Turmeric and Curcumin Health Benefits and Medicinal Uses to boost immunity
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Have you ever went to the kitchen and see why your mother is adding Turmeric while preparing food. It contains Curcumin yellow color chemical which is added as a coloring agent for foods and cosmetics. It is mostly used in Asian foods.
It contains antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidants properties. It is used since ancient times as a medicine for multiple purposes. Studies found that there are multiple turmeric benefits for your body and mind.
Turmeric is also called as Haldi. It is often used for conditions such as pain and fatigue.
How does turmeric help to fight infections and boost immunity?
To fight any type of disease one must have good immunity. Immunity is like a cover to your body against bacteria and viruses. Having good immunity helps you to fight against infections and reduce the graph of getting sick.
Health experts and nutritionists always mention the point of the importance of immunity. As it helps treat cough and cold, chest congestion, and dangerous diseases.
A healthy diet, proper sleep, and routine exercise are essential for every individual to strengthen their immunity. All these factors can help you to fight dangerous diseases like Covid-19 during this dangerous situation.
Apart from this what else you can do to boost your immunity level or to prevent immunity level from dropping down. Then it is always recommended to include turmeric in your spices. Turmeric or Haldi is a yellow color spice that comes from the roots of the Curcuma Plant.
Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric. This compound has anti-inflammatory properties that help to boost your immunity.
Nutritional facts of turmeric
Serving size | 1tsp |
Calories | 8 |
Total fat | 0.22g |
Saturated fat | 0.069g |
Monounsaturated fat | 0.037g |
Polyunsaturated fat | 0.048g |
Carbohydrates | 1.43g |
Dietary fiber | 0.5g |
Sugar | 0.07g |
Protein | 0.17g |
Sodium | 1mg |
Cholesterol | 0mg |
Potassium | 56mg |
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contribute to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Turmeric benefits are as follows:
- Helps to fight depression:
It is used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes. It is helpful to cure depression and other psychological disorders. It contains components that are helpful to boost immunity and moods. Also helps to lower stress.
- Helps to fight against cancer:
Studies show that It is helpful to fight against cancer. It contains anti-cancer compounds for fighting against breast cancer, skin cancer, and colon cancer. Helpful in treating cancer and prevent the side effects of drugs such as chemotherapy.
Due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, this spice can prevent the spread of cancer cells. Also helps to activate the proteins which are responsible for suppressing the Timor.
- Boost the immune system :
At the starting of the article, I have explained how It helps to boost immunity and fight against infections.
- Helpful to treat liver problems:
Having regular doses of medicines for diseases like diabetes and blood pressure for long term damages liver. Having turmeric helps to improve liver function due to the presence of antioxidants. This helps the liver to stop getting affected by toxins.
- Helpful for glowing skin:
Studies found that It can helps to lighten the skin tones due to the presence of essential oil in it. Applying it on the face can give results within three weeks and these results last longer.
It is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Which is helpful for naturally glowing skin and removes dead skin. Make a pack of turmeric face mask and apply it at home to see the results.
Avoid using a turmeric face mask overnight. A turmeric face mask can be applied two to three times a week.
- Helps to treat type 2 diabetes:
Curcumin compound found in turmeric helps to fight inflammation and maintains blood sugar levels in your body. Studies were done on 240 individuals who are with prediabetes and found that having Curcumin tablets for 9 months lowers the risk of developing diabetes.
- Helps to keep your heart healthy:
It contains Curcumin which is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. This inflammation helps to treat heart diseases. Having anti-inflammatory properties makes Curcumin healthy food for the heart and can be added to your diet.
Ways to include turmeric in your diet:
As turmeric is best to spice that can be added in any dish. Ways that can be used to add in your daily diet are as follows:
⁃ Morning breakfast of scrambled egg or tofu.
⁃ Sprinkled on roasted vegetables, soups, rice, etc
⁃ Blend it with smoothies
⁃ Can also be added to milk while sleeping.
⁃ Having it in homemade tea.
⁃ Add it to salad
⁃ Can add to roasted and spiced nuts
Side effects of Turmeric:
Turmeric contains Curcumin which provides 8gm of daily intake which is safe when used for two months. Also up to 3 grams of turmeric seems to be safe when used for up to 3 months.
-It does not cause any serious side effects. It can cause mild effects when taken in higher doses such as:
- Stomach upset
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
-It does not cause any side effects when applied to the skin.
-It helps to fight enema. So it might be safe when applied to the rectum.
(Note: must consult a physician if you have a severe problem)
Special Precautions & Warnings:
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding:
Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers must consult a doctor. If you are consuming turmeric in food it might be safe but it is unsafe if you are consuming it in medicinal amount. Because it promotes the menstrual period and might put your pregnancy at risk.
- If you are suffering from gallbladder problems don’t consume turmeric as it can make it worse.
- Not recommended for individuals with Bleeding problems
- Individuals with Diabetes should take turmeric with medical advice as Curcumin, a chemical in turmeric might decrease blood sugar.
- Turmeric can cause stomach upset in some people. It might make stomach problems such as GERD worse.
- Hormone-sensitive diseases such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Turmeric includes a chemical called curcumin, which might act like the hormone estrogen.
- Turmeric may cause infertility in men if taken in excess.
- Turmeric should be used with caution in people with iron deficiency.
- Individuals who have Surgery at least 2 weeks before should not have turmeric as it can cause extra bleeding.
Conclusion
Turmeric contains antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidants properties that help to boost your immunity.