Turmeric comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant. It has a tough brown skin, deep orange flesh and it works great in the kitchen to spice up your dishes with a warm and peppery flavor. Turmeric is known for it’s strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It’s been used for centuries to naturally treat a variety of ailments. The secret to turmeric’s healing properties lies within its main ingredient – curcumin. It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fungal and antibacterial that works wonders on the body!
Turmeric is arguably one of the most beneficial spices, making turmeric water one of the most medicinal beverages you can consume. To prepare it, just add some turmeric to warm water and stir well. The spice will fall to the bottom, so stir as you are drinking to obtain the best results.
Drinking turmeric water every morning will provide you with these eight amazing health benefits:
1. Relieves Arthritis
A study published in the Oncogene Journal found turmeric to be a more effective anti-inflammatory than common anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin, ibuprofen, sulindac, phenylbutazone, Naproxen, Indomethacin, dexmethasone, celecoxib, Tamoxifen and diclofenac, which is often used to treat swelling in the pain and joints due to arthritis.
2. Improves Digestion
Turmeric can be used to help treat a variety of digestive problems, including digestive tract inflammation and reduction of gas and bloating. Regular use of turmeric enhances digestion by stimulating the release of bile.
3. Protects the Liver
Studies suggest that turmeric may help to improve liver function by increasing its ability to detox. It’s also been shown to help reduce free radical damage, protecting the cells and tissues. Turmeric aids in reducing liver injury caused by alcohol, iron overdose, liver disease, high toxicity levels and cirrhosis.
4. Supports a Healthy Brain
Researchers have found that curcumin plays a role in improving Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and even stroke damage. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties also work to promote brain health, lowering oxidative stress and reducing cell death.
5. Alkalizes the Body to Protect Against Cancer
Turmeric is highly alkaline, so it has a positive effect on the body. An alkaline environment is believed to be unsuitable for the development of cancer, as cancer cells thrive best in an acidic environment.
6. Aids in Cardiovascular Health
Curcumin has been shown to discard plaque deposits in the arteries to prevent blood clots. The antioxidant effects are believed to help prevent diabetic cardiovascular complications along with atrial arrhythmias.
7. Protects Against Aging
While aging is inevitable, turmeric helps the body to age gracefully. Curcumin inhibits the activity of free radicals and prevents inflammation in the body, which are two of the most important factors in healthy aging. Regular consumption helps protect the body against age-related diseases.
8. Reverses Type 2 Diabetes
Research has shown that turmeric may be the ideal drug alternative to treating and perhaps even preventing type 2 diabetes. Studies have found that curcumin is capable of lessening effects of the disease, such as elevated blood sugar and insulin resistance.
Need more than just turmeric water? Try this Turmeric Crush!
Sources:
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/turmeric
http://www.davidwolfe.com/turmeric-daily-brain-liver
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19811613
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19233493
http://immunityageing.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1742-4933-7-1
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18462866
http://www.davidwolfe.com/body-turmeric-every-day
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=78
The post 8 Fantastic Reasons to Start Your Day with Warm Turmeric Water appeared first on DavidWolfe.com.