There are five benefits that need to be known about turmeric. It's best known as one of the ingredients to make curry, but it is very beneficial for someone's health.
Turmeric has a peppery, warm and bitter flavor and a mild fragrance slightly reminiscent of orange and ginger. It also gives ballpark mustard its bright yellow color.
Turmeric is an excellent source of both iron and manganese. It is also a good source of vitamin B6, dietary fiber, and potassium. I addition, there are more nutrients in it including carbohydrates, sugar, soluble and insoluble fiber, sodium, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and more.
Antioxidant
The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which is known as a powerful antioxidant. This means it targets dangerous free radicals in the body and reduces the damage they are able to cause DNA and cells. When cells are healthy the body is healthy, which means turmeric offers general wellness benefits, as well as targeting specific health problems.
Wound Healing
A study in the Sept 2014 issue of Life Sciences performed an extensive review on curcumin and wound/injury healing. Researchers found turmeric (curcumin) to have beneficial properties that appear to speed the wound healing process. These modes of action include the modulation of inflammation and oxidation, the ability to improve granulation tissue formation, tissue remodeling, and deposition of collagen. As new studies come to light showing turmeric's ability to potentiate the body's natural healing processes and outcome, the possible breadth of applications for this could be enormous.
Cardiovascular Protection
Curcumin may be able to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the body. Since oxidized cholesterol is what damages blood vessels and builds up in the plaques that can lead to heart attack or stroke, preventing the oxidation of new cholesterol may help to reduce the progression of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease.
In addition, turmeric is a good source of vitamin B6, which is needed to keep homocysteine levels from getting too high. Homocysteine, an intermediate product of an important cellular process called methylation, is directly damaging to blood vessel walls. High levels of homocysteine are considered a significant risk factor for blood vessel damage, atherosclerotic plaque build-up, and heart disease; while a high intake of vitamin B6 is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, according to top10homerededies.com.
Cancer Fighter
The jury is still out on just how effective turmeric is for fighting cancer. Some health experts point to its anti-inflammatory benefits and draw conclusions based on the link between inflammation and the development of cancer. Free radicals and cell damage are believed to be linked to cancer, too, so if turmeric is able to work as an antioxidant it has a secondary anti-cancer effect.
According to well-known holistic health practitioner, Dr. Andrew Weil, turmeric reduces the carcinogenic compound that form when meat is fried, grilled, or boiled by up to 40%. Dr. Weil also believes turmeric is effective for fighting melanoma and in halting the spread of breast cancer.
There are also preliminary studies showing turmeric could be beneficial for preventing breast, prostate, skin, and colon cancer.
