Turmeric, a spice originating in South Asia, has made its way into many Western diets over the past decade or so. Sometimes known as one of the most powerful healing foods on the planet, this spicy Indian root is great for you in many ways and the best thing you can do for your health is add it to your diet.! Here are the top 5 health benefits of turmeric that you should know about.
Natural Painkiller
Native to India, turmeric has been used medicinally for centuries. And with good reason—this spice contains a compound called curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties and can be a great painkiller. Some research suggests it’s just as effective as over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. But don’t go popping a bunch of pills!
Curcumin isn’t absorbed easily when taken orally. Instead, consider supplementing with turmeric or curcumin to get its benefits without swallowing a bunch of unwanted ingredients. The two are slightly different—turmeric contains polyphenols while curcumin is an active component within turmeric—but they offer similar benefits.
For example, studies show that both have strong antioxidant properties. Additionally, there is plenty of research showing that turmeric can be taken alongside other medications without making the other drugs less effective. If you’re taking hydroxychloroquine to treat malaria, for example, turmeric might be a viable option. Plus, if you take ivermectin for humans regularly to treat river blindness or scabies (not recommended), studies suggest that adding curcumin may increase your body’s absorption of ivermectin by up to 300 percent.
Antibacterial
When you think about turmeric and its health benefits, you might focus on inflammation. And that’s certainly a good reason to include it in your diet. But did you know that turmeric also has anti-inflammatory compounds?
Turmeric’s active ingredients are known as curcuminoids—curcumin, dimethoxy curcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin—and these compounds have been shown to have strong antibacterial activity. They can fight off even some of today’s most dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
If you take antibiotics (you know, to kill bacteria), it may be smart to supplement with turmeric if possible (more on that below). One study shows that when combined with hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin was significantly more effective than either drug alone at treating rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers suggest that combining two powerful drugs allowed them to lower their dosages while still getting better results than they would have had taking either drug alone. This combination is worth looking into further if you suffer from RA or other inflammatory conditions.
Anti-inflammatory
Curcumin, which gives turmeric its bright yellow color, is an anti-inflammatory that helps keep your immune system in check. Studies have shown that curcumin can inhibit many inflammatory cytokines that play a role in autoimmune disease and cancer.
According to a study published in Biochemical Pharmacology, curcumin not only inhibits inflammation directly but also causes our body to produce more cortisol—the hormone released when we experience stress. As it has been found to help reduce symptoms of autoimmunity, cortisol may be the right thing for us to produce when fighting autoimmune diseases.
Prevents Cancer
Turmeric has been used as a natural remedy to help prevent and treat many types of cancer. One study found that eating turmeric, combined with black pepper and pipeline (an alkaloid found in black pepper), delayed the development of cancers in rats exposed to powerful carcinogens.
Curcumin, a compound found naturally in turmeric root, helps to protect DNA from oxidative damage and may be a strong preventative against tumor growth. Additionally, some studies have shown that curcumin inhibits cancer by stopping new blood vessel formation, thus depriving tumors of oxygen and nutrients needed for survival. If you’re looking for an alternative to chemotherapy that offers similar effects without side effects like hair loss or weight gain, try taking turmeric extract daily.
It’s A Natural Antibiotic: Studies have found that hydroxychloroquine, one of two active ingredients in turmeric spice, could potentially replace common antibiotics such as amoxicillin and doxycycline. In addition to treating infection and inflammation, it also acts as an antifungal agent, making it especially effective against candidiasis—the most common fungal infection among humans.
Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease
A recent study showed that curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease. This study showed that it protected neurons from amyloid protein, which can cause memory loss and learning impairments in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Curcumin can also help reduce inflammation, which is a factor in Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. In addition, curcumin boosts levels of a brain chemical called BDNF, which helps support memory formation.
To reap these benefits, add 1/2 teaspoon of ground turmeric to your favorite dishes. And don’t worry — you won’t even taste it! If you are on ivermectin, make sure to ask your doctor. Before adding any new medications or supplements to your daily routine.
Just make sure not to take too much because there have been cases where turmeric caused severe liver damage in patients taking Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). Doctors don’t recommend exceeding more than 6 grams of protein a day.
Boosts Brain Function
Many of us are aware that certain superfoods are great for our bodies, but they’re also good for our brains. From berries to green tea, research shows there are multiple foods and natural compounds. That can help boost memory, creativity, and attention span. With no tropics (aka smart drugs) being a hot topic recently! People want to know which foods can give them an edge in their studies or careers. One such spice is turmeric.
A recent study at Ruhr University Bochum has shown that curcumin boosts brain function. By increasing neural activity in regions responsible for decision making, language processing, and social behavior. Previous research found similar results using hydroxychloroquine. An anti-malarial drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. So far it’s only been tested on lab rats but animal tests have shown similar positive results when given ivermectin. Another anti-malarial drug with potent anti-inflammatory properties.
Rich in Antioxidants
Turmeric contains potent antioxidants called curcuminoids. These include curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Which can help protect against cardiovascular disease, some forms of cancer, and other age-related diseases. Curcumin also has anti-inflammatory properties that may make it useful in treating arthritis or inflammatory bowel disorders like Cohn’s disease.
According to one study from Ohio State University, curcumin suppresses inflammation in mice with chemically induced colitis. Another compound found in turmeric, called hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), is a potent antioxidant that protects cells from free radical damage. HCQ might be particularly beneficial for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug we use to treat parasitic infections. Such as river blindness and elephantiasis caused by filarial worms. It works by interfering with neurotransmission within invertebrate nerve cells. Causing paralysis and death of parasites feeding on a host organism.
