6 Reasons to Eat or Supplement with Tumeric
This mustard yellow herb contains bioactive compounds that have powerful medicinal properties used for thousands of years in India. The research you’ll find turmeric mostly focuses on its antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties due to the main ingredient, curcumin, but there’s much more to this member of the ginger family.
Avoid colds and flu and stay healthy Probably the most popular use of turmeric is for protecting your immunity, and studies show that turmeric stimulates your immune system to fight drug resistant strains of the flu. I regularly make my family a cup of turmeric tea. during the cold and flu season.
Feel less arthritis pain A recent study from investigators in China, found that turmeric extracts can be recommended for relieving symptoms of arthritis, especially pain from osteoarthritis. Compared to the gastrointestinal issues that can be caused by more commonly reached for pain relievers such as ibuprofen, turmeric offers a solution that is not only easy on your digestion, it’s good for it.1
Keep your memory and focus sharp Studies in mice show that curcumin, the main ingredient in turmeric, blocks the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and research of Indian populations (they eat a lot of turmeric) show lower rates of Alzheimer’s compared to those that don’t get the herb.2
Stay cancer-free While not a vaccine against all cancers, turmeric—also known as Indian saffron—does appear to have inhibitory effects on cancer cells, according to 2017 research from collaborators at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China, Harvard University, and the University of Toronto.3 Other research has also shown that there are lower rates of certain types of cancer in countries where people eat higher levels of turmeric.4
Boost your mood Recent evidence shows promising results for using curcumin supplements for treating the blues. One study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that patients suffering depression who received curcumin improved better than those who received a placebo.5 In another study, researchers from China, had patients with depression take an antidepressant, and either take a placebo or curcumin with the medication for six weeks, and found that those taking the herb with the antidepressants improved significantly on a depression rating scale, compared to those taking the placebo.6
Reduce indigestion Turmeric reduces bloating and gas in people who suffer from indigestion, and The German Commission E, which regulates safe herbs in Germany, has approved turmeric for digestive problems.7
Recommendation: Adults can take 400 to 600 mg of turmeric three times a day. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, used in Ayurvedic medicine. A great warming drink to have at night, you can mix turmeric with other ingredients to
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1Curcumin, inflammation, and chronic diseases: how are they linked?
He Y, Yue Y, Zheng X, Zhang K, Chen S, Du Z
Molecules. 2015 May 20; 20(5):9183-213.
2https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2781139/
3https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29088758
4https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4603973/
5Lopresti AL, Maes M, Maker GL, et al. Curcumin for the treatment of major depression: A randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study. J Affect Dis. 2014; 167:368-375.
6Yu JJ, Pei LB, Zhang Y, et al. Chronic supplementation of curcumin enhances the efficacy of antidepressants in major depressive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015;35(4):406-410.