Last Updated on August 16, 2022 by Renee’
We’ve all been hearing lately how wonderful Turmeric is and about all its amazing health benefits!
I have been using Turmeric now for several years due to its anti-inflammatory benefits.
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. A couple of years ago I was having a lot of joint pain & having a hard time getting around. Just getting in and out of the car was difficult. I honestly believe that changing my diet & adding supplements, herbs, & spices like Turmeric have helped tremendously.
I decided over 5 years ago to try to heal myself through more natural ways after being diagnosed with Sjogren’s & RA. I already had Hashimoto’s.
I haven’t taken anything for pain in over 5 years, not even ibuprofen or Tylenol. And I did not want to be one of those people that have to take a handful of meds every day just to get out of bed.
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric is an orange/yellow-colored aromatic spice from India. It is a member of the ginger family and has been a staple in Southeast Asian & Middle Eastern cooking for thousands of years.
Turmeric’s active ingredient is Curcumin.
Turmeric is probably the most effective nutritional supplement in existence and has been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes.
Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines use Turmeric to treat infections and inflammations both inside and outside the body. Western medical doctors are finally beginning to recognize Turmeric’s many health benefits.
Turmeric contains a broad range of antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Turmeric also contains a variety of nutrients such as niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, sodium, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc. This is why turmeric is used to treat so many illnesses.
According to WebMD
‘Turmeric is used to treat arthritis, heartburn (dyspepsia), joint pain, stomach pain, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, bypass surgery, hemorrhages, diarrhea, intestinal gas, stomach bloating, loss of appetite, jaundice, liver problems, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome(IBS), gallbladder disorders, high cholesterol, a skin condition called lichen planus, skin inflammation from radiation treatment, and fatigue.
It is also used for headaches, bronchitis, colds, lung infections, fibromyalgia, leprosy, fever, menstrual problems, itchy skin, recovery after surgery, and cancers. Other uses include depression, Alzheimer’s disease, swelling in the middle layer of the eye (anterior uveitis), diabetes, water retention, worms, an autoimmune disease called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), tuberculosis, urinary bladder inflammation, and kidney problems.
Some people apply turmeric to the skin for pain, ringworm, sprains, and swellings, bruising, leech bites, eye infections, acne, inflammatory skin conditions and skin sores, soreness inside of the mouth, infected wounds, and gum disease.”
Taking Tumeric on a regular basis can reduce the number of medications that we take for a broad range of health issues.
10 Amazing Health Benefits of Tumeric:
1- Reduces Blood Sugar
Turmeric has been shown to lower blood sugar & can reverse insulin resistance. It can improve the effects of diabetic medications and can help in controlling the disease.
“In, Biochemistry and Biophysical Research Communications published a study out of Auburn University that explored how supplementing with turmeric can help reverse diabetes. The study discovered that curcumin in turmeric is 400 times more potent than Metformin (a common diabetes drug) in activating AMPK which improves insulin sensitivity which can help reverse Type 2 Diabetes.”
2- Reduces Cholesterol
According to Web MD “High cholesterol research suggests that taking turmeric extract by mouth twice daily for three months reduces total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol, and triglycerides in overweight people with high cholesterol.”
3- Reduces Inflammation
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory traits make it an excellent treatment for arthritis. People with Rheumatoid arthritis who use turmeric regularly noted reduced pain and inflammation around their joints.
Web MD – “Some research shows that taking turmeric extracts, alone or in combination with other herbal ingredients, can reduce pain and improve function in people with osteoarthritis. In some research, turmeric worked about as well as ibuprofen for reducing osteoarthritis pain.”
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4- Prevents Cancer (and may even treat cancer)
Studies have shown that curcumin interferes with cancer development and growth. Studies show that it helps prevent several forms of cancer by interfering with the cellular signaling aspects of the disease. Because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it can prevent breast, stomach, lung, liver, and colon cancers.
Web MD – “In lab tests, curcumin seems to block the growth of certain kinds of tumors. One study showed that turmeric extract containing curcumin could — in some cases — stabilize colorectal cancer that wasn’t helped by other treatments.”
5- Prevents & Treats Alzheimers
Alzheimer’s disease is believed to be caused by excessive inflammation within the brain. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory property removes accumulated plaque and fats in the brain, helping to improve the oxygen flow.
6- Weight Management
Turmeric helps increase the flow of bile, which is important in the breakdown of dietary fat. By taking 1 tsp. of Turmeric at every meal, it has shown to benefit those who want to lose weight.
7- Healing Wounds
Turmeric is used as a natural disinfectant because of its antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Just sprinkle turmeric powder on the affected area. Psoriasis and other skin conditions can also be treated with Turmeric.
8- Helps with Depression
Studies have found that Turmeric boosts moods and may be just as effective in treating depression as Prozac.
9- Improves Digestion
Turmeric’s phytochemicals assist the body’s production of bile. Bile works by breaking down the fatty components of foods.
10- Detoxify’s the Liver
Turmeric detoxifies the blood via its enzymes, and also increases the body’s natural production level of these enzymes. The enzymes work by breaking down and reducing the levels of toxins in the body.
Now you know why we all should be consuming it every day!
How to Take Turmeric/Curcumin
One way to get Turmeric in your diet is to cook it in your food. I like to sprinkle it on cauliflower or other veggies before roasting and sprinkle it on chicken before cooking. You can put it in soups & stews too. Also, make sure you include black pepper & a fat, such as coconut oil, to make sure you are getting the most benefit. This is the Turmeric I buy since I use so much of it. You can get the spice here.
If you don’t want to put it on your food or just like the convenience of supplements, you can buy turmeric/curcumin supplements here, or you can get it from various health food and supplement stores. This is the one I use.
Just make sure you get one with Bioperine (piperine, black pepper), which is the substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2000%. Without the Bioperine (piperine, black pepper), most of the curcumin just passes through your system.
Indian Households keep warm turmeric milk on hand for general medicine. A mixture of milk, turmeric, black pepper & honey. Additional add in’s are ginger, cinnamon & vanilla extract. I use coconut milk.
Pets:
I have a senior rescue German Shepherd that has severe arthritis. I make up a mixture of coconut oil, turmeric, black pepper, raw honey& grass-fed collagen. I give her a spoonful every morning & every evening. When I got her, she could barely move & would yelp in pain. She is so much better now & she tries to keep up my other German Shepherd who acts like a puppy! It has totally improved her quality of life. If you don’t want to make it you can buy a product like this.
Here’s another great way to take your Turmeric every day & get lots of other benefits too!
I drink a Lemon Turmeric Ginger Tea every morning on an empty stomach. This tea is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, anti-inflammatories, antifungals, & antivirals. It is also, a perfect drink for allergies & colds.
LemonTurmeric GingerTea
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-662/turmeric
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/03/02/curcumin-benefits.aspx
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/06/13/the-spice-that-is-better-than-drugs-for-ra.aspx
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23832433
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22407780
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16988474
You have no idea how helpful your article is! Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for the kind words. Glad it helped.
I want to try the tea today! Most of the turmeric drink recipes call for coconut milk and as much as I love coconut milk, those drinks are just a little to…thick or heavy or something.
I know what you mean. I will warn you though. It’s not a pleasant drink. Honey helps. I have actually gotten so used to it, I drink it without the honey. (Only because of the carbs) The benefits are so worth it!