This sacred plant was made popular in the West by Indian cuisine and today it has been scientifically proven to have the potential to actually replace 14 pharmaceutical drugs!

It has over 600 potential preventive and therapeutic applications and is one of the most thoroughly researched plants on this planet.

It just may be the most effective nutritional supplement in the world.

This kick-ass plant is none other than Turmeric

What’s its secret weapon?

Curcumin– the main active ingredient in this spice, has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.

As an anti-inflammatory compound, it helps the body fight foreign invaders and even has a role in repairing damage!

It’s believed that chronic, low-level inflammation plays a huge role in almost every chronic, Western disease. These could include heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and various degenerative conditions. It’s safe to say that anything that can help prevent and fight off these conditions is important and beneficial in maintaining good health.

Not only does curcumin aide in inflammation, but it also boosts brain function and lowers the risk of brain diseases. Curcumin has been known to increase Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which is a type of growth hormone that functions in the brain. Many brain impairments have been linked to decreased levels of BDNF, so with the help of curcumin which increases the levels of this hormone, the effects may help delay or even reverse certain brain diseases.

We use turmeric in almost all of our dishes and have home-made capsulated turmeric powder in our medicine cabinet as a replacement for Ibuprofen. This stuff really works!

Besides serving anti-inflammatory purposes, and improving brain function, turmeric has also been known to serve as:

• antidepressants, replacing Prozac and Fluoxetine (A study of 60 patients suffering from depression showed that curcumin was as effective as Prozac in alleviating the symptoms of depression)
• the diabetes drug Metformin
• the chemotherapy drug – Oxaliplatin
• and it even lowers cholesterol like Lipitor and Atorvastatin

This is definitely something you want to keep stocked in your spice cabinet and use sparingly.Turmeric also lowers your risk of heart disease, as it improves the function of the endothelium, the lining of the blood vessels, thus improving blood flow. Studies have also shown, turmeric can prevent certain cancers. Multiple studies have shown curcumin to inhibit the growth of tumours and some evidence has shown that it may help prevent cancer from occurring in the first place.

Want to try out the beloved spice, but don’t know where to start? Here are some starter tips…

In your breakfast, just a pinch of turmeric in your scrambled eggs or frittatas can be just enough to add some flavor to your day.

• Add it to your rice to bring a pop of color and mild flavor to a side dish
• Toss it in your vegetables. Sauteed, roasted, baked, or even pan fried into your veggies and greens can be a quick and easy way to incorporate this spice into your dishes!
• Add it to your drinks! Sounds questionable? Who cares! A pinch in your smoothie or simmered with milk and honey to make a nice tea can do wonders for your health!

So what are you waiting for? Head on over to your local grocery store, grab some turmeric, and reap the benefits!

References

Axe, J. (2015, January). Turmeric Benefits Superior To 10 Medications At Reversing Disease. Retrieved November 03, 2016, from https://draxe.com/turmeric-benefits/

By Your Bowel: IBS Causes, Risk Fctors and Treatments. (n.d.). Turmeric Uses, Benefits & Dosage – Drugs.com Herbal Database. Retrieved November 03, 2016, from https://www.drugs.com/npp/turmeric.html

Gunnars, K. (2016). 10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin. Retrieved November 08, 2016, from https://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric/

Han, E. (2016, September 02). 7 Ways to Eat (& Drink!) Turmeric – Tips from The Kitchn. Retrieved November 07, 2016, from http://www.thekitchn.com/7-ways-to-eat-drink-turmeric-198696

Ji, S. (2013, May 13). Science Confirms Turmeric As Effective As 14 Drugs. Retrieved November 03, 2016, from http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/science-confirms-turmeric-effective-14-drugs

Narayan, S. (2003). Curcumin, A Multi-Functional Chemopreventive Agent, Blocks Growth of Colon Cancer Cells by Targeting β-Catenin-Mediated Transactivation and Cell–Cell Adhesion Pathways. Journal of Molecular Histology, 35(3), 301-307. doi:10.1023/b:hijo.0000032361.98815.bb

Ravindran, J., Prasad, S., & Aggarwal, B. B. (2009). Curcumin and Cancer Cells: How Many Ways Can Curry Kill Tumor Cells Selectively? The AAPS Journal, 11(3), 495-510. doi:10.1208/s12248-009-9128-x

Sanmukhani, J., Satodia, V., Trivedi, J., Patel, T., Tiwari, D., Panchal, B., . . . Tripathi, C. B. (2013). Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Phytotherapy Research, 28(4), 579-585. doi:10.1002/ptr.5025

VP, M., & AR, S. (2007). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin. Retrieved November 03, 2016, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17569207/