Turmeric

Turmeric, or Curcuma longa, belongs to the ginger family and naturally occurs in Southern Asia and India. Turmeric supplements come from the plant's rhizomes, which feature rough, brown skin and a dark orange flesh. Known for its fragrant aroma and slightly bitter taste, turmeric is a common culinary spice in Indian cuisine. Turmeric also comes in liquid extract, capsule and powder forms. The traditional Oriental medicine systems have long used turmeric powder to treat a variety of medical conditions.

The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that turmeric contains curcumin, an agent that might stimulate the gallbladder to produce more bile. This may help you improve a variety of digestive problems, such as gas and bloating. According to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, taking doses of turmeric powder might also relieve symptoms of dyspepsia, particularly nausea, appetite loss, belching and stomach discomfort. The curcumin might also effectively treat various inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The UMMC warns that curcumin sometimes increases stomach acid levels, which means you should not use turmeric supplements to treat stomach ulcers.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, early research indicates that turmeric can help lower blood cholesterol levels and keep low-density lipoprotein levels from building up in your arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Keeping your LDL levels low can reduce your risk of stroke or heart attack. Turmeric also keeps platelets from clumping together, which means it might stop blood clots from forming on your artery walls.

Turmeric lowers blood sugar levels in diabetic animals, according to UMMC. However, turmeric supplements might also increase the effects of anti-diabetic drugs and increase your risk of low blood sugar, a condition called hypoglycemia. Early studies indicate that curcumin helps to block the formation of the plaque thought to cause Alzheimer's disease. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine relates that applying poultices of turmeric powder directly onto your skin might help to treat eczema and heal minor wounds. Turmeric's antioxidant properties might even help to stop the inflammation that causes arthritis.

5 to 8 times stronger than vitamin E and stronger than vitamin C, this antioxidant breakthrough may help boost your immunity, maintain normal cholesterol levels, and put the brakes on aging," says Dr. Joseph Mercola about curcumin in turmeric. 
Apart from therapeutic uses, turmeric is also used as an important condiment, in beauty products and spiritual ceremonies.

• In India, turmeric is used in almost all curries and gravy dishes. It gives a rich color and a unique flavor to the food.
• Turmeric is a well-known preservative. Scientists from Gujarat found that adding turmeric to paneer (cottage cheese) extends the shelf life of paneer up to 12 days.
• Turmeric is a great pesticide. Sprinkle turmeric (powder) water near all the entry points of your house to ward of insects, ants, and termites.
• Turmeric has an important place in Indian weddings. Turmeric paste is applied to the bride and the groom as part of the haldiceremony just before the wedding to give them fresh glowing skins and to ward off the evil eye.
• Turmeric is considered as a symbol of purity, prosperity, and fertility.
• Turmeric water is poured / offered to the Gods in the temples as a part of Hindu ritual called Abhishekam.
• The color yellow is considered sacred and auspicious in India. Any fabric dyed in turmeric is considered pure.
• Women in India use turmeric in skin products such as creams and body scrubs to boost the glow factor.

• Drinking turmeric tea daily may increase your life span, suggests Dr Andrew Weil. Adding one teaspoon of turmeric powder to 4 cups of boiling water, simmering it for 10 minutes and adding honey to taste can do the trick.
• Adding turmeric to meat can reduce the levels of cancer causing heterocyclic amines (HCAs) by up to 40 percent, according to researchers from Kansas State University.

What are the Side Effects of Turmeric?

Turmeric is safe and has no side effects when used optimally. People with turmeric sensitivity can have mild stomach upset or diarrhea.

• Use turmeric with caution if you are pregnant.
• Turmeric can make gall bladder problems and GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disorder) worse.
• Turmeric can slow blood clotting and might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery.