If you like Superfoods, you will be in love with Turmeric!
Turmeric is not commonly used in the West but its popularity is growing, and for very good reason. In the East, its medicinal properties have been known for a very long time and it is used in Chinese and Indian medicine too.
So why are people so excited about Turmeric?
Does it deserve its place in our SuperFood wall of fame? Let's explore 7 reasons for adding Turmeric to your diet…
1. Turmeric can decrease cholesterol level
The active ingredient in turmeric that is responsible for all of its extraordinary health benefits is curcumin. Curcumin can help to reduce cholesterol level in 3 very powerful ways. First, it prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Second, it helps to boost the functionality of LDL cholesterol and third, it reduces the time cholesterol spends in the blood stream. All of which adds up to dramatically improved cardiovascular health.
2. Decrease the pain from (and the spread of) arthritis
During tests, the curcumin that is found in turmeric was found to be as effective as traditional anti-inflammatory treatment for joint stiffness. Introducing turmeric to your diet can have a substantial impact on the quality of your life, especially if you sufferer with rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, the antioxidant properties found in curcumin will help to wipe out free radicals from the body. Free radicals can be really troublesome for people with arthritis because they cause damage to cell membranes which is one of the main causes of joint pain.
3. Maintains healthy thyroid function
Thyroid problems are very prevalent in todays society and can cause all kinds of issues, including weight gain, thinning hair, dry skin, brittle nails, numbness or tingling in the hands and even constipation. A vital mineral which is essential for correct thyroid function is Manganese. Turmeric is full of Manganese and can help you to make a significant step towards a healthier thyroid. Given the large list of symptoms (and we only touched on a few, there are many many more) that are brought on by a poorly functioning thyroid, its a very good idea for you health, general well-being and future medical expenses to incorporate turmeric to your diet plan.
4. Reduces pain and inflammation
When compared to traditional anti-inflammatories, curcumin (prevalent in turmeric) wins hands down. The compounds that are responsible for pain and inflammation are mediators, and they don't hunt alone! Most medical anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs target a couple of these mediators but curcumin targets dozens! The result… more reliable, natural and more complete pain relief, and non of the horrible side affects associated with traditional drugs!
5. (Very probably) Increases your memory and makes you smarter!
A food that can make you intelligent ? I don't think much else can make something more worthy of the prestigious title 'SuperFood' than its potential to increase your intelligence.
The curcumin in turmeric strengthens brain functioning and reduces the risk of brain disease by promoting the neurotrophic factor. As we grow, neurons make new connections and our capacity to understand and store more information increases. The hormone that facilitates this process is called the brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF). Decreased levels of this hormone are linked to many widespread brain conditions, such as Alzheimers and depression.
Curcumin increases BDNF levels, which will help our brains do what they are intended to do… grow, understand more things and make us wiser, although additional research is needed to verify that we actually do get smarter. An increase of BDNF could also prevent, and maybe even reverse, the affects of many age-related brain functioning conditions.
6. Will help to prevent, and potential even treat, cancer
During lab tests on animals, curcumin (which is found in turmeric) was shown to lower metastasis (the spread of cancer) decrease angiogenesis (the growth of blood vessels in tumors) and even kill cancerous cells. During another study (this time on human beings) curcumin lowered colon lesions in 44 adult males by 40% over 30 days. Although this study was not on men actually suffering from cancer, colon lesions can become cancerous, so it's a significant indication that curcumin may well help protect against cancer.
7. A natural beauty treatment
So far we've talked about some of the fantastic health benefits of turmeric, but did you know it can make you more beautiful as well!
For generations women in Asia have been using turmeric as a natural beauty treatment. Its powerful beautifying qualities have been praised for their power to help reduce acne, treat eczema, eradicate dark circles from under the eyes, decrease the physical appearance of lines and wrinkles, diminish scarring and even remove sun spots.