All hail the Queen of Herbs.
Possibly one of the most well-known medicinal spice in the world, Turmeric has been continuously cultivated since almost 3000 BC. This tropical plant, which looks a lot like ginger, belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and has the scientific name Curcuma longa. Most of the world’s Turmeric exports come from India (90%) where it is regarded as both traditional medicine and essential spice.
As tribute to this wonderful fab spice, we’ve listed five medicinal health benefits of Turmeric that you need to know.
- The Most Potent Antioxidant
As one of the most potent superfoods available today, Turmeric is filled to the brim with medicinal benefits. First of which is its antioxidant property. While oxygen is very much essential to life here on earth, without it we’ll die, it is also one of the causes of certain diseases. Free radicals cause rapid aging, body decay, and breakdown. Furthermore, they can also damage DNA and cells. Antioxidants, such as Turmeric, fight these free radicals. Curcumin, a compound only available in turmeric, is very effective in neutralizing and preventing the development of free radicals.
- Effective Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Carcinogenic
Another medicinal quality of Turmeric is anti-inflammation. Inflammation, the natural reaction of the body to injury or infection, is needed by the body to restore normal tissue function. On the other hand, chronic inflammation happens if inflammation persists for a prolonged period. This can be caused by an allergy, infection, or a reaction of the immune system. It goes without saying that taking Turmeric will help you control inflammation. Turmeric is often cited as the most effective anti-inflammatory compounds in the world.
Lastly, studies have also shown that curcumin possesses anti-cancer properties. This medicinal compound can kill cancer cells and prevent them from growing. Also, it can also help with chemotherapy resistance in patients.
- Newly Discovered Antidepressant
It is estimated that there are 350 million people worldwide that are currently affected by some form of depression. Most of them are unaware that 
clinical depression is a real health issue while some of them take pharmaceutical pills to mask the symptoms away. Both are dangerous since the former ensures that a person afflicted with clinical depression won’t be having the treatment they need, and the latter because pharmaceutical antidepressants are linked with the increased rates of hostility, impulsivity, mania, and even suicide.
An effective natural cure for depression is Turmeric. Curcumin has been proven to function as an antidepressant when tested on animals. This compound enhances the nerve growth in the hippocampus and the frontal cortex areas of the brain.
- Good for the Digestive System
One of the key ingredients of curry and is also used for tea by millions of people, Turmeric is not just for a spice for cooking or drinking. It can also help ease your digestive problems. Among these complications is heartburn. It is estimated that more than 60 million Americans suffer from heartburn at least once a month. The simplest way to be rid of this is to avoid alcohol, caffeine, fatty foods, and cigarettes. If that doesn’t work, you can try eating a teaspoon of Turmeric twice a day to prevent heartburn.
People having mild but frequent stomach pain can also turn to Turmeric to ease their digestive problems. If the stomach pain doesn’t disappear with a lifestyle change or a carefully planned meal plan, try taking one teaspoon of Turmeric everyday since it can help alleviate the pain. Other than that, Turmeric can also help ease diarrhea. The magnesium and potassium found in Turmeric can help you rehydrate while other vitamins and minerals found in it can assist your body in improving digestion and immunity.
- Can Help with Your Looks
Other than the medicinal qualities and the immense help Turmeric is when seasoning dishes, it can also be used to improve your looks, or make yourself even more dazzling. Studies have corroborated that Turmeric can revive your skin and bring out its natural glow. Also, say goodbye to scars and hello to a smoother skin because Turmeric can help your wounds heal faster by decreasing inflammation and oxidation. This can also be useful in reducing acne and in turn, reduce the black spots and scars due to pimples on your face. Further studies are being conducted to see the other health benefits of Turmeric on skin health.
The Golden Spice
With all these medicinal benefits and health advantages, it is not a surprise that Turmeric is regarded as the “Golden Spice.” It is not just a cornucopia of nutrients and minerals, it is also a wonderful spice that brings flavor to both tea and curry, two notable contributions of Southern Asia to the world. Due to its known medicinal benefits, Turmeric is also being used as a primary component of herbal supplements for diabetes and other diseases. Also, you can enjoy Turmeric in tea form as millions of people do.
