Turmeric: health benefits and harms, medicinal properties, application

The benefits and harms of turmeric are a pressing issue for lovers of condiments and spices. The yellow flavored powder is often used in cooking - interesting to know about its properties and where else it is used.

Where does turmeric grow and what does it look like?

The spice grows mainly in Asian countries - in China, India, Pakistan. It looks like a herb of an average height of about 1 m with oblong leaves. It blooms with pink and yellow buds, collected in inflorescences.

The main value lies in the roots. It is from them that the seasoning is obtained, and also the useful essential oil is made. The closest "relative" of turmeric can be considered ginger, but the composition and properties of the two plants are very different.

The chemical composition of turmeric

Yellow seasoning is a real storehouse of nutrients. The composition includes:

• minerals - phosphorus, iron, magnesium, calcium and iodine;
• valuable vitamins C, B, K, B1, B2 and B3;
• a huge amount of essential oils - curcumin and sabinene, borneol and fellandrene, tsingibirene;
• terpene alcohols.

It is the essential oils that give turmeric its primary value. The calorie content of the seasoning is quite high - there are 325 calories per 100 g. But since the seasoning is consumed in very small quantities, its energy value does not harm health and figure.

Why turmeric is useful for the human body

The benefits of turmeric for the human body are very great. It is enough to list only the main advantages. Seasoning:

• increases immune resistance and helps to fight off colds that have already begun;
• acts as a prevention of articular and vascular diseases, in particular, the benefits of turmeric for gout are great;
• stimulates the process of hematopoiesis;
• promotes weight loss and cleansing the body of harmful substances;
• has a beneficial effect on the stomach and intestines and serves as the prevention of colitis, gastritis and ulcers;
• helps to cope with the consequences of intoxication;
• helps in the treatment of diabetes mellitus;
• has an analgesic effect;
• improves the functioning of the brain and nervous system;
• helps with skin diseases and generally improves the condition of the epidermis;
• serves as the prevention of oncological ailments, prevents the development of Alzheimer's disease.

For women

The benefits of turmeric for a woman's body is that the seasoning helps to align the hormonal background during menopause, with menstrual irregularities.She also copes with gynecological inflammation.

It is believed that a healthy product contributes to slight breast growth. With regular use of the spice in the mammary glands, blood circulation is accelerated, and an increased production of female hormones occurs.

For men

Since the seasoning improves blood circulation, the benefit of turmeric for men is that its use has a positive effect on male potency. Turmeric for men increases testosterone and has a beneficial effect on the overall hormonal background.

Is turmeric possible during pregnancy and breastfeeding

During the period of bearing a child, it is better to exclude a useful spice from the diet. It increases blood circulation, which is dangerous for pregnant women. Turmeric can lead to miscarriage in early pregnancy and premature birth in late pregnancy.

Turmeric can be harmful to a nursing mom too. First of all, it is not excluded that the baby is allergic to this product. But even if none is found, the properties of the seasoning can damage the baby's intestines.

Is turmeric possible for children and at what age

The properties of the product are dangerous for young children, as they can negatively affect the state of the child's nervous system. Often children are allergic to spices, and the product can also harm the developing stomach and intestines. For the first time, you need to offer a seasoning to a child no earlier than 6 years old.

Why turmeric is useful for weight loss

Since the spice increases the metabolic rate, promotes the breakdown of fats and effectively removes toxins and toxins from the body, the benefits of the turmeric spice for weight loss are undeniable.

Of course, at the same time, it cannot be used in large quantities and separately from the main food - this will be harmful. For dietary purposes, it is added to low-fat meat and fish dishes, vegetable salads, and drinks.

Kefir with turmeric for weight loss

Both turmeric and kefir contribute to weight loss even when used separately, and in combination, they completely turn into a very effective remedy. A healthy drink is prepared as follows:

• half a teaspoon of the seasoning is diluted in the same amount of water;
• mix until uniform;
• add low-fat kefir to a glass and stir thoroughly, and then drink.

You can drink the drink twice or three times a day, the benefits of turmeric with kefir at night are great. The diet will bring results faster, and harm to health will not happen. In addition to kefir, you can take turmeric with yogurt.

Turmeric with water for weight loss

Those who do not like kefir can use the condiment for weight loss along with ordinary drinking water. It is very easy to prepare a drink - you just need to dilute a teaspoon of the product in a glass of boiling water.

When the drink has cooled down, you can drink it shortly before eating. It is recommended to continue taking it as long as the diet lasts. The benefit of water with turmeric on an empty stomach is that the product will not only cleanse the body, but at the same time saturate it with important vitamins.

The use of turmeric for medicinal purposes

With the help of seasoning, not only get rid of extra pounds - its beneficial properties help to cope with the symptoms of a number of diseases. The spice has an analgesic effect, relieves spasms, eliminates the harm of inflammation - even doctors' reviews confirm its value.

For sore throat and colds

Antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties will be beneficial for sore throat during sore throat, SARS and flu.

• Half a teaspoon of the seasoning can be mixed with a spoonful of liquid honey.
• The product is diluted in a glass of boiling water, stirred, cooled to a warm temperature and drunk.

The benefits of honey with turmeric are that honey softens the throat and turmeric fights inflammation.

With anemia

Anemia is caused by a lack of iron - and the benefit of the turmeric seasoning is that it is high in iron. It is necessary to take literally 1/4 of a small spoonful of seasoning mixed with honey on an empty stomach every day - in a larger amount, the seasoning can be harmful.

With asthma

Healthy turmeric is an excellent remedy for allergic asthma. Stir half a teaspoon of turmeric in half a glass of hot milk and drink three times a day before eating.

To cleanse the body

To remove accumulated toxins from the body, eliminate their harm and improve overall well-being, you can dilute a small spoonful of seasoning in 150 ml of warm water and add cold lemon juice. The drink can be flavored with a pinch of cinnamon or honey. They drink the remedy daily, in the morning, for a month. The benefits of turmeric and frozen lemon are that together they cleanse the body and replenish the supply of nutrients.

For liver treatment

To help the liver function, you can simply take a drink made from turmeric, diluted in half a teaspoon in a glass of water, twice a day.

You can also prepare an even more effective remedy by adding a teaspoon of celandine to the drink. Such a remedy must be insisted for half an hour - and drink it also twice a day, but only 1/3 cup, otherwise there will be harm.

For psoriasis

A small amount of the seasoning is mixed with plain water, aloe juice, honey or vegetable oil, and then smeared with sore skin a couple of times a day. You can also make compresses at night, fixing them with bandages - then the effect will appear faster.

With diabetes mellitus

Since turmeric's properties lower blood glucose levels, it is of great benefit in diabetes. They drink it in the amount of 1 glass per day in the morning, and usually bred not in water, but in a mixture of cabbage, carrot, cucumber, celery and spinach juices - and you need to take a pinch of seasonings.

High pressure

A spicy spice is good for hypertension, as it quickly lowers blood pressure. To prepare a home medicine you need:

• thoroughly mix a teaspoon of turmeric with 1.5 g of sesame seeds, 2 g of flaxseeds and a large spoonful of poppy seeds - preferably in a blender, until a homogeneous mass is obtained;
• add 10 ml of liquid honey to the mixture and stir well;
• roll small balls from the resulting mass and swallow them like tablets with water, a couple of pieces during the day.

A useful tool can be prepared and easier - dilute a large spoonful of turmeric in 50 g of honey, mix and eat 3 teaspoons a day with tea.

To lower cholesterol

The spice is considered valuable for the prevention of atherosclerosis, since turmeric for those over 60 lowers the level of bad cholesterol. For a targeted effect on blood vessels, you can prepare the following remedy:

• 1 teaspoon of turmeric mixed with 1/4 teaspoon of almond oil
• the mixture is poured into a glass of warmed milk.

Drink the drug at night, shortly before bedtime.

With diarrhea and flatulence

The intestinal benefits of turmeric come to help with diarrhea and excess gas. A small spoonful of yellow powder should be diluted in a glass of clean water and drunk half a glass shortly before meals.

With gastritis

With chronic gastritis, the following remedy helps well - 10 g of turmeric is diluted in 50 ml of warmed milk, 3 crushed tablets of activated carbon are added to the glass.

They drink the medicine three times a day, 1 large spoon. It is recommended to take the remedy for 3 weeks.

Paste for healing wounds and abrasions

The properties of the seasoning are beneficial not only when applied internally. Spice-based products are used to treat skin lesions. For example, for the speedy healing of abrasions and wounds, it is recommended to use such a mixture - half a teaspoon of turmeric and a spoonful of fresh aloe juice.

From burns

Seasoning is also used to treat healing burns. It can be mixed with aloe juice, honey or vegetable oil and applied gently to the damaged area. The mixture has a disinfecting and analgesic effect, the burn heals faster.

Turmeric tea

The benefits of turmeric tea are expressed in the fact that the valuable properties of the seasoning have a general strengthening effect on the body. To take it was not only useful, but also pleasant, the spice is often added to tea.

• Pour 2 teaspoons of the seasoning into a cup.
• Add 1.5 large tablespoons of finely grated ginger to them.
• The mixture is poured with boiling water.
• Add a large spoonful of lemon juice and a little honey to taste.

Aromatic healthy tea is infused for 10 minutes and drunk at will. You can also add a little pepper to the tea - the benefits of turmeric with black pepper lie in the excellent immunomodulatory properties of the drink, this tea quickly eliminates the symptoms of a cold.

The use of turmeric in cooking

A spice with a pungent, pungent flavor is often found in popular condiments, such as curry mixes.

Also, the spice is used in small quantities to impart aroma and a sharper taste to meat, fish and vegetable dishes. With the help of yellow powder, cheeses and butter are colored, seasoning is found in cocktails and fermented milk products, many recipes speak of the benefits of turmeric with cottage cheese for digestion.

How much turmeric can you consume per day?

The product requires strict dosages. It is allowed to eat no more than 50-200 mg of seasoning per day in one form or another, otherwise the properties of the product will be harmful.

Turmeric in cosmetology

Another area of ​​application of the spice is home cosmetology. The seasoning can be beneficial for the skin and hair, as it saturates them with vitamins and valuable elements.

Turmeric for facial skin

Masks with this spice in the composition are very useful, because turmeric rejuvenates the skin, cleanses it of acne and blackheads, evens out the complexion, makes the epidermis softer and smoother. There are several especially popular beauty recipes.

Acne mask

Turmeric relieves skin irritation and has a disinfectant effect, therefore it is very effective in combating acne.

• 4 parts of green cosmetic clay are mixed with 1 part of lemon juice;
• 1 part of the seasoning is added to the mixture, the ingredients are thoroughly mixed again;
• the mask is spread over the skin for 20 minutes.

Anti-wrinkle mask

The seasoning has a lifting effect on the skin and saturates the epidermis with vitamins. To get rid of fine wrinkles, you can mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 2 large tablespoons of low-fat kefir, and then add a pinch of turmeric to the mixture.

The mask is kept for no longer than a quarter of an hour, washed off with warm water.

Mask for pigmentation and freckles

To lighten the skin and even out its tone, 4 small spoons of sour cream should be mixed with a teaspoon of yellow seasoning and the mixture should be held on the face for a quarter of an hour. It is best to repeat the procedure once a week.

Turmeric for hair removal

As part of healing masks, turmeric can strengthen hair, but sometimes it is also used to get rid of excess vegetation.

• Before applying the mixture to the body, the selected area must be epilated.
• 3 large tablespoons of yellow powder should be diluted in 1 large spoonful of water - and stir to form a mixture that resembles very thick sour cream;
• Then the product is applied to the selected area of ​​the skin, evenly distributed and left to wash off for 20 minutes.

After rinsing off the mixture, the skin can be rubbed with milk or serum to eliminate the yellow tint. The tool will slow down hair growth - and you will have to epilate the treated area much less often.

Turmeric essential oil: benefits and uses

The most common yellow spice powder on sale. But essential oil is also made from the root of the plant.

The beneficial properties of essential oil are that it:

• has a beneficial effect on digestion;
• promotes healing of mucous membranes with ulcers;
• helps with colitis, bloating and flatulence;
• helps get rid of parasites;
• cleanses the body due to antioxidant properties;
• benefits joints and ligaments;
• good for the nervous system;
• promotes healing of skin lesions.

Ester of turmeric is used mainly in cosmetology - the oil is included in lotions and creams, it is used in anti-aging and anti-cellulite products. It is also used to treat fungal ailments, relieve pain and swelling, sometimes it is taken orally in the amount of a couple of drops.

Turmeric oil is often found in aromatic blends and perfume compositions.

Turmeric harm and contraindications

The benefits of turmeric are great, but the spice is not very harmful. However, the use of spices should be abandoned:

• with gallstone disease and inflammation of the biliary tract;
• with an ulcer of the duodenum or stomach;
• with individual allergies;
• during pregnancy and lactation;
• while taking strong medicines.

The effect of the properties of turmeric on the kidneys remains controversial - in case of serious ailments, it is better not to use the seasoning in order to avoid harm.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of turmeric depend on the general condition of the body and compliance with the correct dosages. If you do not overuse the seasoning, it will noticeably improve your health, will have a good effect on the appearance and improve the taste of familiar dishes.

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