Turmeric

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Popularly used in Indian cuisine, turmeric root has been shown to have a broad number of possible health benefits. Acting as a strong antioxidant and well known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric supports a healthy digestive system, brain function, cardiovascular system and joint health.

Turmeric (non-GMO) is one of nature’s most powerful healers. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Turmeric has been used for over 2500 years in India, where it was most likely first used as a dye.

The medicinal properties of this spice have been slowly revealing themselves over the centuries. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that turmeric is a natural wonder, proving beneficial for many different health conditions.

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Why Try Turmeric Superfood?

Supporting a healthy immune system
Supporting healthy brain function
Helping spur the production of glutathione, the body’s “master antioxidant”
Supporting healthy cell replication
Natural painkiller, cox-2, & 5-LOX inhibitor
Supporting healthy bones, joints, & overall skeletal system
Possibly inhibiting the growth of new blood vessels in unhealthy tissue
Helping maintain healthy cholesterol levels to support your cardiovascular system
Supports neurological health
May support healthy liver function
May support skin health from ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) damage
Strong anti-inflammatory properties
Boosting the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel & reduces its side effects
Supporting a healthy digestive system
Supporting your memory function especially when combined with green tea
Natural antiseptic & antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts & burns
Supporting healthy circulatory system
Supporting a healthy immune response
May maintain cell integrity when threatened by occasional environmental stressors
May aid in fat metabolism & help in weight management
May support heart health
Supporting healthy joint function
Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma
Supports a healthy female reproductive system
Supports your overall eye health
Shows promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice
Cleansing your skin & maintain its elasticity
Protective benefits from radiation
Providing the antioxidants you need to help support your cells against excessive oxidation & free radicals
Promotes your radiant skin & Provide nourishment to your skin
May help to reduce amyloid plaque buildup in the brain
Helping maintain blood sugar levels already within the normal range
Assisting your neurological system’s healthy response to stress
Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for mental health
Balancing the effects of skin flora
Helping you maintain healthy cells with support against free radicals

Turmeric benefits for diabetes

The benefits of turmeric are abundant and this natural supplement or ingredient can help in many different areas of your health. Here, we’re going to discuss the following benefits of turmeric:

Turmeric and blood sugar levels
Turmeric and insulin resistance
Turmeric and diabetic vascular disease
How turmeric interacts with blood vessels
Health benefits of turmeric

Let’s start with your blood sugar levels.

Blood sugar levels and turmeric

In type 2 diabetes, blood sugar levels are often elevated due to insulin being unable to do its job. This means that turmeric benefits for TII diabetes can be plentiful as turmeric helps reduce glucose levels, and therefore blood sugar levels.

It works by stimulating the cells in the pancreas to produce more insulin , which is exactly what you need if you have type 2 diabetes.

Curcumin, turmeric’s key component, is thought to improve insulin resistance and glucose uptake by the tissues, especially in patients who have both type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome .

Turmeric and diabetic vascular disease

Diabetic vascular disease is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. The endothelium, which are the cells that line your blood vessels, play an integral role in the health of your blood vessels.

When you have diabetes, endothelial dysfunction occurs because elevated glucose levels damage these cells and this is a key step in the pathology of this vascular disease.

Turmeric can help to protect against endothelial dysfunction as turmeric also provides protective effects on the endothelium.

How turmeric interacts with blood vessels

In diabetes, turmeric can protect against endothelial dysfunction by decreasing inflammatory adhesion molecules , which are molecules which leech into the endothelium when there’s inflammation.

This then allows inflammation to occur in your blood vessels which prevents them from opening or contracting normally, but can prevent this from happening. In fact, turmeric’s protective effects on the endothelium are comparable to those of a pharmaceutical drug used in diabetic patients, but with significantly fewer side effects .

Turmeric and blood sugar levels

So there you have it: turmeric help to improve insulin resistance and reduce blood sugar levels. If you have problems with your blood sugar levels, turmeric can definitely help and it is reportedly free of side effects, unlike its pharmaceutical alternatives.

Turmeric and insulin resistance

If you have type 2 diabetes or high glucose levels, turmeric can help as turmeric benefits for diabetes turmeric helps to improve insulin resistance. Insulin sensitivity is the ability of the cells to respond to insulin and glucose is taken up from the blood into tissues where it can be used as a fuel or stored for later.

By improving insulin sensitivity, turmeric reduces glucose levels as more glucose can be taken up from the blood which reduces your overall blood sugar levels.

Turmeric and vascular disease in diabetics

Turmeric is also thought to protect against vascular disease as turmeric improves endothelial function, keeping your blood vessels healthy.

How turmeric interacts with blood vessels

Finally, turmeric has been shown to decrease inflammatory molecules which can damage the endothelium in diabetic patients and it has also been shown to be as effective as a pharmaceutical drug but with fewer negative side effects.

If you haven’t tried it already, turmeric could be an excellent supplement for you if you have type 2 diabetes. There are many turmeric supplements available at health stores and can be added to your diet.

More health benefits of turmeric:

Turmeric has been noted to help with antioxidant and anti inflammatory responses. Free radicals are molecules which damage cells and can lead to diseases such as cancer , so antioxidants are molecules which reduce the effects of free radicals.

Antioxidants act by reducing or neutralizing oxidizing agents, such as free radicals.

There are many diseases in which oxidation reactions play a role, so it is suggested that an increased intake of antioxidants could benefit these patients.

Anti Inflammatory Properties and Turmeric

Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutases (SOD) and catalase also protect the mitochondria in your cells by reducing oxidative stress .

Free radicals can damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer, so antioxidants can help to reduce this effect and prevent damage from occurring.

As well as its antioxidant and anti inflammatory effects, turmeric has been shown to have analgesic properties , so it can help reduce pain.

Bile, Turmeric, and breaking down fats?

Turmeric also helps to improve digestion by increasing bile secretion . Bile is a digestive juice produced in the liver which helps with fat absorption. It is stored in the gallbladder before being released into the small intestine where it helps to break down fats.

Turmeric also has antiseptic properties so it can help treat wounds and prevent infection, as well as being antibacterial.

Additionally, turmeric is considered anti fungal , so it can be used to prevent or treat infections such as athlete’s foot.

Also, turmeric could help with depression as it reduces the effects of stress on the body by reducing its effect on the HPA axis .

Turmeric also has anti-carcinogenic properties, meaning that it prevents cancer cells from multiplying. It does this by preventing bile acid induced activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway in human breast cancer cells.

Turmeric is also thought to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease as it reduces the formation of amyloid plaques which are involved in Alzheimer’s.

Turmeric and immunity

Turmeric is also great for your immune system and can help the body fight infections.

Some people may suffer from IBS or other bowel disorders, in which case turmeric benefits will really come to light as it has been noted that turmeric can reduce intestinal inflammation and protect against ulcerative colitis.

Another condition that turmeric benefits is arthritis and it can reduce joint swelling and stiffness.

Turmeric also helps with depression and anxiety as the curcumin in turmeric stimulates dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine which will improve your mood.

Finally, people report great results from using turmeric for hair loss!

How much turmeric should a diabetic take daily?

Some people are taking up to 500mg of turmeric daily, but it is suggested that you should take up to 800mg.

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