If you open up the spice box in any typical Indian household, you will see an array of colors across the spectrum of the rainbow. And the sunniest of them all is the yellow turmeric or haldi powder. An Asian plant belonging to the ginger family, turmeric is most commonly used in its powder form to add color and flavor to food preparations. But did you know that it also comes with immense benefits for your health and wellness?

To further explore the multi-faceted aspects of turmeric, click here.

A core ingredient of Asian cooking since almost 4000 years now, turmeric is a rich source of antioxidants and other essential nutrients, and is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. Widely endorsed by Ayurveda, this seasoning has been used in herbal medicinal treatments since ancient times. 

Following are some of the benefits of consuming turmeric regularly:

1. Reduces The Risk of Cancer

Studies around the world are showing increasing links between consumption of curcumin, one of the nutrients found in turmeric, and a significant reduction in the risk of falling prey to one of the various types of the deadly disease of cancer. If eaten in moderate amounts in combination with a healthy diet and regular exercise, turmeric is known to reduce the occurrence of tumors. While it is said to be most effective against cancer, growing research shows it to be impactful for other types as well.

2. Improves the Functioning of Your Immune System

The antioxidants in turmeric cleanse your blood and detoxify your system by flushing out impurities and toxins. They also equip your body with the armor it needs to fight diseases by boosting your immunity, thereby protecting you from common colds and allergies.

3. Promotes Digestive Health

Turmeric helps keep your gastrointestinal functions in optimal condition by catalyzing your gallbladder’s production of bile, which is a core requirement for good digestion. Turmeric helps relieve symptoms of indigestion like acidity, bloating, gas, irregular bowels, etc.

4. Keeps Your Heart Healthy

Along with cleansing your blood and regulating its flow through your body, turmeric has another heart-friendly benefit – It helps keep your body’s cholesterol levels in check by reducing levels of bad cholesterol and improving levels of good cholesterol in your blood. Since cholesterol is one of the main reasons for heart-related helth problems, consuming turmeric regularly can help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

6. Effective Anti Inflammatory Agent

Turmeric has significant anti inflammatory properties that can be used either through oral consumption of this seasoning or combining it with other substances like milk or curd to form a paste that can be applied locally. It has all the benefits of anti-inflammatory medicines without any of the potential side effects that the harmful chemicals in these modern medicines might cause.

7. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

Turmeric can help in the prevention and control of diabetes since reports suggest that it improves your body’s insulin activity and slows down the breaking down of carbohydrates during the digestion process, helping to keep our body’s blood sugar levels in check.

Here are some ways in which you can include turmeric powder in your day-to-day life:

1. Make it a constant ingredient in all your Indian style food preparations like curries, gravies, dals, etc.
2. Add a dash of turmeric powder to milk along with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and some black pepper and boil this mixture. Drink a cup of this magic potion right before you go to bed to give your body a boost of good food value.
3. Did you know that turmeric powder can also be used locally and is not restricted to just oral consumption? Mix a pinch of it with besan and curd to make an extremely effective scrub for your skin in the comforts of your home.

Go ahead and indulge in the taste, colors and flavors of one of the healthiest spices. To read more about turmeric, click here.