Turmeric is one of the most common and popularly used spice. It is widely used in the Indian cuisine to get that pleasant yellow colour in the dishes. This spice has been used for hundreds of years for medicinal, antixidants and anti inflammatory properties. A number of studies have shown the benefits of turmeric for the body and brain. This spice can be found in every household of our Country. The most important bio active compounds in haldi are called Curcuminiods. Curcumin infact is the most active ingredient in turmeric which is loaded with antioxidants. Curcumin is known to have numerous anti inflammatory properties.
Ayurvedic properties
- Turmeric tastes bitter and pungent
- It is dry and light
- It’s potency is hot
- It balances vata and kapha as it’s hot and it balances pitta due to it’s bitter taste. It balances all three doshas
Health benefits of Turmeric
- Has anti inflammatory properties
- Is rich in antioxidants
- Boosts brain functioning
- Turmeric is good for heart health
- It helps fight stress, anxiety and depression
- It improves the skin health and helps prevent acne
- It improves digestion and provides relief in pain
- Turmeric improves bone health and improves liver function
- Turmeric helps fight allergies and boosts immunity
- It boosts metabolism
- Turmeric helps in detoxification and prevents metabolic syndrome
- It increases the bile production in the body and has anti bacterial properties
- Turmeric acts as an preservative in food
- It also improves senses before we eat food
Some additional information about Turmeric
- Fresh or raw haldi has more nutrients and important oils as compared to dry or powdered haldi
- One should always buy organically certified haldi
- Bio availability of curcumin increases when haldi is heated slightly. This is due to certain enzymes that get activated when it’s heated
- But extreme heating can destroy curcumin by 25-55 %
- You can add any other agent to cut down the damage of curcumin
Benefits of Turmeric in Weight Loss
- Curcumin can supress fat tissue growth
- It increases bile production in stomach
- It helps regulate blood sugar and boosts metabolism in the body
- It also helps improve digestive enzymes in the body
- Combining turmeric with black pepper increases the absorption of curcumin by upto 2000 %
- You can also combine turmeric with cinnamon or nutmeg to increase benefits
- Turmeric can be combined with ginger to boost immunity and fight infection
- Best time to consume turmeric for medicinal use is at night
Side effects of excessive use
- Can cause heart burn and ulcers
- Too much drop in blood sugar
- Pregnant women should be careful while using
- People on blood thinning medications should be careful
- Women facing heavy bleeding should take care
- It may hinder absorption of iron, leading to iron deficiency