Turmeric benefits, like treating fever, colds and intestinal problems, lowering cholesterol and promoting weight loss are made possible due to its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains bioactive compounds like curcumin, demetoxicurcumin and bisdemetoxicurcumin, which is why it can offer several benefits for your health.

Turmeric, also known as curcuma or Curcuma longa, is a type of flowering plant with roots that are ground up into a powder. It is commonly used to season meat or vegetables, especially in India and eastern countries, but it is also often added to skin care products to help treat skin conditions like acne.

Turmeric is easily found in natural health stores, supermarkets and farmer's markets, but it also available in the form of oral capsule and creams.

This content is solely for informative purposes and should not replace a medical consultation. Do not interrupt your current treatment without seeking medical guidance.

Health benefits

Turmeric benefits include:

1. Preventing cancer

Turmeric contains phenolic compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to prevent the development of some types of cancer, like colon, breast, intestinal, bladder and bone marrow cancers.

This plant can also combat cancerous cells and increase the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, more studies are needed to support the effects of turmeric against cancer.

2. Reducing cholesterol

Due to its antioxidant proeprties, turmeric can help to reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. This can be beneficial for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases like heart attack, stroke and atherosclerosis.

3. Relieving pain

When used for therapeutic purposes, turmeric can help to relieve headaches and joint pain. It can be used for rheumatoid arthritis, for example, which is associated with joint inflammation that causes pain and difficulty moving.

4. Promoting weight loss

Turmeric can help with weight loss due to its thermogenic action. It can stimulate increased fat and energy burning.

Turmeric can also help to reduce inflammatory markers in the blood, which can become elevated in cases of obesity.

5. Preventing neurodegenerative diseases

Turmeric contains potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action that helps to boost cognitive capacity and prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or dementia.

6. Managing diabetes

This medicinal plant improves pancreatic cell function. This organ is responsible for insulin secretion, which is needed for blood sugar management. Therefore, using turmeric is a great option for patinets with insuling resistance or diabetes.

7. Preventing allergy-related conditions

Some studies ^[1],[2], show that turmeric can help to prevent allergy-related conditions, like allergic rhinitis, allergic sinusitis and asthma. It inhibits the production of cytokines and IgE, which are substances that the immune system boosts production of during allergy flare-up

8. Treating intestinal problems

Because of its anti-inflammatory and digestive properties, turmeric is often recommended as a complementary treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases, like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

9. Improving skin health

Because of its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant action, turmeric can be prescribed in cream or capsule form to complement the medical treatment of skin issues like acne, alopecia, dermatitis, lichens planus or psoriasis.

10. Complimenting depression treatment

Turmeric can impact the balance between serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters that are essential for well-being and good mood. Therefore, turmeric can be a great option to complement the treatment of illnesses like depression, anxiety or stress.

Additionally, turmeric can also help to inhibit the formation of blood clots and even contributes to relieving premenstrual cramps.

Difference between turmeric and saffron

Saffron (Crocus sativus) is a flower with red filaments. It is rich in crocin, crocetin, safranal and kaempferol, which are bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action. Learn more about all the health benefits that saffron can offer.

Turmeric is a type of root that is more similar to ginger. It is orange and is rich in curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, which are bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action.

How to use turmeric

The most common way of buying turmeric is as a ground-up powder made from the plant’s roots. This powder can be used to season food, however, there are also turmeric capsules available for purchase. Alternatively, leaves from the turmeric plant can also be used for making turmeric tea.

Turmeric tea: Place 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in 150 ml of boiling water and let it infuse for 10 to 15 minutes. Then allow it cool down, and drink up to 3 cups a day, in between meals;
Turmeric capsules: generally the recommended dosage is two 250mg capsules every 12 hours, adding to a total of 1 gram per day. However, dosage may vary depending on the underlying need for treatment ;
Turmeric gel: Mix a tablespoon of aloe vera with ground turmeric and apply on skin inflammations such as psoriasis.

To improve the absorption of the antioxidants present in turmeric, this root should be consumed together with oils, such as olive oil, coconut oil or avocado oil.

Possible side effects

Side effects like stomach irritation and nausea can occur after excessive intake of turmeric.

Who should avoid consuming turmeric

Even though it has several health benefits, turmeric is not advised for patients who are taking anticoagulants or patients who have bile duct obstruction due to gall stones. Additionally, turmeric should only be taken under doctor supervision during pregnancy or lactation.