Turmeric may be a delicious spice, but its flavor isn’t the only reason why thousands of people try to eat turmeric every day. Turmeric contains a powerful compound known as curcumin, which provides dozens of fantastic health benefits. For this reason, turmeric has been a key medicinal ingredient for thousands of years, and scientists are still unlocking its secrets to this day! Here are just seven of the fantastic health benefits associated with eating turmeric. 

1. Turmeric Could Help Fight Cancer

Scientific research conducted on animals and in the laboratory has shown turmeric, specifically high doses of curcumin, to be effective at slowing the growth and spread of cancer as well as actively killing cancerous cells. At present, it’s important to note that these studies have not been replicated on humans, but they are extremely promising! 

2. Turmeric Is A Powerful Antioxidant

Turmeric may not be the cure for cancer, but it can help to prevent cancerous cells from forming in the first place. This is because curcumin is a potent and powerful antioxidant; in fact, it’s eight times more potent than vitamin E! Antioxidants help fight free-radicals in the body, preventing them from causing damage to healthy cells and ultimately reducing the risk of cancerous mutations forming. 

3. Turmeric Is Anti-inflammatory 

Inflammation isn’t always harmful, but too much inflammation can have long-term side effects, and so we must control inflammation levels in the body. The good news is, turmeric and curcumin have strong anti-inflammatory properties and have been proven to reduce the symptoms of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. 

4. Turmeric Is Great For The Skin

Because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, turmeric is a popular skincare ingredient and makes a great addition to a homemade face mask. It effectively soothes and helps to heal eczema and psoriasis and can also help to reduce the symptoms of inflammatory acne by controlling microbial growth on the skin. Whether you suffer from these skin conditions or simply want to delay aging, then turmeric makes a great addition to your skincare routine. 

5. Turmeric Helps To Improve Brain Function 

As we age, levels of the brain hormone BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) start to decline. This makes it harder for our brain to make new neurological connections and heal itself. Fortunately, curcumin has been found to boost this BDNF hormone’s levels, helping the brain grow new neurons that can help fight degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s. 

6. Turmeric Can Lower Your Risk Of Heart Disease

Heart disease is very complex, and many factors can increase your risk. One of these factors is the health of the endothelium. The endothelium is the lining of your blood vessel. If the endothelium is not functioning correctly, this can cause many problems, including those that lead to heart disease. Thankfully, several studies have shown curcumin to be effective at improving endothelial function - in fact, one study found curcumin to be as effective as exercise on endothelial health, and another found it to be more effective than a leading medication. 

7. Turmeric Can Help Those With Depression 

Finally, turmeric isn’t just good for the body; it’s great for the mind too. We’ve already mentioned how curcumin can help to increase BDNF hormone levels, and as it turns out, reduced levels of this hormone can lead to depression. In a study of 60 people, curcumin was as effective as Prozac in alleviating their depression symptoms - indicating that it could be a great alternative to antidepressants.  

If you’re interested in learning more about turmeric, check out our blog, Everything You Need To Know About Turmeric, for a deep dive into all things turmeric!