One of the most well-known and well-liked ingredients in Indian cookery is turmeric. It’s often used as a ground spice in places like curry powder or as a yellow colorant in foods like boiled eggs. Its popularity has even led to many people trying to find ways to incorporate it into their daily diets for health benefits. This article will briefly explore the health properties of turmeric and how you can use it to your advantage in order to shed those unwanted pounds.
Turmeric’s Anti-Inflammatory Role
In the last decade or so, scientists have begun to understand the mechanisms by which turmeric exerts its healthful properties. One such pathway is through the inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX). COX is responsible for the production of inflammatory prostaglandins in the body. These prostaglandins contribute to the body’s natural defense against infections and help maintain the health of the joints and other tissues. Inhibition of COX has thus been shown to help reduce the body’s production of inflammatory prostaglandins and the resulting discomfort and pain caused by their over-production or infiltration in some other organ or area of the body. Interestingly enough, turmeric has also been shown to inhibit another enzyme, lipoxygenase (LOX), which contributes to the production of potentially harmful leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are known to trigger the proliferation of cancer cells in the body. In light of this, it’s easy to see how turmeric’s inhibition of LOX and COX may contribute to its anti-cancer effects. The mechanism is still not fully understood and scientists are continuing to explore it further. However, the available evidence strongly supports the notion that turmeric has a potent role to play in keeping you healthy and slim.
Why Did the Buddha Wear Yellow?
Another well-known use of turmeric is in the Buddha’s famous turmeric latte. You’ve probably seen this dish around the temple or in cafes in India. It’s usually made with whole milk, heavy cream, or both. The yellow color comes from turmeric itself, which is usually added at the end or after cooling the milk. The primary source of the beverage’s nutrients is the rich milk, which provides complete nutrition for the human body. However, the mild flavor and pleasant taste of turmeric are also notable contributions to the drink. This combination makes milk a practical choice for people on restricted diets, such as the low-cholesterol paleo diet. You can easily fit this diet into your daily routine as it’s compatible with most lifestyle choices. For instance, you can eat eggs and bacon or eggs and sausage for breakfast, depending on your preference. You can also choose to eat chicken or fish for dinner, which are both high in protein and contain healthy fats. In addition, you can choose to drink either red or white wine, depending on your preference, and stay within the limits of the diet. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of the Buddha’s famous milk drink while staying on track with your weight loss goals. Don’t forget to add a little turmeric to improve your daily diet, which might just help you reach your goal faster!
How Does Turmeric Affect Your Bodily Fluid?
One of the major concerns for people who are trying to lose weight is retaining water. After all, excess weight tends to make you appear voluminous and full. If you’re already drinking the recommended eight glasses of water each day, pat yourself on the back because you’re doing your body some favor. But, you’re probably wondering if there’s more you can do. If so, then it’s time for a bit of a fluid re-education process. Turmeric has been known to speed up this process by as much as a billion times its normal rate. When applied to the skin, it blocks the action of ADH, the hormone that helps regulate fluid levels in your body. This means your body will be deprived of the hormone’s function, which is to pull water from your tissues and return it to your blood. Essentially, that water will stay in your body for a longer duration. From there, it can either be reabsorbed into your bloodstream or lost in your urine. In either case, it’s a win-win situation for the environment and your health!
Turmeric’s Potential To Combat Cancer
Even if you don’t yet believe in the power of turmeric to improve your health, it’s highly likely you’ll accept the notion that it has the potential to fight cancer. This is mainly due to the fact that the substance has an established history of use in folk medicine and its yellow color can be easily spotted by the human eye. It is thus an easily identifiable natural substance that lends itself well to research. One interesting study that evaluated the effects of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, showed it to be an effective inhibitor of colorectal cancer cells in vitro. Furthermore, animals that underwent chemical-induced colorectal cancer had a significantly slower rate of growth compared to those that didn’t receive the treatment. It also inhibited the formation of tumors, indicating its effectiveness in combating this type of cancer. The study authors attributed the anti-cancer properties of curcumin to its inhibitory effects on enzymes responsible for the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes. They also cited previous research that had shown these compounds to play a role in the growth and spread of cancer cells. While more research is needed to confirm these findings, they provide enough evidence to suggest that turmeric could be a natural treatment for colorectal cancer. If you’re looking for a way to reduce your chance of developing cancer, then consider taking turmeric supplements or using the substance in cooking.
How Does Turmeric Aid In Diabetes Management?
If you’re managing diabetes, then you already know that maintaining a healthy weight is a major factor in effective diabetes management. However, there’s more than one type of diabetes, and while some people are more prone to obesity, others are more likely to suffer from dehydration. Because of this, it’s essential that you drink sufficient amounts of water on a daily basis. Although this is likely to occur naturally, your body doesn’t produce the required amount of the hormone on its own. For this reason, you need to supplement it with the help of medicaments like insulin or metformin. Insulin acts as a “transporter,” moving glucose from your blood into your cells. For best results, it’s usually given together with a sweetener such as aspartame or acesulfame potassium. Metformin is a pill that reduces the amount of sugar your body produces. In addition, it has the ability to stimulate insulin production, making it a potent partner for insulin in diabetes management. This makes metformin particularly useful for patients with type 2 diabetes. In light of this, if you’re looking for an alternative to insulin or you want to reduce the amount of sugar you consume, then consider taking metformin supplements or using it in cooking.
Turmeric’s Effect On The Endocrine System
The above discussion on diabetes management makes it clear that curcumin has important functions in your body. Aside from its use in cooking and medicine, turmeric has been shown to have several effects on the human endocrine system. One such effect is the reduction of inflammation. As mentioned previously, inflammation can be a major factor in causing several health problems, including obesity. One of the major hormones that regulate inflammation is cortisol. When cortisol levels are low, there’s often a corresponding drop in inflammation. For this reason, many scientists believe that turmeric has the ability to reduce cortisol levels, which can ultimately lead to reduced inflammation and weight gain. There’s also evidence that the end product of turmeric, which is called ferulic acid, has similar effects to those of aspirin. Ferulic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in the wall of plant cells. It has been shown to interfere with the growth of cancer cells in the laboratory and inhibit the spread and growth of these cells in animals. Since cancer usually results from an imbalance in the body’s own immune system, this makes ferulic acid a potential ally in the fight against cancer. Other studies have shown that ferulic acid can reduce the body’s production of inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes.
In light of all this, if you’re looking for a natural substance with the ability to reduce inflammation, then consider taking turmeric supplements or using it in cooking. This way, you can lower your cortisol levels and your body’s production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes and improve your overall health.