Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric has been used in South Asia for centuries. From dying your clothes, to adding a little spice in your cooking, it’s medicinal properties and to even beauty regimens; turmeric has an abundance of benefits and is guaranteed not to let you down!
Tumeric + your skin = Best friends for life
While this beautiful spice is a pain to get off of your white countertops it is an absolute miracle for lightening and brightening your skin. Curcumin, the main component in turmeric, is loaded with antioxidants that help to rid the body of free radicals. When applied to the skin, turmeric helps to lighten dark spots caused from sun damage and brightens up the skin for a healthy glow. Patients with psoriasis have shown improvement when using tumeric topically, it decreases the inflammatory process of the disease.
Turmeric’s anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory components both help to treat redness and prevent acne. When used as a mask, it helps to rid the skin of acne prone bacteria while also exfoliating the skin, unclogging the pores and leaving you with a shiny smooth surface.
Inflammation in the body
In many chronic illnesses, inflammation plays a huge role and it’s effects can be debilitating for those who are suffering. Alzheimers disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral injury, cancer, AIDS, allergies, bronchitis, ulcerative colitis, crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis are just some of the chronic illnesses that have shown improvement when exposed to curcumin.
Inflammatory processes begin in the body when certain reacting agents are activated. According to a research study done by the Clinical Cancer Research, curcumin blocks the activation of inflammatory reactors by inhibiting certain enzymes. In the same study it was also shown that curcumin suppresses the activation of tumor cells and promote extermination of viral proteins which assist in the prevention of cancers and viruses.
Tumeric and your heart
If you are worried about your heart health, a diet containing tumeric is vital! Curcumin is linked to the prevention of ischemia in the heart which prevents many cardiovascular diseases and it’s anti-thrombotic effects help to prevent blood clots and strokes. It is also a great contributor in decreasing the bodies cholesterol levels. Curcumin is used to control blood pressure for patients with hypertension and decreases the the heart wall thickening to help prevent heart attacks.
Diabetes
Turmeric lowers the bodies blood glucose levels and promotes the bodies production of insulin. Curcumin also assists in decreasing pain caused by diabetic neuropathy.
Depression
In a study done by Phytotherapy Research, sixty patients suffering from major depression were split into three groups. The first group was given Prozac to treat their depression, the second group was given 1,000mg of curcumin and the third group was given both Prozac and curcumin. After six weeks it was shown that the first group taking the Prozac had the same positive effects as those only taking the curcumin. The group that showed the best improvement was the group that took both the Prozac and the curcumin together.
Side effects
Wash turmeric off the skin thoroughly unless your going for a Simpson’s like glow!