Turmeric has been called the most effective nutritional powerhouse in existence. Those are some strong words for a tiny herbaceous plant. Several studies show that it has powerful benefits for your body and brain. What is turmeric, anyway? It’s that spice responsible for the yellow color of curry. We’ve all probably seen or tasted, it if we’ve ever dined out an Indian restaurant. It has been used in India as a medicine and spice for thousands of years.
Medical science has only recently confirmed what the Indian people have known for years – that turmeric has powerful medicinal properties. Turmeric has proven useful in combatting inflammation, free radicals, brain decline, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, depression, and premature aging. What doesn’t turmeric do? Seriously, though, this is a supplement you need to be taking. You can buy turmeric for your food or purchase it in the supplemental form at your local health food store.
1. Turmeric Fights Free Radicals
Hate free radicals? We all do. They cause premature aging, wrinkles, cellular damage, and inflammation. Inflammation is thought to be a causative factor in a multitude of diseases. Turmeric boosts your body’s own natural antioxidant system, helping you fight off premature aging, oxidative damage, and inflammation. Free radicals play a role in cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. The higher you can get your antioxidant capacity, the better you can protect yourself against free radicals.
Curcumin, one of the most important ingredients in turmeric, is a very strong antioxidant. Antioxidants are deeply involved in the prevention of cellular damage, and if you want to live into old age and look good as you get older, you need to be consuming a lot of antioxidants. Vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta-carotene are examples of antioxidants most of us have heard of, but not a lot of people are aware that turmeric has powerful antioxidants in it, too.