The tremendous benefits of turmeric are trending with influencers on Instagram these days. This ayurvedic root spice has a long history of healing all types of ailments while boosting the immune system. These days, who couldn't use a bump in their immune health?
The use of dried turmeric root dates to the Vedic culture some 4,000-years ago. According to the Sanskrit medical treatises, turmeric's medicinal use was essential in Unani and Ayurvedic systems.
India has a special connection to this bright-yellow spice, and it's use spread throughout the world with the British taking it back to the western world. The magical effects of turmeric tea help with soothing a sore tummy, healing a wound – or simply spicing some rice.
Why Do You Need Turmeric in Your Diet?
If you're not using turmeric in your food – you need to start. We love stirring a half a teaspoon into a few cups of steaming jasmine, the aroma plays with our sinus and clears the mind.
Before we get carried away with talking about how turmeric adds flavor and fragrance to food, let's unpack why it's such a popular health trend on social media platforms.
Curcumin – Natures Inflammation Fighter
Ground turmeric root contains flavonoid polyphenols called "curcuminoids." There are several of these, with the most beneficial being curcumin. Research on this powerful antioxidant shows it has a significant impact on reducing inflammation in the body.
Curcumin neutralizes inflammatory cytokines, stopping the bad type of inflammation from causing chronic disease. Systemic inflammation is responsible for the onset of digestive disorders, liver issues, kidney, and cardiovascular problems, causing untold misery on the health of millions of Americans.
Research shows that a dose of 500-mg to 2-grams of curcumin every day helps to drop inflammation markers in test subjects significantly. Adding curcumin to your supplement regimen has plenty of health advantages.
What are the Health Benefits of Eating Turmeric?
There are dozens of health benefits associated with including this root spice in your meals. Turmeric spice makes food taste terrific, bringing out the flavor and fragrance. Along with the culinary benefits, consuming more turmeric has the following advantages for your health.
As mentioned, excessive inflammation is the hallmark of chronic disease. By eating turmeric, you drastically reduce inflammation in your digestive system, which drops inflammation markers in your blood. As a result, you protect yourself from health disorders that could severely impact your quality of life.
Turmeric has an anti-inflammatory effect in the digestive system and on the skin. Rubbing dried turmeric on a cut can help to reduce inflammation and prevent infection.
How Much Curcumin Do You Get in Turmeric?
Here's where the catch comes. Turmeric has fantastic anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of curcumin. However, turmeric only contains around 3% curcumin. As a result, you'll have to eat lots of it regularly to get any real benefit.
On top of this issue, the digestive system has a hard time absorbing the curcumin. As a result, you're hardly getting and curcumin from the turmeric you're eating. So, what's the point of eating turmeric, right?
Supplement Your Diet with the Anti-inflammatory Power of Turmeric
Fortunately, there's a solution to this puzzle. Most supplement companies offer some form of curcumin supplement.
However, the best turmeric capsules come with a special ingredient included. The addition of black pepper extract, known as Bioperine, improves the bioavailability of curcumin in your supplement by up to 2,000%.
Turmeric is a superfood everyone needs in their diet. However, to benefit from the anti-inflammatory superpowers of curcumin, make sure you have a curcumin supplement fortified with Bioperine. It's an affordable and effective way to boost your immune system and enhance your health.
