Turmeric and Curcumin are both beneficial spices known for their amazing health & glow benefits. Most of us usually get confused between turmeric and curcumin. So, before peeking into the benefits of turmeric and curcumin, let us understand what these spices are.
Table of Contents
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a flowering Asian plant. It belongs to the ginger family. The powdered turmeric that is used by us is derived from the rhizome of this plant. This powdered has a strong flavour and colour along with various ayurvedic benefits.
What is Curcumin?
Turmeric and curcumin are strongly related to each other. To get in the depth of the term, curcumin is a chemical compound that is found in turmeric powder. Curcumin is the key substance in turmeric. It is because of the presence of curcumin that gives the rhizome the yellow colour and flavour along with the distinct healthy properties. About an average of 3.14% by weight of curcumin is present in the purest forms of turmeric powder.
Turmeric Curcumin Benefits:
Anti-Inflammatory
Curcumin in turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties. This property helps to reduce swellings. This is a key turmeric benefit because of which it is used in the healing and managing of various diseases.
Pain Reliever
Once again, curcumin in turmeric comes to play here. Due to its anti-inflammatory and healing properties, turmeric shows effective prevention and reduction in inflammations. It inhibits the chemicals in the body that increase inflammation. It is found to be a better pain reliever than many of the over-the-counter drugs.
Antioxidant
Curcumin is the antioxidant in turmeric powder. The benefits of turmeric curcumin are that it neutralizes the free radicals, thus protecting the body from them.
Anti-carcinogenic
Curcumin protects the body from cancer. It helps in fighting the cancer cells in the living body to protect it from any risk of cancer especially myeloma, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer.
Digestion
We already know that turmeric benefits include its anti-inflammation and antioxidant properties. It acts as an ayurvedic healing substance when it comes to digestion and gut health.
Anti-fungal
One of turmeric uses in healing fungal wounds are its anti-fungal nature. It works best against F. Solani and H. Oryzae fungus. Turmeric oil and curcumin that is extracted from turmeric is the most effective anti-fungal component when it comes to turmeric.
Anti-bacterial
Curcumin has antimicrobial benefits as well. By reducing the growth of many bacteria that can cause diseases, turmeric provides anti-bacterial functions.
Skin Improvement
Turmeric helps in hyperpigmentation to some extent. Apart from this, turmeric’s various qualities, i.e., anti-inflammatory, antioxidation, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties, help to improve various skin conditions. It is like an all-in-one medicine to heal acne, pimples, pigmentation, dead skin cells, uneven skin tone, infections, dark spots, cuts, and wounds.
Turmeric Root Benefits on Diseases
Arthritis:
The anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects of turmeric root help patients with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
Cancer:
Curcumin has anti-carcinogenic properties that serve to fight against cancer cells in the body.
Metabolic Syndrome:
Curcumin, as we know, is a bioactive polyphenol. Turmeric affects the being’s body mass index (BMI), leptin concentrations, waist circumference (WC), and weight.
Hay Fever:
Hay fever is related to allergy. By oral intake of turmeric, it has seemingly helped to reduce allergy symptoms such as itching, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and nasal congestion.
Depression:
The yellow compound found in turmeric roots does not just help in healing physical conditions but also contributes to mental health issues. Turmeric hunts down the free radicals that cause inflammation and stress. By lowering inflammation and those toxic radicals, turmeric powder contributes as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.
High Cholesterol Levels:
The anti-inflammatory effect is one of the main roles of turmeric. It is because of this ground turmeric works to lessen inflammation and thwart heart failure when added to a regular diet in small quantities. It acts as an antioxidant that helps in maintaining cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Diabetes:
Curcumin is known for decreasing the glucose level in the blood. By improving the blood sugar level in the body, turmeric is good for the prevention of diabetes at a certain rate.
Improves Liver Functions:
Turmeric root benefit as an antioxidant protects the liver from toxins. It cleanses the liver by arousing enzymes that wash away the toxins in the body and detoxify it. Apart from this, turmeric also aids in warding off the dietary fat build up in the liver.
Turmeric Myth Busters
Myth: Curcumin alone is the chemical compound that contributes to the anti-inflammatory property of turmeric
Curcumin as well as other chemical components present in turmeric contribute to the anti-inflammatory property of turmeric. However, curcumin has been one of the most researched compounds in turmeric that has always shown positive effects on this.
Myth: Turmeric is only effective when raw and fresh
Whether you use fresh turmeric roots, dried or powdered, it will give the same benefits. When used in cooking, it will have less bitterness when cooking as compared to the dried ones. However, all other benefits of turmeric in all forms are the same.
Myth: Turmeric prevents Alzheimer’s Disease
There are no scientifically proven facts that turmeric or curcumin alone counteracts Alzheimer disease. It does have anti-inflammation effects that might help relieve symptoms of dementia. However, turmeric roots do not cure Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Turmeric in Diet
There are three ways in which you can introduce turmeric to your diet when it comes to culinary and using it as a spice:
- Add to your curries and mixes for flavour and colour directly in the food.
- Mix it with salads, seasonings, or dressings.
- Use turmeric in marinades along with other spices and ingredients.
How to consume turmeric directly?
Here are a few quick consumption options you can try for oral consumption of turmeric:
- Turmeric milk
- Turmeric lentils soup
- Turmeric fruit smoothies
- Turmeric supplements
Summing up The Benefit of Turmeric Curcumin
Turmeric is not only a home remedy for almost every mild issue we face daily, but it also has authenticated uses in medication and drugs. It is good for digestion, fatty liver control, skin, and a lot of things we have discussed so far. Turmeric intake is good for maintaining good health and lifestyle.
Disclaimer: This article is only written for basic and general informational purposes only. The Statements contained here have not been evaluated by the FDA and neither the efficacy of these products has been confirmed by FDA-approved research. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. There’s no guarantee of specific results and the results can vary. Users must not view the content as medical advice in any way. Users are also required to ’NOT SELF-MEDICATE’ and always consult your health care professional before taking any medicines or undergoing any treatment. DivyaAyushCare and the author will not be responsible for any act or omission by the User arising from the User’s interpretation of the content.
