In the family of spices, turmeric is definitely one of the most popular ones – it is, after all, a superfood known to provide excellent health benefits to humans. Turmeric has its origin in India, but you’ll find it widely used in South Asian cuisine, where it’s a staple in curries, soups, and other delicacies. Thanks to its amazing nutritional profile, turmeric is now popular in many countries across the world. You’ll now find turmeric in different forms in Western countries – right from capsules to Turmeric latte; the golden spice is everywhere!
Wondering why turmeric is also known as the ‘golden spice’? We’re here to tell you everything you need to know about turmeric – so read on to know more!
Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric is a lot more than a natural coloring agent. This spice is a member of the ginger family and is derived from the root of the Curcuma longa plant. The presence of the active ingredient ‘curcumin’ is what makes turmeric special, and it’s also what gives turmeric its bright yellow color.
The curcumin content in turmeric isn’t that high – in fact, it constitutes just 3% of the overall weight of the turmeric. Even this small quantity of curcumin in turmeric works wonders for our bodies. The only drawback is that curcumin by itself isn’t very well absorbed by our bodies. It requires an additional natural substance – piperine, which is found in black pepper for better absorption in the human body. That’s precisely why spice mixes in India are usually a combination of turmeric, black pepper, and a whole range of other spices too.
Let’s run you through some of the benefits of Turmeric:
Anti-inflammatory Properties
Inflammation is our body’s defense mechanism against any foreign elements. While short-term inflammation is absolutely essential for our bodies to function perfectly, the issue is when the inflammation becomes chronic. Prolonged inflammation, when left untreated, can damage and destroy tissues in the body, leading to serious ailments such as arthritis, cancer, heart diseases, Alzheimer’s, and a range of other degenerative illnesses.
It’s important to include anti-inflammatory foods in our everyday meals to ensure our body is well-adept to tackle inflammation, and turmeric is one of them. The golden spice is one of the best anti-inflammatory ingredients out there, and the best part about it is that it’s super easy to add to your meals.
Boosts Antioxidant Levels in the Body
The presence of free radicals in our bodies can lead to the development of different degenerative illnesses in our bodies. It’s essential to tackle these free radicals and nip them at the root, to prevent further damage to the body. Turmeric features excellent antioxidant properties, which help our bodies neutralize free radicals instantly. Of course, it’s the curcumin in turmeric that does the magic of not just blocking free radicals but also boosting the level of antioxidants in the body.
Lowers Risk of Heart Ailments
Cardiac ailments are one of the leading causes of mortality across the world. You don’t just wake up one fine day and find out you have a heart ailment – it is a process in which our body keeps giving us indications every now and then, but we choose to ignore them. The series of events begins with high blood pressure, blood clotting, acidity, and a bunch of other symptoms. But did you know that with the right medication and a dash of turmeric, you can actually reverse the whole process of the development of a heart ailment in the human body?
Curcumin in turmeric is loaded with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, which play an important role in coating heart ailments. Along with this, curcumin is also known to boost the functioning of arteries and the flow of blood, which are essential to maintain the health of the human heart.
Summing Up
There are spices, and then there’s a super spice – turmeric! You can consume or apply it topically, and you’ll still reap the benefits of this amazing spice. Loaded with benefits, turmeric deserves to be part of your regular meals, in whichever form you prefer having it. You can consume it raw, sliced, pickled, crushed, dried, or powdered, and add a pinch of it to your meals – do ensure to pair it with black pepper to make the most of this golden spice!
