
Tumeric, also referred to as Indian saffron, is a spice that has been used in India for centuries and has recently become popular in the health and fitness world. You may have heard of it or even taken some, but do you really know how it can help you?
Tumeric contains curcumin, which is an anti-inflammatory compound high in antioxidants. The percentage of curcumin in turmeric, however, is not very high, so just spicing your food with tumeric will likely not be enough to have an effect. Taking supplements with higher amounts of curcumin can be more beneficial, and in fact taking black pepper along with it can help even more. Black pepper actually assists with the absorption of curcumin into the blood. Curcumin additionally acts as an antioxidant and stimulate the body’s antioxidant systems.

So why is inflammation bad and why should you want to keep it down? Inflammation is believed to be a large factor in major illnesses such as Alzhiemer’s, heart disease, and cancer. In fact, studies show that curcumin assists in the killing of cancerous cells and can limit metastasis to other parts of the body. Another common health problem is arthritis, inflammation of the joints that often occurs in older age from overuse of the body. One study showed that people with prediabetes were less likely to develop diabetes after taking curcumin for 9 months. Although there is not much evidence, many people claim that tumeric helps with headaches, which is likely because of its relation to ginger, and is helpful to get rid of acne because of its antibacterial properties. Keeping your inflammation down could help reduce your risk of these problems.
So can tumeric save your health? Maybe. If it can prevent cancer or another similar illness by keeping your inflammation low, it is definitely worth it in the long run to supplement it into your diet. At SD Discount Nutrition we carry a large variety of Turmeric and anti-inflammatory superfoods. Stop by and speak with one of our certified nutrition experts, and we’ll be happy to discuss turmeric and answer any health related questions that you may have.
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