Turmeric has been gaining popularity and popping up almost everywhere—as a healthy spice in various everyday snacks like crackers and popcorn and Insta-worthy golden milk lattes. The golden, bright yellowish powder is one of the most sought-after spices for its healing benefits.
Thanks to its amazing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, the world-famous spice has gained popularity over the years. Turmeric was a popular staple many people used in traditional medicine. Interestingly, many studies have shown the benefits of turmeric, especially related to its inflammatory properties.
As it contains a significant amount of curcumin, the yellow spice has great importance as a medicinal herb. It is an active chemical that gives turmeric not only its dark yellow color but also anti-inflammatory properties. These properties are also responsible for its strong antioxidant effects.
Absorbing curcumin is difficult for the human body. This is one of the reasons people consider it challenging to measure the health benefits of turmeric. So far, turmeric or its active compound has not been approved to treat any disease. But many medical professionals consider that the well-known spice has enough scientific support in favor of its health benefits.
So can turmeric be a wonder spice for women? Let’s get into the insights.
Turmeric has been a necessary staple of Ayurvedic for many years. Centuries before, it was the best alternative medicine that helped benefit the mind, body, and spirit. It was used to be an essential spice to revitalize and refresh the body in Ayurvedic practices. It is typically the presence of the chemical compound in turmeric that makes it an important spice for modern science.
Curcumin is claimed to benefit health issues like breathing problems, hay fever, PMS, gas relief, digestion regulation, and severe memory disorders like Alzheimer’s. Like ginger, the yellow spice is hailed for its effective anti-inflammatory properties. These properties block enzymes and inflammatory cytokines within body cells.
It is worth noting that curcumin has health benefits that are beneficial towards some medical issues common in women. Some of them are hay fever, indigestion, PMS, and acne. Curcuminoids in turmeric can play an important role in improving health after bypass surgery, according to NIH.
Ever tried a facial mask including turmeric? If not, you might have been missing out on some major benefits of turmeric for your skin. Remember that turmeric contains properties that help you regulate your immune system and reduce skin irritation and inflammation. Your skin is the body’s largest organ and a barrier to pollutants and germs. In fact, most of your skin issues are due to problems with the immune system.
Some recent studies show that adding turmeric to your skincare regime can help you reduce wrinkles and fine lines, diminishing the effects of aging. Moreover, turmeric also has the potent mineral “manganese” which stimulates collagen production and keeps your skin firm.
A review published by Experimental Medicine and Biology showed that curcumin contains natural wound healing qualities that make it effective in reducing the symptoms of skin conditions like psoriasis and vitiligo and different forms of eczema.
This is why many topical ointments and tonics contain curcumin to reduce skin wounds and improve collagen distribution. It can also help improve skin elasticity and promote the growth of blood vessels. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric can help you brighten your skin’s appearance.
To reap the benefits of this fantastic spice, stir up a little amount of turmeric in your facemask and get an all-good, luminous complexion.
As curcumin has microbicidal and spermicidal properties, many researchers have studied it as an alternative to steroidal contraceptives. They used different concentrations and proportions of curcumin in the study.
Typically, researchers measure contraception potential by assessing the sperms’ motility with the variations. Blockage of sperm motility happened at 250¼M concentration.
The concentration of curcumin between 500 and 150¼M completely blocked the vaginal bacteria and different yeast strains. It indicated the microbicidal properties of curcumin that can help women reduce the symptoms of vaginosis vaginitis and several other vaginal infections.
A study compared the effects of curcumin supplementation in groups of 32 women in the postmenopausal phase. Scientists noticed a significant improvement in endothelial flow-mediated dilation in women who used the supplementation.
The control groups, however, noticed no difference with other drugs. Note that poor vascular endothelial function can lead to cardiovascular diseases. It demonstrates that curcumin, along with aerobic exercises, can help women improve their endothelial function.
Endometriosis is linked to several conditions, like deregulation of metalloproteases and extracellular matrix remodeling. A study found that curcumin can inhibit the production of MMP-3, which encourages endometriotic developments. Medication or remedies that contain curcumin can also improve endometrial regression.
It improves or speeds up apoptosis (cell death for growth) in endometriomas through a cytochrome-c mediated pathway. The same study identifies the new area of benefits curcumin can offer to improve reproductive health.
Did you know you can flush away all toxins with turmeric tea? The powerful spice is called a “blood purifier” in traditional Ayurvedic.
It can play a major role in removing toxins from the body and improving kidney and liver functions. A study in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine shows how turmeric supplements help people increase liver enzymes. Researchers in South Korea conducted a 12-week trial and noticed a significant improvement in kidney functions.
The yellow spice is also a great remedy for getting rid of the late-night hangover. That means you can use it as your after-party drunkenness solution.
How long have you been trying to reach your ideal body weight? No success so far? Give turmeric a shot. A healthy spice is very effective in improving insulin resistance and boosting metabolism. According to Caroline Apovian- professor of pediatrics and medicine at Boston University- curcumin supplements can help women maintain weight.
A study showed that curcumin supplements didn’t get mice to gain weight after being fed fatty food for 12 weeks. Some more studies show the benefits of turmeric for weight loss. Try herbal remedies, including turmeric and ginger, for the best weight loss results.
Do you often catch a cold? Or have a weak immune system? Curcumin in turmeric has strong antioxidant properties, which can help your body cells fight free radicals. Note that free radicals can destroy healthy, functioning cells in your body. It can make you more susceptible to various medical issues.
That means incorporating turmeric into your diet regime can help you keep symptoms of cold and flu at bay.
All you need to do is mix cardamom, turmeric, black pepper, and a few drops of vanilla in a hot cup of milk, and Duh! No more cough and sneezing! The remedy is great for keeping your children and husband safe from catching a cold.
How about reaping some benefits of turmeric for your brain health? You might not have heard this before, but turmeric and its components can help you boost brain function.
The Journal of Psychopharmacology published a study showing turmeric’s ability to decrease inflammation and enhance blood flow to the brain. As a result, it keeps the brain alert. Try to use vegan turmeric to keep your cognitive muscles active.
Curcumin in turmeric acts as a powerful antioxidant, according to the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry’s published reviews. Antioxidants are the molecules your body needs to counterbalance the effects of free radicals in the body.
Any metabolic process, such as digestion, can create free radicals. They may also come with outside sources like cigarette smoke or pollution.
When your body has a balanced number of antioxidants and free radicals, it can fight pathogens and germs. However, if this balance is disturbed, the number of free radicals increases, causing oxidative stress.
The condition is harmful to the body as it may damage cell DNA, fatty tissues, and proteins. The continuous damage leads to medical conditions, such as neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.
A study conducted in 2018 showed that consuming 1000mg of curcumin regularly for five to six weeks can improve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The study was published in the Journal of Medicine and Chemistry and proved the benefits of turmeric through multiple trials. The researchers examined curcumin’s ability to support/benefit memory issues and debilitating neurodegenerative diseases.
A review conducted by the Academy of Neurology India found the same results. The findings showed that curcumin could effectively manage the factors that may lead to depression and other mental health issues.
Turmeric is not just an ingredient that makes cooking flavorful. It is a popular spice that may have a host of benefits, especially for women. The bioactive compound gives turmeric amazing medicinal properties. You can use it in plenty of ways to improve your mental and physical health.
Sources