Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin, How They Improve Immunity System
Turmeric is a spice, and it’s botanically a ginger relative. Thanks to Its sunny yellow color and earthy flavor, we use it to enhance the color and flavor of food. Turmeric comes with three types of phytochemicals, and we know them as Curcuminoids together. Among those three naturally-occurring compounds, Curcumin is the most important one. A lot of researches and studies have been conducted to find out Curcumin’s health benefits.
People have used turmeric as a natural dye in cooking and as a medicine to treat many ailments for hundreds of years. In recent years, It’s being touted as an organic superfood. Many claim turmeric can calm depression, prevent cancer, boost immunity power, and many more. Today in this article, we will see what health benefits turmeric and Curcumin have to offer, and if science and research substantiate these claims. So stay tuned with us until the end.
Do turmeric, and its ingredient curcumin has scientifically proven medicinal properties?
Researchers are trying to find out about turmeric’s medicinal benefits for a very long time, and they already found that Curcumin, the primary active compound in turmeric, might effectively help to prevent inflammation in our body. Chronic inflammation can contribute to multiple severe conditions, including cancer, and Curcumin has potential use as an anti-inflammatory agent. Let’s find out how turmeric can help us with its vast medicinal profile.
Depression
Scientists are already excited about Curcumin’s potential use as an aid to antidepressant medications to increase their efficacy significantly. There’s a lack of sufficient research-based data to know its exact way of working. However, primary findings are promising and indicate the benefits of Curcumin against depression.
Type 2 Diabetes
Curcumin reduces inflammation, and that makes it a unique ingredient in the fight against type 2 diabetes. A recent study observed 240 adults in their pre-diabetic stage, and they received Curcumin enriched supplements for nine months. The result was nothing less than impressive as the majority of the participants shown noticeable improvement in their existing conditions.
Seasonal flu and other viral diseases
Fresh turmeric in hot milk is a traditional remedy we are consuming for the common cold and seasonal flu since our childhood. Also, green tea with turmeric is a great way to fight off the flu symptoms and to boost energy. In-vitro studies have shown Curcumin could help in various viral diseases, including herpes. But while such data indicate turmeric’s health benefits, we need to keep in mind that these researches are still in the laboratory stage. At the time of writing this article, we don’t have any findings from any human study.
Menstrual pain
Another study recently found that using curcumin supplements can aid menstrual pain, cramp, and other symptoms for a group of women. According to that research, turmeric can relax muscles, which in turn provide relief from stomach cramps during the menstruation period.
Uncontrolled blood cholesterol levels
Turmeric can have a positive effect on one’s blood cholesterol condition. Some studies found its ability to lower the bad kind of cholesterol, which is low-density lipoprotein or LDL. However, some researchers weren’t able to reach a conclusion on turmeric’s cholesterol-lowering properties, and more studies are ongoing. A recent study on a relatively smaller group of people resulted in an exciting finding where they found that Curcumin can reduce heart attack risk for those who went through bypass surgery.
How turmeric and Curcumin Improve the Immunity System?
The immunity system is the human body’s natural and in-built defense system that fights against viruses and bacteria that cause diseases. The stronger the immunity one has, the lesser chance he or she will get sick due to an infection. While we are born with this ability, immunity can get weakened due to several factors like weather change, malnutrition, unhealthy lifestyle, and more. The recent coronavirus pandemic is affecting older adults more due to their weak immunity.
Although more researches are needed before we can conclude definitely, it is safe to say that Curcumin in turmeric has shown antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties that help in making the immunity system in our body stronger. It is effective against common viral fever, seasonal cold and cough, asthma, and other conditions that are the signs of a weak immunity system. However, turmeric contains a trace amount of Curcumin, and one should rely on Curcumin supplements to gain its full health benefits.
