Health Benefits & Uses of Turmeric

Turmeric is a very popular spice across the globe, especially in India, where it has been an integral part of cultural cooking for generations. Although turmeric has long been said to hold a vast array of health properties, it is only in recent years that the true benefits of this ancient spice have come to light. Turmeric contains a compound commonly known as curcumin, it is this key substance that is responsible for many of the known benefits of the herb.

Top 10 benefits of eating turmeric:

• Control blood sugar levels – A new study recently published in the journal of nutritional biochemistry as confirmed that turmeric is able to protect type 2 diabetes sufferings from pathological states linked to heart disease and other issues.  

• Ease joint pain and arthritic conditions – Curcumin a substance found in turmeric acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory within our bodies, in addition the antioxidant properties of turmeric help to reduce the amount of free radicals in our system.

• Lower cholesterol throughout the body – unfortunately most of the studies looking into the benefits of turmeric have been carried out on animals so far, but the tests have been showing positive results, the first human trials are set to start later in the year.

• Increase healing times for wounds and cuts – turmeric when mixed into a paste and applied to open cuts of wounds can actively speed up healing times as well as reduce the chances of tissue scaring. The anti bacterial and anti viral properties of the herb help to keep the area free from infection while the area heals over.

• Help to strengthen the immune system – Researchers have recently been able to show that curcumin (the active ingredient found in turmeric) is able to triple our body's front line defense against viral and bacterial infections.

• Improve digestion – Turmeric has been used to treat digestion issues in Chinese and ancient Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, and for good reason. Turmeric power when mixed with water acts as a digestive bitter that can both aid in digestion and cleanse the liver of toxins.

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