Tumeric and Curcumin

With 6 grams of turmeric yielding 24 calories, 1 gram of protein, and 1 gram of fat, the orange spice from India called Tumeric is a power-packed nutritional spice that is often underutilized. While often only associated with the spices that make Indian food so tasty, turmeric is one of the healthiest spices out there. It has been a staple of cooking in Asia and the Middle east for thousands of years. The spice has a number of health benefits one should consider when hoping to make positive changes in both the short and long-term. Let’s take a glance at some of these critical benefits.

Inflammation and Cancer Prevention

The active ingredient in the spice is Curcumin. It has been shown to lessen inflammation and also to help block the growth of certain cancers. This is especially true of cancers of the mouth and neck.

Antioxidant

Tumeric has shown effectiveness in fighting free radicals which can cause cancer and also in helping to alleviate some of the damage that these free radicals can cause.

Inflammation

Some doctors have called Curcumin one of the best anti-inflammatories available. Studies have shown that use of Curcumin has been effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis.

Kidney Function

Recent research suggests that daily turmeric over a long period of time (several months) can actually help patients with kidney inflammation achieve improved kidney function.

Digestive Benefits

Our gallbladder is partially responsible for making bile which aids the body in digestion. Curcumin has been shown to assist the gallbladder and push it to create more bile. This could lead to relief from IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, and other digestive disorders, including embarrassing gas.

Healthy Heart

Some studies have even shown that in order to prevent the buildup of plaque in the arteries, Curcumin has been taken. The danger of plaque build up is stroke and heart attacks can result. Curcumin has been shown to prevent this buildup.

Diabetes

While the studies are still in there infancy, there is some cause to believe that in people who are at risk of developing diabetes, those in a state known as pre-diabetes, Curcumin can help prevent the development of full blown diabetes.

The benefits are wide ranging and still more are being discovered. Tumeric supplement sales have seen a huge upsurge in the past generation and with the continuing research into new benefits, this trend is highly likely to continue.