Turmeric is a golden spice widely used in cooking and beauty routines. It may be one of the most effective nutritional supplements in existence. Turmeric comes from the turmeric plant and commonly used in Asian food. Probably it been known as the main spice in curry. Turmeric has a warm and bitter taste and frequently been used to color or flavor curry powders, butters, mustards and cheeses. Turmeric roots are also used widely to make the medicines.

Curcumin a yellow colored chemical found in turmeric which is often used to color the foods and cosmetics. Turmeric is used commonly for the conditions involving inflammation and pain such as osteoarthritics. It is also used for depression, hey fever, high cholesterol, itching and a type of liver disease.

Turmeric is available commercially in roots, ayurvedic soap and turmeric powders and also been used in many spices and herbs.

There are many proven health benefits of turmeric and curcumin, some are given below:

Anti-Inflammatory- Anti-inflammatory property is one of the well-known benefits of turmeric. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to the injury. As turmeric is rich in curcumin, it can be helpful to reduce the inflammation by blocking the tissue inflammation enzymes.

Protect from Stroke and Heart Disease- a condition the causes most strokes and heart attacks, atherosclerosis develops when a plaque builds up in arteries walls, making them harder for flowing the blood through. Curcumin improves the endothelium function in the form of regulating the blood pressure and blood clotting and also control the bad cholesterol levels.

Improves the Brain Functions- turmeric plays an important role by helping to protect our brain from several diseases. Curcumin can increase the hormone Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels and keeps our brain healthy and also slowdown the ageing effects on our brain functions.

Brightens up Your Skin- turmeric having the incredible benefits if it been applied on the skin. It helps to reduce the scars of acne and treat the acne, soothes the irritated skin and helps to stop or even reverse the sun damage of our skin. Turmeric can be applied on skin for sprains, pain, bruising, swelling, leech bites, inflammatory skin conditions, skin sores and acne. Just make a face mask by using the simplest ingredients: oats, oil water and turmeric.

Vitamins and Mineral Source- Turmeric is a very powerful source of the vitamins such as choline, pyridoxine, niacin and riboflavin. The fresh roots having the good levels of vitamin C, a natural antioxidant and a water-soluble vitamin which helps the body to support its immune system. Turmeric also contains the minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, copper, zinc, manganese and magnesium.

Can Help to Prevent Cancer- there are many researches that says that curcumin may help to prevent some kinds of cancer, especially like colorectal cancer.

May Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease- curcumin found in turmeric have a potential role in treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s; its anti-inflammatory, antioxidants and lipophilic action improves the functions called cognitive functions in patients having Alzheimer’s disease.

Having high dose of curcumin can lead to headache, diarrhea, yellow stool and rash. That’s why it is strongly recommended to start small dose of turmeric.