If you pride yourself on keeping up to date with the latest health and fitness fads to emerge, you may have heard of turmeric and its wide-reaching benefits for maintaining overall health and wellness. It can be difficult to know where to begin when it comes to finding out everything there is to know about the latest and greatest superfoods but by familiarising yourself with the following health benefits of turmeric, you can become aware of its various health-promoting properties before you incorporate it into your diet.
It has been known to ease arthritis
If you, or someone you know, suffers from arthritis, it may benefit you to know that turmeric has been known to ease arthritis. This is largely due to its anti-inflammatory nature which, when consumed on a regular basis, can decrease pain levels in patients walking with decreased knee function. In addition, the therapeutic potential of turmeric has also shown promise during early studies with future clinical trials needed to determine whether it may be a suitable treatment option for arthritis sufferers that currently rely on NSAIDs.
It can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease
In a study into the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of turmeric, it has been found to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by preventing a number of early symptoms in the development of heart disease including high cholesterol. It has also been considered as a treatment in the prevention of heart attack and stroke with turmeric thwarting the development of atherosclerosis, or clogged arteries, which is an underlying factor for both of these diseases.
It can support the immune system
If you have ever experienced problems with your immune system in the past, turmeric may be a viable solution to the problems associated with having a suppressed immune system. It can, for example, down-regulate pro-inflammatory compounds or proteins that are known as cytokines to prevent the gradual onset of long-lasting inflammatory damage. If consumed in small doses on a regular basis, turmeric may also enhance the body’s antibody responses which can help fight off infection and potentially even control allergies.
It can support cognitive function
In addition to easing arthritis, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, and supporting the immune system, turmeric can also support cognitive function through its active ingredient, turmerone. It has, for example, been suggested as a potential treatment for stroke sufferers in that it can trigger the process of cell repair to support the recovery of brain function.
If you are curious as to how the popular superfood turmeric can improve your overall health and wellness, there are a number of ways in which it can help. It has, for example, been known to ease arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory nature, can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by preventing clogged arteries, can support the immune system by down-regulating cytokines, and can support cognitive function by triggering the process of cell repair to support the recovery of brain function in stroke sufferers.