Top 6 Health Benefits of Turmeric

by JJ Virgin on February 25, 2018

Golden milk may be all the rage these days, but the healing power of its star ingredient, turmeric, has actually been recognized for thousands of years!

Research shows that turmeric can help with everything from heart disease and cancer to arthritis and type 2 diabetes. While this bold spice contains hundreds of important compounds, the most-researched of them is curcumin.

“Turmeric itself contains a bunch of compounds, but the family of compounds thought to be most responsible for turmeric’s medicinal effects are the curcuminoids, which are also responsible for giving turmeric its bright yellow color,” says Jonny Bowden, PhD, in The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. “The most important—and the most studied of the curcuminoids—is curcumin.”

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How to Get It

While you can certainly enjoy the flavor of this pungent spice in your favorite curry dishes, you won’t be able to get enough curcumin through your diet alone to experience all of its health benefits.

In order to achieve a therapeutic dose of this powerful multitasker, it’s essential to take a high-quality supplement.

What’s more, since curcumin is extremely hard to absorb, it’s crucial to choose a formula that’s specially designed to maximize absorption.

Please note that some studies I mention below look at turmeric. Others look specifically at curcuminoids or curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric. I encourage you to use turmeric in your food. But to get therapeutic amounts of curcumin, you’ll want to supplement.

Read on to find out about the impressive ways turmeric and curcumin help…

Fight inflammation

If you’re looking to reduce inflammation, curcumin packs a powerful punch!

That’s good news, since chronic inflammation is a factor in virtually every notable disease, plus it can lead to premature aging, make it hard to lose weight, and cause issues with digestion. Never fear — research shows that curcumin, the most abundant compound in turmeric, can stop the vicious cycle of inflammation.1

Defend against aging

Forget growing old gracefully, and supplement with curcumin instead! Studies have found that turmeric can slow the signs of aging by increasing proteins that renew your cells and repair them from damage.2

I don’t know about you, but I’ll take all the healthy shortcuts I can get – especially when it comes to looking and feeling younger!

Improve arthritis symptoms

The anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric have proven to be especially helpful for arthritis. In one study, turmeric was found to be even more effective at reducing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis than a prescription anti-inflammatory drug!3

Considering that just a single dose of over-the-counter and prescription anti-inflammatories can put your health at serious risk, turmeric could be a lifesaver!

Protect your heart health

Research proves that turmeric can help prevent dangerous risk factors for heart disease by improving cholesterol levels and protecting the lining of your blood vessels.4,5

In fact, one study found that the consumption of turmeric provided benefits similar to exercise for blood vessel function! (5) The results mean one thing for sure: adding turmeric and burst training to your daily routine can make a big impact on your heart health.

Boost your brain

Did you know that a daily dose of turmeric can increase your brain power? 

Multiple studies show that turmeric can trigger the growth of new cells that play an important role in learning and memory.6,7 (Another perfect reason to indulge in a mug of cozy Spiced Turmeric Latte…)

Prevent serious disease

As if all that wasn’t enough, turmeric has also been shown to help reduce the risk of major illness.

Studies have found that turmeric can protect insulin-producing cells from damage and prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.8 Not only that, turmeric also shows enormous promise for preventing and treating certain types of cancer.9

The views in this blog by JJ Virgin should never be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please work with a healthcare practitioner concerning any medical problem or concern. The information here is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or condition. Statements contained here have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2637808/
2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28611316
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22407780
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19233493
5 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531712001844
6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24712702
7 http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0031211
8 http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/35/11/2121
9 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2758121/