Responsible for providing curry its characteristic yellow color, turmeric (curcuma longa) influences the taste, color, and nature of the food it’s blended with. Long famed due to its health benefits, mainly it’s anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is a tropical spice that gets a lot of centerstage. It is a member of the ginger family and the root of a flowering plant. Delhi’s top dietician, Avni Kaul, shares some of the top health benefits of turmeric.
Has protective bioactive compounds
Colorful plant foods are excellent for human health, thanks due to their plant pigments, and turmeric is no different. Much of the popularity revolving around the spice is because of the curcumin, the major active component which makes up nearly 3% of the root by weight. Although an impressive constituent, curcumin is only one of the hundreds of bioactive compounds present in turmeric.
Contains antioxidant properties
The importance of protective compounds such as curcumin is that they support the body fight the damaging impacts of cell oxidation. Over time, the oxidation may lead to chronic inflammation as a result of which age-related conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer follow. Having protective antioxidant foods in your diet makes your body better placed to cope with aging and the inflammation linked with it. It also helps with exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness.
May reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
Studies indicate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory impacts of curcumin might protect against some of the steps inherent in the formation of heart disease, like helping balance cholesterol levels.
Support the immune system
Based on studies, curcumin might act as an immune system modulator, influencing essential immune cells. These include T cells, B cells, and Natural Killer cells. Additionally, curcumin seems to reduce-regulate pro-inflammatory cytokines, compounds whose prolonged activity could lead to damage caused because of the inflammation.
When taken at low doses, curcumin might also boost your antibody responses, helping you fight off infection. Animal studies indicate it might play a role in controlling allergic conditions like hay fever.
Could boost mood
Curcumin might be responsible for lifting your mood and alleviating some of the symptoms of depression. A study examining it’s ant depressive impact found that curcumin was as effective as some of the medicines. There is also a suggestion that curcumin might boost feel-good brain chemicals, that includes the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine.
May have anti-ageing properties
Curcumin might help slow the ageing process by activating specific proteins and protecting cells from damage. Thus, it might delay the progression of age-linked conditions and alleviating the associated symptoms. For specific health conditions such as pregnancy, iron deficiency, gallstones, or if taking any other medication, you should talk to your doctor or a dietician before consuming turmeric in large amounts.
Avni Kaul is Founder of Nutriactivania with Masters Degree in Food and Nutrition from University of Delhi and is also a Certified Diabetes Educator from Project Hope and International Diabetes Federation. She is a Leicester Mammas Ambassador trained in Lactation Counselling with NHS United Kingdom. Mammas support pregnant and new mothers and their families. Specializations of Avni Kaul Include Infant and Young Child Feeding Practises, Pre and Post natal diets, Fat loss, Muscle Gain and Holistic Health and Nutrition