Turmeric (Turmeric is long), or turmeric, is a plant with orange roots that has a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action, helping to lower cholesterol, prevent diabetes and relieve pain. It owes these effects to its bioactive components such as curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, for example.
Turmeric is also widely used as an ingredient in creams, as it helps treat skin problems, such as psoriasis or acne, due to another antibacterial property.
Turmeric root is easily found in health food stores, some supermarkets and street markets, and can be used to prepare teas or to season meats, vegetables and soups. Additionally, turmeric is also sold in the form of oral capsules and creams.
What is it for and benefits
Turmeric provides several health benefits, such as:
1. Help prevent cancer
Turmeric has phenolic compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, helping to prevent the emergence of some types of cancer such as colon, breast, intestine, bladder and bone marrow.
This plant can also fight cancer cells and increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, helping to treat cancer. However, more studies are still needed to prove the benefit of turmeric in treating cancer.
2. Reduce cholesterol
Due to its antioxidant properties, turmeric helps reduce levels of “bad” cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides in the blood, preventing cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, stroke or atherosclerosis.
3. Relieve pain
When used therapeutically, turmeric helps relieve headaches and joint pain, such as that seen in rheumatoid arthritis, for example, an inflammation of the joints that causes pain and difficulty moving. Find out about other symptoms of arthritis and how it is treated.
4. Help with weight loss
Turmeric can help with weight loss as it has thermogenic action, stimulating energy expenditure and burning body fat. Discover other thermogenic foods.
Furthermore, turmeric helps reduce some inflammatory markers that increase in cases of overweight and obesity, making it a good option to include in weight loss diets.
5. Prevent neurodegenerative diseases
Turmeric has a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action that helps improve cognitive capacity, in addition to preventing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or dementia.
6. Control diabetes
This medicinal plant improves the functions of pancreas cells, which is the organ responsible for secreting the hormone insulin, helping to reduce blood glucose levels. Therefore, using turmeric is a good option for people with insulin resistance or diabetes.
7. Prevent allergic diseases
According to some studies (1),(2), Turmeric helps prevent allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, and asthma, by inhibiting the production of cytokines and IgE, which are substances in the immune system that increase during allergy attacks.
8. Treat intestinal problems
Turmeric can help treat intestinal problems, such as diarrhea and inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, for example, because it works to reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms.
9. Treat skin problems
Due to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant action, turmeric can be recommended, in the form of creams or oral capsules, to complement the treatment of skin problems such as acne, alopecia, dermatitis, oral lichen planus or psoriasis.
10. Helps reduce depression
Curcumin can influence the balance of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters that are related to well-being and good mood. Therefore, turmeric can be a good option as a complementary treatment for some situations such as depression, anxiety or stress.
Difference between saffron and turmeric
Saffron (Crocus sativus) is a flower with red filaments, which is rich in crocin, crocetin, safranal and kaempferol, bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action. Learn more about saffron.
Turmeric is a type of root similar to ginger, orange in color, rich in curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, which are bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action.
How to use
The most used part of turmeric is the powder of its root, to season preparations such as soups, meats and vegetables. Furthermore, its leaves can also be used to prepare some teas.
- Saffron or turmeric tea: Place 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in 150 ml of boiling water and let it rest for about 10 minutes. After cooling, drink up to 3 cups a day between meals;
- Turmeric Capsules: the generally recommended dosage is 2 capsules of 250 mg every 12 hours, totaling 1 g per day. However, the dosage may vary according to the objective being treated;
- Turmeric Gel: Mix a tablespoon of aloe vera with turmeric powder and apply to skin inflammations, such as psoriasis.
To improve the absorption of the antioxidants present in turmeric, you should consume this root together with oils, such as olive oil, coconut oil or avocado, for example.
Possible side effects
The side effects of turmeric are related to its excessive use, which can cause stomach irritation and nausea.
Turmeric contraindications
Despite offering several health benefits, turmeric is contraindicated in people who are taking anticoagulant medications or who have blockage of the bile ducts due to the presence of gallstones.
During pregnancy or breastfeeding, turmeric should only be used under medical advice.
