Benefits of Turmeric Has a Long History
In a study conducted in 2013, it was found that turmeric is just as effective as well as a safer alternative to treating major depressive disorder (MDD). This study provides first clinical evidence that curcumin may be used as an effective and safe modality for treatment in patients with MDD without concurrent suicidal ideation or other psychotic disorders. This miracle spice just won’t stop being in the limelight and rightly so!
Turmeric has been an active component for countless generations in the field of medicine in ancient civilizations like India, China and Egypt.
Turmeric – the Unsung "Miracle Spice" Hero!
Other than this recent discovery, there has been a lot of promotions for the numerous health benefits of turmeric. One of the most important components in turmeric is curcumin, which is responsible for adding the yellow-orange tinge to it. But other than the color, curcumin has several helpful attributes like anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, has a debilitating effect on diabetes, aids indigestion and proven relief against osteoarthritis.
Turmeric has also found its way into the cosmetic and skincare sector too! There are multiple uses of turmeric and there are many ways to consume this magical spice.
Turmeric Helps Maintain Healthy Cholesterol
Cholesterol can be classified as both good (HDL or High density lipoprotein) and bad (LDL or Low density lipoprotein). High amounts of cholesterol in the body is a palpable risk as this increases the levels of LDL, which is the major cholesterol type as compared to the HDL. High LDL levels in the blood leads to the build-up of plaque in blood vessels, causing atherosclerosis (the hardening and narrowing of arteries), which will inevitably lead to heart diseases.
Curcumin helps in the metabolism of bad cholesterol which allows the liver to process LDL without allow for it to circulate freely in the body.
Download the 6 Scientifically Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric Helps Senior Citizens and Those Suffering From Arthritis
With advancing age, the human body’s capability to sustain its health becomes severely limited. And one of the most common challenges that senior citizens face is mobility. Symptoms range from tenderness, swelling of joints, inflammation of joints and restricted movements.
The curcumin found in turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties which makes it a natural ally for those suffering from arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions.
A three-month trial in Italy involving 50 patients showed that there was a 58% decrease in reported pain and stiffness! Moreover, the patients also showed improvements in their mobility and physical functioning. Given that there are zero side effects, the team also observed that these patients were able to reduce their dependency on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication by 63%!
Turmeric Helps With Type 2 Diabetes
Simply put, diabetes is the body’s inability to process and regulate blood sugar levels. Nature’s answer to this condition is insulin’s ability to mobilize the glucose from the blood to the muscles, fat and liver cells.
In Type 2 diabetics, since sugar does not metabolize, it turns to fat, which in turn leads to increase in bad cholesterol levels in the body.
A study on the effects of curcumin in Type 2 Diabetes in Japan concluded,
These results indicate that turmeric is a promising ingredient of functional food for the prevention and/or amelioration of type 2 diabetes and that curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and ar-turmerone mainly contribute to the effects via PPAR-gamma activation.
Studies on turmeric have been carried out for ages and the effects widely popular for a variety of ailments. With modern equipment and technology, we are able to better decipher and understand the many benefits of this miracle spice.
So, there are enough studies to show that turmeric helps control blood sugar. If that is so, then turmeric milk, an age-old remedy for wellness in India, is a good choice for diabetics.
Turmeric milk benefit for diabetes is by way of reduced glucose level thanks to the curcumin content in turmeric. Curcumin is a natural chemical found in turmeric. Add black pepper along with turmeric when you make turmeric milk – it will help absorption of curcumin. No honey or sweetener is to be added to get turmeric milk benefit for diabetes.
We at Zizira procure a turmeric variety called Lakadong turmeric which is a speciality of Meghalaya and has very high curcumin content – around 6% or more. We source them directly from a network of farmers we work with. And we process the turmeric under our supervision. So, we can guarantee quality and authenticity of the Lakadong turmeric powder we sell.
Explore our stories about Lakadong turmeric farmers and more.
Fortunately for us in India, we use turmeric as part of our daily intake in the form of curries and dal besides its uses in skincare and cosmetology. Do you know any interesting health benefits of turmeric? Share it with us.