Benefits of Turmeric

The exotic spice proven to have anti-inflammatory properties

Certain spices can be added to a meal to boost their flavour, but the addition of spices can also greatly impact ones health. One spice is loaded with health benefits and proven to help reduce inflammation of joints, is turmeric. Yasmin Muswell, in-house nutritionist for Boundless, explains why.

Turmeric comes from the root of Curcuma longa, a flowering plant of the ginger family. It’s often sold in spice jars. However, if bought fresh, it looks similar to ginger root with a more intense yellow to golden colour. You can consume turmeric in a variety of different ways, either by tablet form, as a tea, capsules or in its simple powder form. In India, turmeric is used to treat skin conditions and digestive issues - in fact, it’s a staple of Ayurvedic medicine, a form of traditional healing. Another of its most famous benefits is to reduce inflammation, including inflamed joints.

Anti-inflammatory

The most researched beneficial substance found in the turmeric root is curcumin. Yasmin explained: "Turmeric and curcumin, can impact inflammatory pathways in the body, giving it it’s powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

Research has shown benefits of turmeric supplements reducing inflammation with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis and reducing abdominal pain in IBS sufferers.

Although much of the research focuses on reducing inflammation in these more diagnosable conditions, we can benefit from anti-inflammatory actions that turmeric has to offer to counterbalance inflammation coming from a more westernised style diet."

Other benefits of turmeric

Antioxidant

Turmeric is a source of potent antioxidants which work to protect our cells and counteract the free radical damage produced daily by our bodies.

Yasmin said: "Cellular damage may occur due to environmental toxins, smoking and pollution for example."

Source of minerals

As well as counting antioxidant agents, turmeric is also a source of certain minerals, including manganese, phosphorous and potassium which play a key role in bone, muscle and heart health.

Yasmin advised: "Adding turmeric to your diet regularly can increase your intake of minerals which are essential for daily bodily functions."

Effective against pain

Yasmin said: "Turmeric can elicit effects upon certain pain receptors within the body, with research showing effectiveness for abdominal pain, chest pain and menstrual cramps."

Heart and circulation

Turmeric may improve blood flow to the heart and reduce risk of plaque build-up in the arteries.

Yasmin added: "These mechanisms of action can reduce the risk of developing, which is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases worldwide."