric – Health Benefits, Uses, and Side effects
Turmeric is a very popular spice that is obtained from the turmeric plant. This spice is very commonly used in foods in Asia. It has a warm character and tastes bitter. Turmeric is frequently used to add flavour or colour in butter, mustards, curry powders, and cheeses.
Despite adding flavours in food items this spice also has several medicinal properties. The yellow colour of turmeric results from chemical named curcumin present in it and that is why turmeric is used to add colour in food and cosmetics.
Health Benefits of Turmeric:
Turmeric Comprises Bioactive Compounds with Powerful Medicinal Properties.
It contains curcuminoid compounds and curcumin is the most important of them. Curcumin has strong anti-inflammatory effects and is also a very powerful antioxidant. Curcumin is a fat-soluble chemical which makes it ideal to be taken with a fatty meal.
Turmeric has natural anti-inflammatory properties
Inflammation is a very important characteristic in a body as it helps to fight the foreign pathogens and repairs the damage by itself.
Without inflammation, the body is prone to several pathogens and invaders. Turmeric has strong inflammatory properties that benefit your immune system.
Turmeric also contains powerful antioxidants
Ageing and many other diseases are caused by oxidative damage. Oxidative components have free radicals that are highly reactive molecules with free electrons.
These free radicals can react with several organic substances, for instance, the proteins, fatty acids, or DNA. Having an antioxidant protects the body against these free radicals. The chemical structure of turmeric can easily neutralize the free radicals and boosts the antioxidant enzymes present in the body.
Consumption of turmeric boosts the brain function
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a growth hormone that functions in the brain. Several brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and depression are caused because of the decreased levels of BDNF.
Consumption of turmeric and curcumin present in it helps to boost this hormone and improve the mental health on several levels. It also helps to boost memory. It also lowers the risk of several brain-related diseases and delays the process of ageing on your brain.
Lowers the risk of heart disease
The endothelium is a lining on blood vessels which regulates the blood pressure, improve blood clotting and other major functions in the body. One of the major reason for heart disease is the malfunctioning of the endothelium.
Consumption of turmeric boosts endothelium which helps to lower the risk of heart diseases in humans.
Pain Relief
Turmeric is very effective in relieving pain in the body. This is a very known medicine when it comes to treating arthritis pain. It is also a very effective pain reliever for joints and fractures. Improve liver function. It has been already established that turmeric contains strong antioxidant properties.
This antioxidant effect of turmeric is very powerful that it helps your liver from getting damaged by toxins. If turmeric is included in daily use then it also helps to control diabetes and several other health conditions that hurt the liver.
Reduces the risk of cancer
Turmeric contains curcumin which is a beneficial herb for cancer treatment. It affects the development and growth of cancer at the molecular level.
Studies have shown that the consumption of turmeric has contributed towards the death of cancerous cells and reduced the metastasis. Hence consumption of turmeric daily can reduce the chances of getting cancer.
Improve the digestion
Despite adding flavour to the food turmeric also promotes healthy digestion in your body. Turmeric has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that contribute to a healthy digestion system.
Reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s
When it comes to neurodegenerative diseases Alzheimer’s is the most popular among them which further leads to dementia. Therefore we must prevent it from happening in the first place.
Consumption of curcumin in turmeric prove to be beneficial because of its antioxidant properties for Alzheimer’s disease. It also helps in preventing depression.
Uses of Turmeric:
Brighten your pearly white teeth
All the turmeric is known majorly for its staining properties it is very much used to make a natural toothpaste of your own. All you need to do is use turmeric powder while brushing your teeth. Turmeric removes the yellowness from your teeth and will make them shine.
Customise your Foundation with Turmeric
Turmeric has always been known for its cosmetic properties that make your skin glow. You can use a little bit of turmeric with your moisturizer and apply it on your skin to give it a similar effect as that of foundation.
Spice it up with your soap
If you are someone who is too much into DIY then you can use lots and lots of turmeric in your homemade soap which will give you several benefits for your skin.
Reduce the sprain strain
Turmeric is used to reduce the pain caused by straining your muscles in the body. You can make a paste of turmeric and salt by using equal halves of both and adding them with water enough to spread on the area causing pain.
Wrap the area with an old cloth and tighten it. Leave it for 20 minutes to 1 hour so that the pain is relieved. Try this on a daily purpose for the affected area and you will find the change rapidly.
Used to Dye your tees
Turmeric has powerful stain properties. So if you want to dye your t-shirt all yellow then all you need to do is add 3 tablespoons of turmeric to boiling water and let it simmer for 20 minutes. You will find your yellow dye ready in no time.
Make for yourself some longevity tea
We are well aware of the medicinal properties of the turmeric. You can make longevity tea to help you prevent the illness. All you need to do is take ground turmeric and add it in boiling water. Let it simmer for 10 minutes and add honey, lemon, or ginger as per taste.
Side effects of Turmeric
As every good thing in the world comes with benefits there are also side effects of using them extensively. If you think using turmeric extensively will keep you away from all the illness then have a look at the following side effects of using turmeric.
Excessive turmeric upsets the stomach
Excessive use of turmeric can heal the body and can increase the level of inflammation-causing abdominal cramps and pain.
Risks the development of kidney stones
Oxalates present in turmeric can risk the development of kidney stones is consumed excessively. These oxides react with the calcium and bind to form calcium oxalate which can result in kidney stones s calcium oxalate is insoluble.
Causes nausea and vomiting
Curcumin is present in turmeric which can temper with your gastrointestinal health. Excessive consumption of curcumin can irritate you and cause nausea and vomiting.
Iron deficiency
When turmeric is consumed excessively it can hamper the inhibition of iron in the body causing iron deficiency in the body.