Have you noticed its rise? Turmeric, an ingredient that has commonly been known to be a spice in curries, has recently become a trendy superfood. It has a growing presence on social media, being consumed in form of shots or “golden milk lattes”. Here is why turmeric got so popular:
Turmeric naturally contains an active ingredient called curcumin, and it has anti-inflammatory properties, which help to calm overt inflammatory responses. The body’s natural inflammatory response is part of the immune system to heal the body from harmful stimuli. However, when the response is sustained longer than necessary, it can create an environment for heart diseases, cancer or even Alzheimer’s to develop. Consuming 2-5 teaspoons of turmeric as part of your diet can provide a sufficient amount of curcumin to help regulate your body’s inflammatory responses.
Curcumin in turmeric also acts as an antioxidant which helps fight free radicals. Free radicals in the body are known to increase the chances of cancer and other neurodegenerative diseases. Curcumin is able to enhance the production of antioxidant enzymes, thus reducing the chances of developing diseases caused by oxidative stress.
Other than having anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is also able to improve estrogen metabolism in the body. This is good for those who have high estrogen levels and need help to keep hormones in balance. It also helps to support the liver with one of the functions is removing excess estrogen in the body, further contributing to eradicating hormonal imbalance.
As many skin conditions such as acne and rosacea are linked to hormonal imbalance and inflammation, turmeric’s properties also help to calm and heal the skin. It has been shown to be beneficial to the skin whether it is consumed as part of the diet or applied topically onto the skin.
It appears that turmeric has a history of being used as part of Chinese medicinal practices for treating diabetes. Research has shown that consuming turmeric is able to stabilize the blood glucose levels, which in turn can reduce the risk of getting the disease, even in people who have a high risk for diabetes.
If you want to give turmeric a try, maybe test it out in your juices or even try out a “turmeric latte”? We hope you enjoyed learning more about this trending ingredient!
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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