Lifestyle

6 Life-Changing Benefits Of Turmeric That Will Seriously Blow Your Mind

by Imani Brammer

Turmeric is one of those spices you should always aim to include when it comes to seasoning your food.

A little dabble goes a long way, especially if you use it consistently in your day-to-day life.

What makes it so special is that the spice contains curcumin, which is responsible for most of turmeric's mystical properties.

Though turmeric contains only 2 to 6 percent curcumin, the benefits of that one ingredient go a seriously long way.

Here's a taste of just a few of those benefits to get you started on the path to ultimate wellness.

1. It Helps With Inflammation

Though short-term inflammation of the body is nothing to worry about, chronic inflammation can lead to serious conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.

Actually, studies show that, in India, diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease are pretty low, and it appears to be due to turmeric's major role in the Indian diet.

2. It Improves Brain Function

Again, it all comes down to that curcumin.

Curcumin helps to improve working memory, as well as attention span and mood in elderly adults.

According to a 2014 study, 60 healthy adults showed significantly improved performance on attention and working memory tasks only one hour after receiving a single dose of 400 mg of curcumin, compared with those who received a placebo.

This stuff is pure magic, baby.

3. It Improves Blood Flow

Damn, curcumin is doing a whole lot for turmeric, as it also plays a role in unclogging arteries and improving blood circulation.

This is because curcumin reduces plaque buildup in the arteries, which means it stops blood clots from forming.

Seriously, what can't turmeric do?!

4. It Helps To Prevent And Treat Cancer

Apparently, curcumin can help stop cancer cells from dividing.

What type of sorcery is this?

It's been shown to help the body rid itself of damaged cells, a process also known as programmed cell death. Curcumin can kill damaged cells while still leaving other cells healthy and intact, unlike chemotherapy.

5. It Improves Heart Health

Actually, turmeric is said to improve heart health just as much as exercise. How 'bout dat, fam?!

According to GreenMedInfo, turmeric reduces post-bypass heart risk by 56 percent.

Not only that, but the effects it has on heart health are similar to the effects that aerobic exercise has on heart health, and it improves vascular function in post-menopausal women.

6. It Fights Depression

Curcumin can possibly be just as effective as an antidepressant, since its anti-inflammatory properties can work to protect the brain from increased inflammation and restore production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

So, basically, turmeric can save your life in more ways than one. Be sure to pick this baby up on your next grocery run.