Turmeric: This spice, common in Indian curry, has been making quite a stir with many claims about its health benefits.
There is a very powerful natural anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory substance found in Turmeric, it is called “curcumin”.
This substance boasts many impressive benefits; here is a list of the top five of them!
- Curcumin has been shown to stimulate the gallbladder, which can help with digestion (especially the digestion of fats). If you are making a dish that is on the fattier side, consider adding some turmeric into the recipe to help your body digest the fats.
- Curcumin can also work against oxidation of cholesterol, slow atherosclerosis’ progression, and protect against heart attack and stroke, according to Andrew Weil, M.D.
- Though research is still being conducted, the University of Maryland Medical Center states that test tube and animal studies have shown that curcumin could work to prevent, or even treat, several types of cancers (including prostate, breast, skin, and colon).
- Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a hormone that helps allow for new neural connections to be made, can be increased by curcumin. The resulting brain growth can work against degenerative processes in the brain (like Alzheimer’s).
- Lastly, curcumin has been shown to be effective for the treatment of arthritis, due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
These benefits certainly make an appealing case for picking up some turmeric on your next trip to the grocery store. Turmeric consumed orally is best used with black pepper to ensure absorption. Maybe these facts will inspire you to try a healthy chicken curry for dinner this week!
Jessica Kouvo is an exercise and food enthusiast!