Turmeric (botanical name Curcuma longa) is that spice that adds the yellow and tang to your cuisine. Turmeric is an important part of Asian cuisine, especially Indian. But this delicious spice isn’t just a bit of seasoning that delights your taste buds. Turmeric is known to have medicinal qualities. Let’s look at four of them.
#1 Turmeric is an Anti-cancer Agent
Curcumin is the chemical that gives turmeric its characteristic yellow color. This compound is the subject of a lot of intensive medical research, which has shown that it prevents the activity of an enzyme that is known to be related to cancer growth in the head and neck. A study showed that 21 cancer patients tumors in the head and neck responded positively when they consumed two 1 gram tablets of curcumin.
#2 Turmeric Fights Alzheimer’s
A study also looked at curcumin’s capability to fight Alzheimer’s. Researchers noted in their paper that Alzheimer’s disease was 4.4 times more likely to occur among North Americans aged between 70 and 79, as compared to similar-aged people in India. The paper noted that Indian cuisine was rich in turmeric, and therefore in curcumin. This has always been known is the Siddha system of medicine, an indigenous medical system in the south Indian region of Tamil Nadu. Turmeric, along with other spices such as black pepper and ginger are used extensively to treat various medical issues.
#3 Turmeric Helps Keep Colds and Blocked Nostrils Away
Among the many health benefits of turmeric, probably the most commonly used medicinal property is its capacity to keep phlegm out of one’s nostrils. Turmeric when mixed with black pepper corns and honey is a potent mix that keeps colds at bay. Roughly crush 10 black pepper corns. Mix two spoons of honey with turmeric and soak the pepper corns overnight in this mixture. Consume this “brew” in the morning and chew well on the roughly crushed pepper.
#4 Turmeric has Anti-oxidant and Anti-inflammatory properties
A research paper that reviewed the current state of research on turmeric’s benefits concluded that turmeric was “solid gold.” According to them, turmeric has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Besides, as already noted above, it has anticancer properties, as well as antioxidant properties. Turmeric can help handle several chronic ailments such as diabetes and arthritis, besides Alzheimer’s disease.
Curcumin extracts are easily available in the market today. However, these are not meant for casual consumption and are supposed to be taken as part of a medical regimen. To ensure that you get curcumin in your body, it is best to include a bit of turmeric in your cuisine every day.
