For hundreds of years, turmeric has been used to flavor foods. In addition to its yellowish color and its specific flavor, this species hides numerous benefits that has made it a star of alternative medicine.
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What is turmeric?
Turmeric is one of the most widely used spices in Southeast Asia. For more than 4,000 years it has had application in gastronomy, but it has also been used in alternative medicine to treat and alleviate numerous diseases, given that it has multiple healing properties. The origin of this plant lies in South Asia, where it is mainly appreciated for its rhizomes or underground parts from which its yellow pigment is usually obtained. Nowadays turmeric can easily be found in supermarkets as a spice, or in the form of food supplements, as is the case of Super Curcuma, whose image we can see below.
What is Turmeric for?
Thanks to the positive effects it has on our health, turmeric is used to treat various and varied ailments, conditions or pathologies. The most outstanding applications are for:
- Stomach problems
- Avoid flatulence
- Liver problems
- Joint problems
- Respiratory problems
- Protect the heart
- Strengthen the immune system
- Protection of free radicals
- Skin problems
- Depression
- Cancer
Next, we will explain one by one these benefits of turmeric.
Properties and benefits of turmeric
Turmeric has great anti-inflammatory, stimulant, carminative, antioxidant and diuretic properties, among others. Thanks to these medicinal properties, turmeric is used to treat the following problems:
- Stomach problems: turmeric is a spicy spice that helps stimulate stomach secretions, so it is considered a good ally to treat certain digestive disorders and improve digestion itself. Its active ingredients help produce gastric and pancreatic juices and, at the same time, balance the pH of the organs. In case of having dyspepsia, gastritis, lack of appetite or slow digestion, the use of turmeric is recommended.
- Avoid flatulence: turmeric is carminative, that is, promotes the expulsion of gases through the digestive tract. This property makes it perfect to eliminate flatulence, prevent intestinal cramps and treat stomach atrophy.
- Liver problems: if something stands out this spice is for being a great biliary tonic, that is, to protect the functions of the liver. This happens thanks to curcumin, the main compound that gives its characteristic yellow pigmentation. In this sense, turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that help optimal liver drainage. Thus, it is recommended both to remove stones from the gallbladder, to better digest food or for patients suffering from liver disorders or diseases such as jaundice or cirrhosis.
- Joint problems: its anti-inflammatory properties make turmeric a perfect remedy for people suffering from arthritis, rheumatism or carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist.
- Respiratory problems: one of the most traditional applications of turmeric in Asian medicine is the treatment of respiratory problems such as bronchitis. Its anti-inflammatory effect and the antioxidants it contains make it suitable, too, for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Protects the heart: it has been shown that turmeric also has an influence on cardiovascular health, since it helps reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels naturally and prevents heart attacks, favoring the protection of the heart.
- Strengthens the immune system: turmeric is able to increase and strengthen the immune system, since it contains nutrients such as zinc, copper or polysaccharides. Therefore, it is recommended in people with low defenses, especially for reasons of stress.
- Protection of free radicals: its diuretic and antioxidant power helps to eliminate the harmful effects or free radicals of the organism. These properties are also found in curcumin.
- Skin problems: if used in powder, turmeric is beneficial for the treatment of conditions or skin problems such as fungi, athlete’s foot or psoriasis.
- Depression: Traditional Chinese medicine has used turmeric for centuries to treat depression, as well as other psychological disorders. This is possible thanks to the elements that make up this spice and that are capable of both stimulating the nervous system and strengthening the immune system and improving moods. Likewise, it is a spice used to combat stress.
- Cancer: turmeric has anticancer assets that have positive effects on some types of cancer, such as colon cancer, skin cancer or breast cancer. Its application helps to minimize the side effects of treatments such as chemotherapy.
How to take turmeric
As we have mentioned before, turmeric has positive effects in the prevention and treatment of multiple conditions, so introducing it as a condiment in the dishes that make up our daily menu is a success. However, you can also find dietary supplements that allow you to improve the absorption and assimilation of curcumin, the basic active principle of this spice that has all the beneficial properties for our health. This food supplement allows you to take advantage of the benefits of turmeric with just one dose of two capsules a day.
If you liked this article about the medicinal properties of turmeric, you may also be interested in this other article on the properties and benefits of vitamin D3.
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Article Source: Tape Daily