April 14, 2019: Turmeric Benefits
My weekly Get Your Stuff Together Sunday email series gives you one actionable focus for the week that will make your life a little easier.
{Did you miss last week’s GYSTS email? No prob! Go here and scroll to the bottom for a complete archive of all GYSTS emails}
Turmeric has a very long history of being recognized as one of the world’s healthiest foods and as one of nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatory foods. Since almost all disease begins and thrives on inflammation, keeping inflammation at bay can have many positive effects on your health. This week, we’re going to talk about some of the benefits of spicing up your diet with it.
What Exactly is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a root relative of ginger that grows primarily in India and Southeast Asia. It is most commonly used as a spice in both Asian and eastern Indian dishes but is also a popular food dye. It has a faint peppery taste and smell to it and is of a very deep orange color, which often gives mustard its yellow hue.
Why Eat More?
Curcumin, the active compound found in turmeric, has many other health benefits aside from being just an anti-inflammatory. It is also known to be an anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and powerful anti-carcinogen which helps to prevent cell damage that can lead to cancer. It has been found to reduce blood sugar in diabetic patients and reduce damage and symptoms from Cystic Fibrosis. The health benefits of turmeric can also be seen in cardiovascular health because it prevents atherosclerosis, which is a hardening of the arteries caused by plaque buildup and damage to the interior walls of arteries.
Interesting Studies
Much research has been performed on the extensive health benefits of turmeric’s main component, curcumin, and the research continues to shed light on new potential benefits of adding turmeric to your diet.
In the study “The effect of curcumin (turmeric) on Alzheimer’s disease,” it was found that daily supplementation with turmeric improved the cognitive functions in patients with Alzheimer’s, essentially reversing some of the damage caused by the disease.
In another study found in The Journal of Nephropathology, it was found that daily turmeric supplementation inhibited cytokines and TGF-Beta production in patients with chronic kidney disease and may also prevent subsequent end stage renal disease.
In the study “Chemopreventive effect of turmeric against stomach and skin tumors induced by chemical carcinogens in Swiss mice”, it was found that turmeric greatly reduced tumor size while also increasing glutathione (the body’s most powerful antioxidant) in the body.
This evidence is interesting and exciting; however, this is an evolving topic - especially in human research. I recommend that you add turmeric to your diet in its spice form. DO NOT begin taking it supplement form without consulting your physician (same goes for all supplements).
Next Sunday, we’ll talk about some meal prep ideas that can make your healthy lifestyle easier to manage.
Want some expert help with reaching your health goals painlessly? Check out my programs! We’ll get everything taken care of in a way that fits into your current lifestyle so you never have to think about your health again.
Do you have a friend who could stand to G(her)ST? Feel free to forward this!
I hope you have a wonderful week,
Kelly
Kelly Morgan, Ph.D.
Tsirona - www.tsirona.com
My weekly GYSTS email give you one actionable thing to do for the week that will make you life a little easier. As "they" say, "Fail to plan; plan to fail." Get these emails (and more!) delivered right to your inbox by clicking HERE.