What Is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a plant and member of the ginger family whose roots are used in cooking and tea for it’s slightly bitter, mustard-like flavor as well as for it’s powerful health benefits. Turmeric has been used for thousands of years for its healing properties and we’re just now starting to de-mystify the compounds responsible for the benefits associated with this super-food.
What Makes Turmeric So Powerful?
While turmeric has a multitude of beneficial phytochemicals, the star that makes turmeric such a powerful natural remedy is the high levels of the compound curcumin. Curcumin is one of the most powerful natural anti-inflammatory compounds that we currently know of and has begun being used in the treatment of chronic disease. Research has even shown curcumin to be more effective in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis than prescription medications. Wow!
Turmeric and Cancer
Chronic inflammation is one of the biggest precursors to the growth and proliferation of cancer cells making turmeric a helpful option for sufferers battling this disease. Epidemiological studies have shown that anti-inflammatory compounds, such as curcumin found in turmeric, can play a strong role in the prevention or treatment of cancer.
Turmeric and Gut Bacteria
Turmeric has also shown the ability to improve the diversity of gut-healthy bacteria while reducing the strains of pathogenic bacteria. This is a big deal for people with autoimmune disorders and leaky gut because an impaired gut microbiome contributes heavily to the inflammation responsible for weakening the intestinal walls and triggering an immune response.