Turmeric health benefits

Turmeric is an East Indian curry spice that has been used for thousands of years by both the Egyptian and Indian cultures to treat many diseases and ailments. It is also used as a spice for food and as yellow food coloring as well. The active ingredient in Turmeric is Curcumin. Curcumin has been derived from Turmeric and is available as a nutritional supplement on its own.

One of the biggest benefits that has been linked to using Turmeric in the diet is its antioxidant abilities. Turmeric has long been used in history for its ability to restore the body and to give the body additional immunity to disease and prevent premature aging. Recent clinical trials have shown that the active ingredient in Turmeric, Curcumin is indeed a very powerful antioxidant and has even been successful when used in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells in vitro. Curcumin in addition to inhibiting the growth of cancer cells in several studies has also showed promise in reducing the multiplication of malignant cells in mice in some studies.

What this means for the average person is that this spice is beneficial in the fight against those free radicals or pollutants that our body is exposed to on a daily basis. These free radicals break down our cells and make our bodies much more susceptible to disease and premature aging. Antioxidants such as Turmeric help us to prevent these free radicals from damaging our cells and keep our bodies in top condition. They also help our bodies prevent certain other diseases in the future such as heart and cardiovascular disease.

Another excellent benefit that Turmeric brings with regular consumption is its anti-inflammatory abilities. This spice has long been used in history to treat diseases that work on the premise of the inflammatory process. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two well known diseases that work on this premise that have been treated successfully by holistic practitioners in the past with this supplement. Clinical research has shown that the active ingredient in turmeric has the same amount of anti-inflammatory properties as some of the most powerful prescription medications on the market today. The edge that Turmeric has over prescription medications is that it has few if any side effects and does not require a prescription for usage.

Other diseases that work on inflammatory responses have been known to respond positively to Turmeric as well. Researchers have looked at using Curcumin to help prevent such diseases as Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis. Other studies have shown that this supplement may be beneficial to children who have Cystic Fibrosis as well.

Turmeric has also been shown during history in holistic medicine to be beneficial as an antiseptic and antibacterial agent. There have been many cases where it has been used for wounds to speed the healing process and to reduce the chance of infection of those wounds. It has also been used on burns and other skin lesions. There is some research now that is suggestive that Turmeric may be beneficial in the battle that a lot of people have with psoriasis. This skin condition is very hard to treat in most cases and a lot of people suffer with this for years on end with little or no relief.

Turmeric is available as a nutritional supplement in both powder and pill form. It can be purchased at health food stores, your local pharmacy or at some holistic health care practices. The only side effects that have been documented or reported with this supplement have been mild gastrointestinal issues such as indigestion, nausea and diarrhea upon first taking the supplement. It is suggested to take this with food to reduce these side effects. Most people report that these side effects go away after taking the supplement over time. Turmeric or Curcumin can increase bleeding times so it should not be taken by anyone that has problems with bleeding. This is true for anyone taking any type of anticoagulant drug as well. Any person who has any type of chronic illness should check with their physician prior to starting any type of nutritional supplement or holistic treatment to make sure that it is safe for them to do so.

Last updated on Aug 16th, 2010 and filed under Alternative Medicine. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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