Turmeric has a nearly 4000 year long history of medicinal use in humans. Modern medicine scientific studies show that turmeric is a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antimicrobial, and anticancer agent. More than 100 components have been isolated from turmeric, which demonstrates its complex and far-reaching therapeutic nature. There are over 3000 publications touting the benefits of turmeric within the last 25 years.
The fresh root contains far more nutrients than the powder. One of such nutrients, curcumin, is a key antioxidant in turmeric that gets lost when it is converted into powder.
- Liver protective: turmeric increases burning of fat in the liver, which helps prevent or reverse fatty liver, which is the leading cause of cirrhosis (liver failure) in the US.
- Heart protective: turmeric helps arteries and veins to relax and prevent high blood pressure. This also increases blood flow to essential organs. Turmeric also decreases deposition of cholesterol in vasculature by decreasing “bad cholesterol” (LDL) and increasing “good cholesterol (HDL). It was also shown to improve the function and number of living heart cells after heart attack, in animal models.
- Diabetes protective: turmeric has been shown to help stabilize glucose levels and prevents damage to red blood cells, blood vessels, and kidneys that occur due to oxidation reactions that occur from too much glucose. Most importantly, turmeric was shown to prevent or delay development of cataracts due to uncontrolled blood sugar.
- Stroke protective: turmeric was shown to be neuroprotective; brain neurons after stroke in rats had improved function and recovery. This is now being studied for potential use in human stroke patients. It also helps control blood pressure and diabetes, two leading risk factors in stroke.
- Anti-cancer: turmeric is reported to exhibit activity against the development of skin cancer, breast cancer, oral cancer and stomach cancer. It does this via multiple mechanisms, including inhibiting mutation, detoxifying carcinogens (cancer-causing substances), decreasing abnormal cell replication, and inducing death of tumor cells.
- Anti-aging: by decreasing DNA and cellular damage, this slows the aging process, which is defined by breakdown of cells and DNA damage.
- Anti-depressant: multiple studies have shown effects of turmeric to be more potent than the leading pharmaceutical anti-depressant fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Anti-arthritic: inhibits joint inflammation and destruction via gene regulation. In one study, it was found to be more anti-inflammatory than hydrocortisone when injected.
- Wound healing: helps heal wounds and ulcers, including stomach ulcers. This is thought to be due to the anti-bacterial, anti-viral properties as well as inhibiting inflammatory molecules. In certain parts of Bangladesh, turmeric is the most common application on the cut umbilical cord after delivery.
- Anti-viral, antifungal: multiple common viruses that cause respiratory tract infection were inhibited in studies of turmeric oil spray. Turmeric also inhibits common skin/nail/hair fungal species, called dermatophytes, which can cause conditions such as ringworm.
- Antibacterial: strong antimicrobial against multiple strains of dangerous bacteria. This makes turmeric a good protective from infection.
- Digestive aid: stimulate bile acid secretion and decreases IBS symptoms.
- Stomach ulcer protective: turmeric has been shown to kill h. pylori, a bacteria in the stomach that is in some people known to cause stomach ulcers. Turmeric also makes stomach release more mucin, a chemical that protects against stomach ulcers, and it decreases release of gastrin, a chemical that increases acid and ulcers.
- Cancer prevention: studies on smokers showed that daily turmeric decreased cancer inducing mutations
- IBS (irritable bowel syndrome): human studies showed decreased prevalence of IBS and abdominal pain and discomfort, after 8 weeks of daily turmeric. In ancient Indian medicine, it is used to reduce abdominal gas and bloating.
- Diabetes protective: helps stabilize blood sugar by preventing large glucose spikes.
- Reduces abdominal fat: increases breakdown of visceral fat (bad fat inside the abdomen that produces inflammatory molecules) which also helps reduce inflammation.
- Kidney protective: the anti-oxidant capacity of turmeric protects kidney cells from breakdown due to oxidation, as evidenced in animal studies.
To date, no studies in either animals or humans have discovered any toxic effects associated with the use of turmeric (Lao et al. 2006), and it is clear that turmeric is not toxic even at very high doses.
By Elixir Shots
*The statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Results vary and are not guaranteed.