16 Health Benefits of Turmeric or Haldi 

Last updated on July 27th, 2022

In India, turmeric is one of the most widely used spices. . Its scientific name is Curcuma Longa which comes from the Ginger family. Turmeric or

People are using Haldi for both edible and medicinal purposes for centuries

Its medicinal uses in Ayurveda are notable to treat multiple health conditions. Haldi or turmeric has multiple health benefits because of the Curcumin, a compound found in it.

Haldi or turmeric root is popular for its coloring and aromatic properties. It gives a yellow color to the food and has a strong black pepper kind of bitter taste. Turmeric powder is a popular spice in the kitchen.

Curcumin in turmeric has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is the main compound that gives it medicinal properties.

Nutritional Value of Turmeric or Haldi

This table represents several nutrients and their amounts present in 100 g of Haldi or Turmeric:

In addition, 1tbsp Haldi provides

• 26 percent of daily manganese needs
• 16 percent of daily iron
• 5 percent of daily potassium
• 3 percent of daily vitamin C

There are many other nutrients like Vitamin C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, Folate, Tryptophan, Leucine, Lysine, etc. are also found in Haldi.

Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load

The Glycemic Index of turmeric is zero which makes it safe for blood sugar levels.

Health Benefits of Turmeric or Haldi

People use Haldi for pain, skin treatment, skin remedies, and swelling in every Indian household. These medicinal benefits of turmeric were received from our elders. These benefits are mentioned in Ayurveda and traditional treatment techniques. Turmeric’s health benefits are:

Anti-Inflammatory

Curcumin in turmeric is responsible for its anti-inflammatory qualities. It inhibits or blocks lipoxygenase (LOX), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and acts as an inflammation inhibitor.Haldi is used to treat or ease inflammation caused by arthritis, muscle sprain, cramps, wound, and other muscular pains because of these qualities. It gives relief to inflammation.

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Helps in Pain Relief

 It is also considered a pain reliever as it eases pain by using it locally. Multiple ways of using it include as a pain reliever like patches, bandages, and having it orally.

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Antiseptic

Because of its antiseptic properties, turmeric is also used in many antiseptic and antibacterial ointments. It is applied to wounds, boils, insect bites, rashes, and bruises..

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Anti-Oxidant

Haldi is a powerful antioxidant that helps to reduce the risk of a variety of health conditions, including cancer and heart disease.

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Helps in Diabetes

Haldi has zero GI and low sugar which helps in diabetes. Its curcumin substance inhibits the inflammatory cytokines that maintain blood glucose levels. It also helps delay type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, it reduces triglyceride levels.

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Good for Heart Health

Curcumin, an antioxidant of turmeric, prevents cardiovascular and heart conditions. It reduces the risk of stroke, and atherosclerosis and reduces cholesterol levels.

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Good for Skin & Anti Aging

It is a blood purifier that is good for the skin. It also helps in acne, pimples, dark circles, itching, allergy, eczema, scars, or other skin conditions. Its purifying effect gives a glow to the skin. Curcumin helps in increasing the growth of new cells and mitigates the effect of cell damage. It helps with wrinkles and fine lines.

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Reduced Risk of Cancer

Curcumin reduces the growth of cancerous cells and stops them from spreading. It helps lower the risk of cancer.

Helps in Depression 

Turmeric also benefits people with depression. The substance Curcumin increases dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters responsible for good mood and happiness. It also helps reduce symptoms by BDNF levels (brain-derived neurotrophic factors levels).

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Good for Digestion

It’s also good for digestion. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help the digestive system. It helps in bloating, gut permeability, and gut inflammation. It improves digestion as well.

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Good for the Liver

Its antioxidant property prevents the liver from toxin-like potent drugs of many diseases. It also reduces the fat accumulation in the liver.

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Boosts Immunity

Turmeric is known for its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal qualities. This helps to minimize the chances of infections thus boosting immunity.

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Helps in Fever and Common Cold

Taking a teaspoon of turmeric powder with milk helps in fever and the common cold. It reduces running nose, congestion, and the common cold.

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Good for Bones

Turmeric’s health benefits include the relief of joint pains. Turmeric is said to be good for arthritis and joint pain. The compound Curcumin helps prevent bone tissues and strengthens them.

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Boosts Brain Health & Helps in Alzheimer’s

Turmeric induces secretion of BDNF, a brain hormone, that reduces degeneration in the brain and improves neuron functioning. In addition, it also helps in preventing Alzheimer’s disease by clearing amyloid plaques responsible for the condition.

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Prevents Cataracts & Glaucoma

Turmeric helps prevent vision loss. Antioxidants are good for the eyes and Haldi helps prevent cataracts and glaucoma because of this property.

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How to Consume Turmeric

For daily benefits, 5 tsp of turmeric is advisable to consume. One can fulfill this daily requirement in many ways:

• It can be used as a key spice in many dishes to add taste and color to them.
• Golden Milk or Haldi Doodh is one of the best ways to meet your daily turmeric needs. It has multiple health benefits.
• Turmeric is not easy to absorb in the body so to increase its absorption effect, take it with black pepper which has a substance called piperine. It enhances its absorption.
• It is also available as a supplement as capsules, extracts, and liquids.

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Side-Effects of Turmeric

Consuming turmeric in an adequate quantity has many health benefits but its overdose can cause multiple side effects. They can be:

• Its overconsumption can cause many gastric issues like acid reflux and diarrhea. It can also increase GERD stomach issues.
• It can cause headaches, nausea, or dizziness.
• Haldi can lower blood sugar too much in diabetic people.
• Overconsumption of turmeric can slow blood clotting and can be fatal to people with bleeding disorders.

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Can Diabetics Eat Turmeric?

Turmeric is safe for diabetic people as it has zero GI and low sugar content. The active compound curcumin, found in turmeric, is said to be very effective in lowering blood sugar levels and reducing insulin resistance in the blood. It mitigates diabetes complications by strengthening beta cell functioning. It also reduces the level of triglycerides and cholesterol levels.

Also Read: Is Jaggery Good For Diabetics?

Conclusion

Turmeric or Haldi has been used in the traditional Indian medicine system for centuries. It is one of the key components in Ayurveda that cures and prevents multiple ailments. Its native to Southeast Asia and is extensively mentioned in Indian and Chinese medical practices.

It has volatile oils like turmerone, Atlante, zingiberene and dimethoxy curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin that give it medicinal properties.

It is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral, and antiseptic that aids in numerous health problems. Haldi is also used in many home remedies for skin health. Haldi is an important part of Indian weddings as well that gives the bride or groom a perfect glow and beauty as Ubtan or turmeric paste.

Golden Milk or Haldi Doodh is a one-stop solution in each household for many conditions of skin, pain, cold, and fever. It can be called Magical Spice.

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FAQs:

Reference

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric#TOC_TITLE_HDR_12
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-662/turmericLast Updated on July 27, 2022 by Dr. Damanjit Duggal