The turmeric (Curcuma long), or turmeric, is a plant with orange color roots that has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action, helping to reduce cholesterol, prevent diabetes and relieve pain. It owes these effects to its bioactive components such as curcumin, demetoxicracumin and bisdemetoxicracumin, for example.
The turmeric is also widely used as a cream ingredient as it helps in treating skin problems such as psoriasis or acne due to another antibacterial property.
The root of turmeric is easily found in natural products stores, some supermarkets and street fairs, and can be used to prepare teas or to season meat, vegetables and soups. In addition, turmeric is also marketed in the form of oral capsules and creams.
This content is informative and does not replace medical advice. Do not interrupt any treatment without proper guidance.
What is it for and benefits
Curuma provides several health benefits, such as:
1. Help in cancer prevention
Turcuuma has phenolic compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, helping to prevent the emergence of some types of cancer such as colon, breast, intestine, bladder and bone marrow.
This plant can also combat cancer cells and increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, helping to treat cancer. However, further studies are needed to prove the benefit of turmeric in cancer treatment.
2. Reduce cholesterol
Due to its antioxidant properties, turmeric helps reduce “bad” cholesterol levels, LDL, and triglycerides in the blood, preventing cardiovascular disease such as infarction, stroke and atherosclerosis.
However, scientific evidence related to this benefit is limited, so more studies are needed to prove this indication.
3. Relieving the pain of arthritis
Curcumin, a substance in turmeric, can inhibit various molecules involved in the inflammatory process, helping to reduce joint inflammation and relieve symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis such as pain, swelling and joint rigidity.
Also read: Rheumatoid arthritis: what is, symptoms, causes and treatment
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4. Help weight control
Some scientific studies suggest that turmeric extract may help reduce body weight, as it improves metabolism, limits the growth of fatty tissue and favors the proper functioning of insulin.
In addition, turmeric can contribute to decrease some inflammatory markers that may be elevator in case of overweight and obesity, so it is a great option to include in weight loss diets.
However, further studies are needed to prove these benefits.
5. Prevent neurodegenerative diseases
The turmeric extract has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action and can act on brain cells and thus help improve cognitive capacity.
In addition, it can also help prevent various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease or dementia.
6. Prevent type 2 diabetes
This medicinal plant helps to improve the functions of pancreatic cells, which is the organ responsible for secreting insulin hormone, helping to reduce blood glucose levels. Therefore, the use of turmeric is a good option for people with insulin resistance, pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes.
7. Relieving the symptoms of allergy
The turmeric can have an effect on the control of allergic diseases such as rhinitis and allergic asthma. This is because of curcumin, the main active compound of turmeric, which has anti-inflammatory properties that help decrease respiratory tract inflammation and facilitate breathing.
By reducing inflammation, there is an improvement in nasal air flow, relieving typical allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and congestion.
Also read: Respiratory allergy: symptoms, causes, types and what to do
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8. Decrease bowel inflammation
Curcumin, which is the main bioactive compound of turmeric, can assist in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcer colitis, for example.
These diseases are characterized by chronic digestive tract inflammation and curcumin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunological modulation, which could help control inflammation associated with these conditions.
9. Improve skin health
Because it has antimicrobial and antioxidant anti-inflammatory action, turmeric may be recommended, in the form of oral creams or capsules, as a complement to the treatment of skin problems such as acne, alopecia, dermatitis, oral plane lichen or psoriasis.
Also, when associated with antibiotics, such as polymyxin B, it can help treat or prevent skin wound infections.
10. Prevent or improve depression
Curcumin can influence the balance of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters that are related to well-being and good humor. Therefore, turmeric can be a good option as a complementary treatment of some situations such as depression, anxiety or stress.
11. Prevent gingivitis
Due to its antimicrobial action, turmeric can prevent or improve periodontal diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
This is due to the capacity of the substances present in the turmeric to inhibit the growth of several oral bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Porphyromonas gingivalis homotypic and Streptococcus gordonii.
Difference between saffron and turmeric
The saffron (Crocus sativus) It is a flower with red-colored filaments, which is rich in crocine, crcenin, surnal and canferol, bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action. Learn more about saffron.
Turcuuma, on the other hand, is a type of ginger-like root with orange, rich in curcumin, demetoxicracumin and bisdemetoxicracumin, which are bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action.
Learn more about the properties of turmeric in the following video:
Benefits of Turricum
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How to use
The most used part of turmeric is the powder of its root, to season preparations such as soups, meat and vegetables. In addition, your leaves can also be used to prepare some teas.
- Turmeric tea: Place 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in 150 ml of boiling water and let stand for about 10 minutes. After warning, drinking up to 3 cups a day between meals;
- Turmeric capsules: The usually recommended dosage is 2 capsules of 250 mg every 12 hours, totaling 1 g per day. However, the dosage may vary according to the objective to be treated;
- Turmeric gel: Mix one tablespoon of turmeric aloe vera powder and apply on the inflammation of the skin, such as psoriasis.
To improve the absorption of antioxidants present in turmeric, this root should be consumed along with oils, such as olive oil, coconut oil or avocado, for example.
Possible side effects
The side effects of turmeric are related to its excessive use and may cause irritation in the stomach and nausea.
Curuma Contraindications
Despite providing various health benefits, turmeric is contraindicated in people who are taking anticoagulant medicines or who have blockage of biles due to the presence of gallstones.
During pregnancy or breastfeeding period, turmeric should be used only under medical advice.
Source: www.tuasaude.com