5 Good Things You’ll Love About Eating More Turmeric
Almost everyone knows turmeric is anti-inflammatory. Not a lot of people know, though, which parts of their body are benefiting the most.
If you haven't known, turmeric is a kind of spice containing "curcumin," an antioxidant and inflammatory compound believed to be good for the health.
While turmeric appears to have a lot of benefits, generally, this spice needs more research. In some circumstances, it remains unclear what particular amounts are required in order to gain such benefits.
Nonetheless, experts and some research cite turmeric "as being a healthy addition to our diet for several reasons. Below are 5 of the good things you'll love about the spice if you eat more of it:
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Experts and some research cite turmeric “as being a healthy addition to our diet for several reasons.
1. It Boosts Your Weight Loss Regimen
A report about turmeric indicates that study in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Studies, Frontiers in Pharmacology, and Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets associate curcumin with weight loss and reduction in body mass index or BMI.
Healthy cooking expert and registered dietitian Patricia Bannan said, while increasing our turmeric intake alone is not a great tactic in losing weight, it may contribute to the mitigation of inflammation linked to obesity and offer a slight boost in fat burning.
2. It is a Mood Booster
Curcumin may help protect from inflammation, and inflammation may help in fighting depression. A 2019 meta-analysis of 10 studies of curcumin and depression published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition proposed that it could alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms.
Experts say the most available study specifies that curcumin may help lessen the depression symptoms in individuals who are already using an antidepressant.
3. Turmeric may Contain Anti-Cancer Properties
Previous studies on animals propose that there might be a link between the inflammation-calming action of curcumin in turmeric and cancer.
Specifically, Bannan said, curcumin is believed "to have antioxidant properties." Meaning, it may reduce both swelling and inflammation. Nevertheless, research on animals does not always translate humans. Research for curcumin continues, as well as its effect on cancer in people.
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4. It may Prevent One from Developing Alzheimer's Disease
A study finds people living in India have lower rates of developing Alzheimer's disease than those living in the United States and Europe.
The reasons for the difference, the study authors said, are complex and possibly because of several different factors. Typically, turmeric is used in Ayurveda, a holistic healing mechanism that originated in India thousands of years back and remains famous to date.
Turmeric is also prominent in Indian cuisine, bringing out the question of whether it is possible that this spice can contribute to the prevention or delay of onset of Alzheimer's.
The jury, according to the study, is still out. However, one theory presents, curcumin may contribute to the inhibition of plaques that other studies have linked to "neuron impairment in the brain.
5. It Helps Regulate Blood Sugar Levels
Based on a report by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, more than 100 million adults in the US have developed either prediabetes or diabetes.
A study on curcumin, which the Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism published, proposes that it can function as a "hypoglycemic agent," reducing and helping regulate blood sugar levels in people who have type 2 diabetes, CDC said.
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Oct 15, 2020 08:20 AM EDT
