“Queen of Spices” – Turmeric…!

I was sitting in front of the mirror and a small pimple held my attention. Then I remembered I use to get many pimples during my college days and used to apply turmeric mixed with sandal powder and lemon juice… Now also I thought of doing the same. I applied it and have to wait for sometime and wash it later. So I started writing about the benefits of turmeric. Turmeric is used in everybody’s home as a ingredient in our food. Can you imagine any Indian curry without TURMERIC??… So turmeric is called as Queen of spice…:)

What is Turmeric?

Turmeric or Curcuma longa (Binomial name), belongs to the ginger family and naturally occurs in Southern Asia and India. Turmeric known for its fragrant aroma and slightly bitter taste, turmeric is a common culinary spice in Indian cuisine. Bright yellow in colour and contains Curcumin as primary compound. Apart from cooking ingredient it also offers many health benefits. It acts as a antioxidant, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-carcinogenic etc..so the list goes on…

Use of Turmeric dates back to thousands of years in India also for its medicinal properties. So Turmeric has given us more than enough reasons to include in our daily diet. Here are some of those benefits of Turmeric:

Turmeric as Immunity Booster:

Lipopolysaccharide  a substance in turmeric with anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal agents helps stimulate the human immune system. Take a teaspoon of the spice powder in a glass of warm milk daily and you’ll see it work wonders as it reduces your chances of catching a flu.

Turmeric for Digestion:

When consumed raw while suffering from a digestive problem, turmeric can help treat the condition. It is also known to reduce symptoms of bloating and gas.

Turmeric as a best healer:

Turmeric is best to treat any cut, burn or infection. It’s natural antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties makes it an effective disinfectant. The powder can be sprinkled on the affected area to help it heal faster.

Turmeric as detoxifier:

Turmeric is known to increase the production of the vital enzymes that detoxify our blood in the liver by breaking down and reducing the toxins.

Turmeric in cancer Prevention:

The substance curcumin present in turmeric has been known to interfere with cancer development in the body. Many studies shows that turmeric fights against cancer and also helps in boosting the effects of chemotherapy. Effectiveness of Turmeric becomes even more when mixed with black pepper.

Turmeric for Arthritic pain:

The antioxidant property of turmeric destroys the free radicals in the body that damage the cells. Anybody suffering from mild joint pains should consume the spice on a daily basis to relieve from it. Although it does not stand as a substitute for medication.

Turmeric for Alzheimer’s Disease:

There is another powerful compound present in turmeric though it has not well known like curcumin. That is aromatic turmerone, some research has found that this compound promotes repair in the stem cells of the brain – the same stem cells that can help in the recovery from neuro-degenerative diseases like stroke and Alzheimer’s.

Upto this you got to know the benefits of turmeric to your body as well as for some diseases. Now let me tell you about beauty benefits of turmeric…

Turmeric for Acne:

Mix the turmeric powder, sandalwood powder and lemon juice together. Apply it on your face for 10 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water. Then you must be thinking how does it help?? It’s antiseptic and antibacterial properties that fight against pimples and provides a youthful glow to your skin. Also reduces the oil secretion (It’s best remedy for those who have oily skin).

Turmeric helps in removing dead cells:

Make a paste by mixing gram flour and turmeric with water and apply it on your body. Scrub gently while taking a bath. Doing this regularly can rid you of dead cells to give you a glowing and spotless skin.

Removal of facial hair:

You can make a facial scrub by mixing kasturi turmeric with gram flour. Applying this on your face can inhibit the facial hair growth. This should be applied regularly to get effective results.

Want to know the side effects of Turmeric?? Go on…

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 worse.
• Turmeric can slow blood clotting and might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery.

Some of the facts about Turmeric:

• Turmeric is a well-known preservative. Adding turmeric to paneer (cottage cheese) extends the shelf life of paneer.
• Turmeric is a great pesticide. Sprinkle turmeric (powder) near all the entry points of your house to get rid of ants.
• Turmeric has an important place in Indian weddings. Turmeric paste is applied to the bride and the groom as part of the haldi ceremony just before the wedding to give them fresh glowing skins.

• Turmeric is considered as a symbol of purity, prosperity, and fertility.
• Turmeric is popularly used in cosmetic industry for preparing herbal products. It is also used as a fabric dye, a usually soluble substance for staining or coloring in fabrics as well as for preparing natural hair dye.
• Turmeric is very low in Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Vitamin C and Magnesium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin B6, Iron, Potassium and Manganese.

Indian kitchens have already discovered countless uses for turmeric in their dishes. Considering the number of health benefits of turmeric, this powerful spice can be added to a variety of dishes in order to keep improving the quality of our lives. Add turmeric powder to curries, smoothies, warm milk, salads, stir fried dishes and in just about any other way you feel like. Raw turmeric is considered to be the most effective.

I hope this post was helpful in knowing about the benefits as well as side effects of turmeric.

Stay tuned for more…♥ Happy Weekend 🙂