Turmeric, a fragrant, anti-inflammatory spice usually added to curries, has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of ailments. A close cousin to ginger, turmeric is native to Southeast Asia and is characterized by its vibrant, golden color and musky, earthy aroma.

Today, turmeric’s reputation as a super-spice can be seen in its ubiquitous presence in many health food stores and groceries around the globe and in the prevalence of scientific studies on its health benefits.

Check out some of the most touted health benefits of this powerful golden spice:

1. It fights inflammation

Turmeric is a powerful weapon against inflammation thanks to curcumin. Curcumin inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory genes, offering a protective effect against health problems linked to inflammation.

In fact, past studies found that turmeric is more powerful than inflammation-fighting drugs like aspirin. So try adding a dash of turmeric to your favorite salad dressings to give it an anti-inflammatory boost.

2. It neutralizes free radicals

Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage your cells, proteins and DNA. Luckily, turmeric is known to scour the body for free radicals and neutralize them so that they can’t cause harm. This effect is also credited to curcumin. Add a teaspoon of ground turmeric to your favorite green smoothie for an antioxidant boost.

3. It protects your heart

Turmeric helps protect your heart from inflammation and may even promote healthy endothelial function. The endothelial cells are those cells lining the inside of your heart and blood vessels. They play a key role in keeping your blood pressure stable. Reap these benefits by cooking turmeric into a whole-grain dish.

4. It eases joint pain

The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric may help ease joint pain. In fact, several studies have shown that turmeric can improve stiffness and swelling in people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It may even help you soothe occasional soreness. Try an anti-inflammatory fruit smoothie with a dash of turmeric.

5. It boosts your mood

Turmeric helps improve your mood by raising levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF plays a key role in long-term cognitive function. The spice may also help boost levels of serotonin and dopamine, two important mood-regulating chemicals in your brain. So keep mood disorders at bay by adding turmeric to your breakfast porridge, roasted veggies or scrambled eggs.

6. It protects your vision

Thanks to curcumin, turmeric may help protect your eyes from degeneration. This usually leads to glaucoma, a group of eye conditions that cause blindness among older adults. Prevention is key in this case since vision loss is irreversible. Avoid eye diseases and vision loss by eating turmeric and other foods that support eye health.

7. It clears your skin

Turmeric’s antioxidant properties also benefit your physical appearance by protecting your skin from exposure to too much sun and environmental pollutants. These harmful agents can cause the skin to age faster, resulting in the appearance of deep wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots and other blemishes.

8. It delays age-related diseases

Your body naturally slows down as you age. But aging won’t necessarily give you diseases like osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease. While more common among older adults, these age-related diseases are partly brought on by chronic inflammation. Experts say chronic inflammation is the cause of accelerated aging.

So by introducing anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric to your regular diet, you may avoid developing an age-related disease in later life.

9. It may stave off diabetes

Existing animal research on turmeric has shown that the spice can help treat and prevent diabetes. One review even found that turmeric can also help treat and prevent diabetes-related complications like kidney disease. In another study, researchers found that curcumin supplements lowered levels of insulin in obese mice. Insulin is the hormone that controls your blood sugar levels. People at risk of diabetes often have high insulin levels.

10. It may treat and prevent cancer

One of turmeric’s main claims to fame is that it can help treat and prevent cancer. One way it may do that is by preventing tumors from forming. Turmeric may also slow the growth of existing tumors and cause cancer cells to self-destruct. Keep cancer at bay by elevating your go-to dishes with cancer-fighting spices like turmeric.

Turmeric is a powerful spice capable of suppressing inflammation, treating joint pain and even slashing cancer risk. To reap turmeric’s health benefits, make it part of your daily diet by stirring it into smoothies, grain bowls and roasted vegetables.

Sources:

EverydayHealth.com

EurekAlert.org

NaturalHealth365.com