Turmeric has been long known as an ancient spice especially in Asian countries. It is commonly used in curry for giving the yellowish color while improving the taste. More than just being a herb, turmeric comes with a long list of health benefits due to its nutrient. It has been proved by the numerous researches and studies that claimed this super-herb is amazingly great for the health with minimum side effects.
Turmeric root powder, which is actually the same type of regular turmeric used in the kitchen that comes in powder form, also provides the same benefits. Learn more what this super herb carries inside the bright-colored flesh.
Turmeric Root Powder Nutrition Value
This long list of nutrition in turmeric root powder can be helpful to let you know why this herb is wonderful. Turmeric root powder nutrition in one tablespoon includes:
- Carbohydrates 4.6 gr
- Fat 0.2 gr
- Protein 0.7 gr
- Sodium 1.8 mg
- Potassium 141.4 mg
- Sugar 0.2 gr
- Fiber 1.5 gr
- Vitamin E 0.3 mg
- Calcium 11.4 mg
- Iron 3.7 mg
- Magnesium 14.1 mg
- Phosphorus 20.3 mg
- Zinc 0.3 mg
- Copper 0.1 mg
- Manganese 1.3 mg
- Niacin 0.1 mg
- Choline 3.3 mg
- Betaine 0.7 mg
- Water 0.9 g
Hold on. There are still some other nutrition might not list above, so you can actually gain more than what this long list provides.
Health Benefits of Turmeric Root Powder
Here are the health benefits of turmeric root powder:
- Managing Diabetes
Curcumin is the main nutrient found in turmeric and this substance can help keeping the blood sugar steady, thus preventing diabetes. The effectiveness of curcumin for diabetes is even said to be better than the common diabetes drug, metformin. Â Many benefits of cherry for diabetic patients can help you choose the right treatment aside from consuming turmeric powder.
- Being Anti-Inflammatory
If ibuprofen and aspirin are well known for their anti-inflammatory agents, now you have another better, more natural option, turmeric. The primary ingredient of turmeric, curcumin is even better than those two popular anti-inflammatory compounds. This is why turmeric is great in preventing many kinds of inflammation-related diseases such as osteoarthritis.
- Preventing Blood Clotting
Blood clotting is among one of the causes of heart disease. This condition happens when the blood flow distracted by platelets forming in one area of it. The curcumin in turmeric is helpful in preventing the clot formed in your blood, keeping your blood flow healthy.
- Maintaining Healthy Heart
Due to its ability in preventing blood clotting, turmeric is at the same time maintaining your healthy heart. Its anti-inflammatory agent is also great for the heart. Curcumin, according to some studies done to animals, can also lower the cholesterol level in your body, thus resulting with healthier heart. Â
- Regulating Cholesterol
There are many health benefits of Turmeric Root Powder. Its effectiveness in keeping the heart healthy is also supported by its ability in regulating cholesterol in the body. Curcumin is good in managing oxidative stress, which is the main cause of the high level of bad cholesterol or LDL. It can reduce oxidative stress without giving harmful side effects.
- Treating Depression
Instead of taking medicines like Prozac when you are stressed and depressed, include turmeric root powder in your dish since the curcumin can also do the job. Such medicine always carries dangerous side effects in a long-term consumption, yet turmeric is natural and safe.
- Boosting Mood
More than just treating depression, turmeric is a great mood booster too. According to studies, curcumin in turmeric can boost serotonin level, which plays significant role in regulating mood. To maximize this function, you can combine consuming curcumin with amino acid since it can help serotonin work well.
- Preventing Cancer
Curcumin is the main nutrition in turmeric and this is a powerful antioxidant that can prevent some types of cancer such as colon cancer. This antioxidant also contains anti-inflammatory properties that can give more protection. Learn the health benefits of papaya leaves for cancer as well to give you more food recommendation for your diet. Â
- Promoting Healthy Liver
Curcumin can be used as substitution to some drugs related to some conditions such as depression and high blood sugar level. Instead of taking drugs, consuming curcumin is much safer since it is all natural. Also, while many drugs are potential in damaging the liver, curcumin does the opposite. It even supports your liver health aside from targeting certain health problem. It helps your body remove the toxins by improving the liver function thanks to its antioxidant.
- Treating Alzheimer
Alzheimer is closely related to inflammation and turmeric is closely related with this, so using turmeric to prevent Alzheimer can be proper. Cognitive degradations are the main cause of dementia and Alzheimer. By stimulating the neural activity in the brain turmeric root powder keeps your brain healthy, yet more studies are needed to prove this.
- Boosting Skin Health
More than just good for your overall health, turmeric is wonderful for your skin as well. First, it keeps your skin away from pimples. If you have already had pimples, don’t worry about the scars because turmeric can remove them. Second, it promotes healing in skin irritation and cut since it has antiseptic properties.
More interestingly, it fights wrinkles and pigmentation to make your skin look younger thanks to the high amount of antioxidants. So if you need the best skincare ingredient, turmeric root powder can be one of them.
- Fighting Obesity
Don’t give your body too many tasks if you want to lose weight faster. Some conditions related with inflammation can make your body busy to address them so it doesn’t have time to burn more calories. By accelerating the metabolism rate in your body turmeric supports the burning-calorie process, making you slimmer. There are also many benefits of sugarcane juice for weight loss, so instead of turmeric milk, this can be a good beverage too.
- Addressing Menstrual Issues
Still talking about its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is great in treating menstrual issues such as cramps and bloating. Now you don’t need to take any supplement, just go natural with this super herb.
- Easing Arthritis Inflammation
The benefits of turmeric as anti-inflammation compounds are abundant; one of them is easing the symptoms of arthritis including stiffness and joint pain. Nevertheless, just because curcumin provides anti-inflammatory properties doesn’t make it substitution for drugs. You can include turmeric root powder in your diet by adding it to your favorite dishes or combining it with black pepper to make it even more powerful.
- Speeding Up Recovery
Not only because of its anti-inflammatory properties, but also many other beneficial properties in turmeric are helpful in speeding up recovery. If you have experienced surgery, consuming turmeric can help you recover faster from the inside while preventing your body from infections. Whether the fatigue condition or the wounds, both of them are well addressed by turmeric.
- Healing Bone Fractures
The anti-inflammation properties in curcumin are miraculous. Aside from giving you benefits listed above, curcumin along those properties can heal bone fractures faster as well. Drinking turmeric milk is one of the best ways for helping from the inside while applying turmeric paste to the painful areas aids the healing process.
- Relieving Cold and Flu
Turmeric milk has been long used as a traditional remedy for relieving cold and flu in India. You can also use turmeric oil for treating this condition or you can even inhale burned turmeric for relieving the congestion. If you need another option, there are many benefits of ginger root for cold and flu that can also ease the symptoms.Â
Cautions of Consuming Turmeric Root Powder
Although turmeric is natural and safe, there are still some cautions to take into consideration so you can consume it properly to get the benefits.
- Turmeric and Curcumin
These two things are very closely related because inside turmeric you can find curcumin. However, you need to know that these two are different. Turmeric is herb that contains many other compounds aside from the curcumin while curcumin itself is a powerful antioxidant that you can find from supplements.
- Turmeric Powder is Another Case
Turmeric is natural, but the powder version might be different. If you buy the commercial turmeric powder, you should be aware since some ingredients are possibly added. Some of them are pure and safe, but some more can be mixed with wheat, rye or cassava starch. Moreover, some brands can have food colorants too. The best way to consume turmeric is actually in its natural form, but if you have to use the powder version make sure it is pure.
- Recommendation Intake
If you consume turmeric for culinary, there is no recommendation intake and you can use as much as you need it. However, when consumed in form of supplements you need to consult it with doctor first if you are under certain conditions like pregnant or nursing.
Now that you have learned the health benefits of turmeric and curcumin, don’t feel doubt to add it in your dishes since it more than just colors your foods, but also improve your health.