The many benefits of turmeric

Turmeric is not just a spice. It is a medicinal herb with major health benefits that has the potential to prevent, treat and cure many diseases in our society today. Truth be told, turmeric can also stain the crap out of a clean, white shirt so don’t spill the stuff. And today, people are taking turmeric in all kinds of supplements.

But the use of Turmeric for health is not a modern phenomenon. Turmeric has been in use in South Asia for thousands of years, but only in the last 100 years or so has it become popular with Western cultures. (We’re always a little behind on this kinda stuff. Industrial revolutions? We crush it, but the herbal stuff? Eh.

The benefits of Turmeric have been studied by major medical institutions like the Cleveland Clinic and have been written about in publications like U.S. News. So we'll reference some medical studies that get into details we can't really understand but you can dig further to learn more.

But to start; Turmeric is a root similar in size to ginger. Its active ingredient is curcumin, an anti-inflammatory that may help with diseases in which inflammation plays a role - from arthritis to ulcerative colitis.

Lessens inflammation

For chronic conditions where inflammation starts to affect tissues in your body, taking turmeric may be beneficial. In one study of patients with ulcerative colitis, people who took 2 grams of curcumin a day along with prescription medication were more likely to stay in remission than those who took the medicine alone.

Improves memory

Turmeric has been shown to improve memory, something the two middle-aged guys who started Mad Dandy really need help with. One study showed that 90 milligrams of curcumin taken twice a day for 18 months helped improve memory performance in adults without dementia.

Protects the liver

Turmeric may be beneficial for people with hepatitis or other conditions that affect the liver. (This does not include knuckleheads who just plain drink too much. You don't need turmeric, you need to, maybe, drink less?) The curcumin in turmeric has been shown to decrease swelling and inflammation while protecting against some of the damage caused by these conditions.

Helps fight depression

In people who suffer from depression, a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is reduced and your hippocampus, which helps with memory and learning, begins to shrink. Curcumin can raise BDNF levels and may reverse these changes according to a study from the Hindawi Scientific World Journal. Curcumin may also increase levels of serotonin and dopamine — which are chemicals in your brain that regulate mood and other body functions

Lessens pain

Research suggests that taking turmeric extract could potentially reduce pain from osteoarthritis. It may also slow down the overall progression of this condition. Though further medical studies are still needed, turmeric has deep roots in both Chinese traditional medicine and Ayurveda for treating arthritis. 

Improves the skin

Curcumin may prevent skin aging and cancer, including melanoma. It triggers cell death in precancerous skin cells, so it shows promise for preventing skin cancer. It also decreases the secretion of proteins known as keratins that contribute to the skin’s outer layer becoming tough and scaly.

Lowers risk of heart disease

This is a pretty big statement, but turmeric could lower the risk of heart disease thanks to its ability to help reduce inflammation and oxidation. You can read studies showing how turmeric may help reverse the heart disease process. In healthy middle-aged and older adults who took curcumin supplements for 12 weeks, resistance artery endothelial production — which plays a significant role in high blood pressure — was increased.

Alzheimer’s

Curcumin extract is currently being studied as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease. It may block the formation of protein fragments, called beta-amyloid and tau protein, which form the plaques found in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

So there you go; some of the many known benefits and potential benefits of turmeric. And there are 200 grams of it in every delicious cup of Mad Dandy, the original pre-coffee.

Getcha Some: https://www.madanddandy.com/

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