What are the common benefits of eating raw turmeric? In this article, we shall discover nine reasons why this bright yellow spice will benefit your health? Okay, turmeric doesn’t taste or look like strawberries, but we’ll look at some ways in which you can incorporate raw turmeric into your diet to reap the numerous health benefits of this common inexpensive spice used in Indian dishes.
The common ways to consume turmeric, also commonly known as curcumin, is through a nutritional supplement, but taking any supplement may take weeks or months to prove effective, so if you want to reap benefits quicker, eat raw turmeric instead. Curcumin supplementation often contains piperine, which aids the body to absorb curcumin.
1. Benefits of Eating Raw Turmeric Helps With Inflammation
Raw turmeric contains the anti-inflammatory compounds, curcuminoids that will aid individuals who suffer from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Joints can seize up in these conditions making physical body movements debilitating and painful. Try adding half a teaspoon of raw turmeric to a cup of warm milk. Alternatively, blend half a teaspoon of raw turmeric into your favourite smoothie and enjoy the anti-inflammatory benefits of this age-old spice.
Curcumin supplements may take some time to start working, so if you want more immediate results to relieve your inflammatory, add turmeric to warm milk and notice that any inflammation in the body will be relieved in a shorter space of time.
2. Fight Free Radical Damage in the Skin With Raw Turmeric
Raw turmeric is rich in antioxidants, which easily fight free radical damage that may lead to premature wrinkles and dull skin. Raw turmeric, when used in skin creams, can aid the skin in many ways. It is especially effective for use on acne scars and common skin conditions like eczema and even psoriasis. Mix a little turmeric with honey and apply to the problem areas of the skin. Get double the boost against free radical damage with the benefits of eating raw turmeric plus the incorporation of raw turmeric into your skincare routine.
If you have any cuts or injuries, raw turmeric is a natural antiseptic that can help to heal your injured skin quickly.
3. Try the Benefits of Eating Raw Turmeric For Tummy Troubles
If you experience regular tummy troubles raw turmeric can help to relieve your troubles, especially heartburn and indigestion. The pharmaceutical industry sells many products that relieve these stomach conditions, but eating raw turmeric is a cheaper way to aid tummy troubles.
Health experts also report that the regular consumption of raw turmeric can even aid with tummy troubles like irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, and an irritated stomach.
4. Consume Raw Turmeric to Purify The Blood
There are numerous benefits of eating raw turmeric to regulate healthy blood clot formation. Several studies and health experts verify that raw turmeric is beneficial in purifying the blood. It achieves this by eliminating unhealthy toxins from the blood supply.
The University of Maryland Medical Centre reports that raw turmeric may help to lower the risk of heart disease. The laboratory studies found that turmeric has anti-viral benefits, which help kill bacteria that may lead to unhealthy blood clot formations. Further clinical research needs to be done in this area.
5. Raw Turmeric is Helpful for Diabetics
Studies link raw turmeric to a healthy regulation of blood sugar levels, which will aid diabetes sufferers. Help to regulate your insulin levels with the regular consumption of raw turmeric. Add half a teaspoon of turmeric to warm milk and drink. If the taste is unpleasant, try adding a little raw cinnamon spice to the mixture.
6. Get The Benefits of Raw Turmeric and Reduce The Risk of Some Types of Cancer
Cancer is a horrible disease that can unfairly affect anyone, but the regular consumption of raw turmeric has shown to prevent or even treat some cancer types. Research conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Centre; say that the curcumin compound, which is naturally present in turmeric, may help to prevent cancers in the areas of the prostate, breast, skin, and the colon. Other studies have shown it has protective benefits against the aggressive pancreatic cancer.
In a 2015 study published by Cancer Letters, those with colorectal cancer that had metastasized to the liver were shown to have a reduction in the growth of cancer stem cells in his or her cells when curcumin supplementation was added to their treatment programme. The researchers also confirmed that curcumin supplementation was safe to take when on a chemotherapy treatment programme.
There have also been several active clinical trials by the National Institutes of Health surrounding curcumin, so more research needs to be done in this area relating to cancer treatment, as it shows promising results.
7. Aid The Reduction of Symptoms in Brain Disease
Research into the anti-inflammatory component of turmeric called curcumin has found that it increases levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor hormone (BDNF). Reduced levels of this hormone are linked to brain disorders like depression and Alzheimer’s disease. Brain function reduces in individuals with brain disease due to the neurons in the brain that struggle to create new connections.
There is also research linking its ability to boost the brain. Further studies need to be conducted in these areas, but curcumin has shown promising results in lowering the risk of brain disease and even improving brain function in those with brain disorders.
Alzheimer’s Disease is linked to inflammation and oxidative damage in the brain; therefore, curcumin can have a beneficial effect on Alzheimer’s sufferers, as it can cross the blood-brain barrier. In the brain of Alzheimer’s sufferers, there is a build-up of amyloid plaques, and studies have shown that curcumin aids in the clearance of these plaques. Further studies need to be conducted in this area, but curcumin shows promising results for debilitating brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.
8. Treat Depression With Turmeric
Studies have shown that curcumin, which is the anti-inflammatory compound in turmeric, has shown promise in treating the brain debilitating disorder depression. In a controlled study comprising of sixty people, the first group took Prozac, the second group took one gram of curcumin, and the third group took both Prozac and curcumin.
After six weeks, the second group taking the curcumin showed improvement similar to that given by the medication, Prozac. However, the group that fared the best was the third group who took both Prozac and curcumin. Similar to Alzheimer’s sufferers who have a reduced level of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor hormone (BDNF), depression sufferers also have reduced levels of BDNF, but curcumin has shown to improve BDNF levels, thereby helping those with depression.
9. The Benefits of Eating Raw Turmeric as an Anti-Aging Aid
There is a huge industry called the anti-ageing market, so what if you could have a daily spice that improved the longevity of life, whilst also keeping the body in tip-top condition.
Curcumin, the compound in turmeric, has strong anti-inflammatory effects on the body, so the benefits of raw turmeric are numerous. Try to get past the unpleasant taste of raw turmeric, and use it in recipes, add it to warm milk, or take a high dose curcumin supplement to reap its benefits.
Contraindication of Turmeric
Fresh turmeric root does have contraindications with blood thinners, drugs to lower stomach acid, and also diabetic medications. Please check with your medical practitioner before taking turmeric or a curcumin supplement.
In some people, turmeric may also upset the tummy when taken in larger doses. Pregnant women should avoid turmeric because it may stimulate contractions, although when taken in smaller doses (cooking for instance), this should not cause a problem.
To Summarise
Turmeric has long been a favourite spice to use in Indian cooking, which adds rich flavour and a beautiful yellow tint to dishes. It contains a natural anti-inflammatory compound called curcumin, which has shown in studies to alleviate inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis. It is also beneficial to treat brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and depression.
If you cannot stand the thought of drinking raw turmeric in warm milk, or a smoothie, buy a high potency curcumin supplement that contains piperine, which aids its absorption.
