Turmeric is being talked about with renewed vigour after a string of positive new stories about its preventive and healing effects. So what is this super food? And why is it fast developing a reputation as a must-have in your diet today?
What is Turmeric?
Firstly, turmeric is a tall plant that grows both in Asia and Central America. The turmeric we see on the shelves of our stores is made from the ground up roots of the plant. This orange spice is often used in making curry, and is what gives mustard its yellow colour.
What Are its Health Benefits?
Turmeric has a range of benefits and studies are now starting to show it can have a positive effect on many of the most common diseases.
Powerful Anti-Inflammatory
The main ingredient in turmeric is curcumin with has incredibly powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation plays a role in almost all serious diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s. Therefore, reducing inflammation is crucial for optimum health.
The potency of this spice to remove inflammation are on the same levels as proscription drugs, but without any of the side effects. For example, several studies have shown that it is just as effective as reducing pain in arthritis patients as pharmaceutical drugs.
Turmeric Can Help Treat Cancer
This seems outrageous that a little spice could take on the world’s biggest killer but initial studies have been promising. The curcumin in turmeric affects the growth and spread of cancer at a molecular level.
The American Cancer Society has stated:
“Laboratory studies have shown that curcumin interferes with cancer development, growth, and spread. Researchers have reported that curcumin blocked the formation of cancer-causing enzymes in rodents. Recently, curcumin has received a great deal of focus because of its ability to reduce tumour size and kill cancer cells. Now, to be clear, these studies have been done on animals, and this data has not yet been proven with humans. But, the evidence is certainly promising.”
Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
The list of diseases doesn’t just stop with cancer. Turmeric has been proven to be more effective than the diabetes drug Metformin. A Study published in Biochemistry and Biophysical Research Communications back in 2009 showed that the curcumin in turmeric is 400 times more powerful than Metformin at activating AMPK which can improve insulin sensitivity and help to reverse type 2 diabetes.
Treatment of Depression
You thought turmeric was done at treating nearly every bodily disease out there? How about treating the mind too!
A recent study of 60 patients suffering with Major Depressive Disorder, it was discovered that those treated with turmeric responded equally well to those who took Prozac. Given the well-documented side effects of taking Prozac this could be a huge development in treating one of the most common mental illnesses.