Various amazing benefits of turmeric for beauty and body health: uses, side effects, interactions

Not only delicious food, turmeric or turmeric are spices that also have various health benefits. You may already be familiar enough with the benefits of turmeric to relieve indigestion. What else do you get? Come on, find out!

Various benefits of turmeric for health

In addition to helping with digestive problems, turmeric also has other properties that you may not have imagined before. Starting from reducing inflammation to antidote for snake venom, here are the benefits contained in turmeric:

1. Relieves inflammation

The active ingredient curcumin in turmeric is an antioxidant that has potent anti-inflammatory effects. There are approximately 200 milligrams of curcumin in one teaspoon of fresh, finely shredded or powdered version of turmeric.

Curcumin is believed to work to block the action of cytokines and enzymes that cause inflammation in the body. Curcumin also works to reduce inflammation by lowering histamine levels while increasing natural cortisone production in the adrenal glands.

Starting from there, various preclinical test results from The AAPS Journal reported the promising properties of turmeric for various inflammation-related ailments. Starting from cancer, cardiovascular disease, acute coronary syndrome, arthritis, atherosclerosis, and diabetes.

However, so far there has not been a single large study that has been able to verify the evidence for the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric in humans.

2. Treating ulcers

Turmeric has long been popular as a natural indigestion remedy. So when ulcer symptoms recur, there's nothing wrong with brewing a cup of warm turmeric tea to relieve the pain.

Ulcers can appear triggered by ulcers in the stomach due to H. pylori bacterial infection, long-term consumption of painkillers, cigarette toxins, alcohol, and certain foods. These various things can erode the lining of the intestinal wall and esophagus, triggering reflux of stomach acid to rise.

Well, research from the journal Pharmacognosy Reviews looked at the effects of curcumin on treating inflammation due to wounds and protecting the stomach from these irritants by increasing the production of mucus in the stomach wall.

Additionally, an article in the journal Systematic Reviews says turmeric helps reduce the frequency of recurrence of heartburn symptoms. Because the curcumin in turmeric also works to control the production of stomach acid and excess bile.

3. Deflate flatulence

Exhausting gas (farting) is a sign that your digestion is fine, but if it's too much? This is a sign that something is wrong with your stomach.

Curcumin helps the muscles of the digestive organs to keep moving smoothly as they should to reduce gas pressure in the stomach. Turmeric also helps the stomach to stop the production of excessive acid which causes flatulence.

4.Relieves symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is an inflammation of the colon that causes long-term bowel problems. If the inflammation makes the intestinal contractions spasm too often, the result is chronic diarrhea. Conversely, if inflammation makes the intestinal muscles rarely contract, the result is chronic constipation.

Summing up a number of different studies, turmeric is said to be safe and easy to tolerate for people who have IBS. Research from Singapore published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine in 2018 shows turmeric reduces the intensity of stomach pain caused by IBS symptoms.

This potential comes from the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin, which helps improve digestion. The same study also found the benefits of turmeric to balance the colonies of good bacteria in the gut.

Apart from the diarrhea problem caused by IBS, turmeric is also useful for treating diarrhea caused by food poisoning. The magnesium and potassium content in turmeric helps fight dehydration and balance body fluids that are depleted due to diarrhea.

5. Reduces nausea

When blended with black pepper powder, turmeric is said to be effective at relieving nausea than when consumed alone. Interesting, right?

A study in a journal Food 2017 proved that adding black pepper helps to maximize the benefits of this yellow spice. Because actually after consumption, the curcumin content in turmeric is slowly absorbed into the bloodstream. This is what makes you lose the properties of turmeric itself.

Well, this study shows the piperine in black pepper increases the absorption of curcumin up to two thousand percent faster into the blood so that it is ready for use by the body. Piperine also slows the breakdown of curcumin by the liver so that it lasts longer in the blood.

6. Relieves menstrual pain

Indonesian women may already be very familiar with the tamarind herb which can help relieve menstrual pain (PMS). Apparently, this benefit is not just advice from ancestors, you know!

The curcumin content of turmeric has natural pain relieving properties (analgesics) that work by relaxing uterine contractions that cause abdominal cramps. In addition, curcumin also reduces the inflow of calcium ions in uterine epithelial cells and reduces the production of prostaglandins, hormones that create pain and inflammation.

The benefits of turmeric are further strengthened by the antioxidant effects of tannins, saponins, sesquiterpenes, alkaloids, and phlobotamines from tamarind which soothe uterine contractions. Even so, some experts advise women with heavy menstrual bleeding not to consume turmeric.

7. Lose weight

Turmeric curcumin functions to suppress the inflammatory response in body cells, including pancreatic cells, fat and muscle. This reaction can help reduce insulin resistance, lower blood sugar levels, and cholesterol and other metabolic disorders due to being overweight.

However, again, you can get the benefits of turmeric if you combine it with tamarind. Because it is consumed alone, turmeric is slowly absorbed into the blood but is broken down more quickly by the liver so that the body does not feel the many benefits.

In the long term, drinking tamarind and turmeric can make the results of weight loss more leverage.

8. Controlling blood sugar

If you have diabetes, it doesn't hurt to try to use natural remedies to keep blood sugar stable. One that you can try is turmeric. A review study published in 2013 shows curcumin can lower blood glucose levels.

Other research shows that turmeric extract supplements help improve insulin function, stabilize blood sugar levels, and make diabetes symptoms easier to manage. This in turn helps lower the risk of diabetes-related complications caused by inflammation.

However, more clinical trials are needed to confirm the benefits of turmeric for diabetes.

Benefits of white turmeric for health

Psstt… Did you know that besides turmeric, which has orange flesh, there is also white turmeric? White turmeric or zedoaria (Curcuma zedoaria) contains substances that are different from orange turmeric, so the health benefits may also be different.

Here are the various benefits of white turmeric that you should know:

1. Fight infection

White turmeric is reported to be a powerful study against diseases caused by fungal or bacterial infections. Starting from diarrhea and food poisoning due to infectionE. coli, skin infections such as boils and cellulitis due to bacteriaStaphylococcus aureus,and fungal infections Candida causes of thrush, UTIs, and vaginal yeast infections.

White turmeric extract also has properties against bad breath-causing bacteria. In fact, the effect is almost equivalent to that shown by the mouthwash on the market.

2. Overcoming allergy symptoms

White turmeric contains curcuminoids compounds that are useful as anti-allergies and have been shown to treat symptoms of allergic skin reactions. Turmeric works like an antihistamine to inhibit the activity of proteins that cause inflammation and prevent the release of histamine, a chemical that triggers an allergic reaction.

3. Inhibits cancer metastasis

Many previous studies support the benefits of white turmeric as a traditional cancer treatment, especially breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colon cancer. A study in 2014 found that the curcumin in white turmeric oil works to inhibit the proliferation of malignant tumor cells that cause breast cancer.

Other laboratory culture tests have shown that the curcumin in white turmeric inhibits the growth of cancer cells and causes them to shrink. This effect is what helps stop the process of spreading cancer, aka metastasis.

However, these benefits still need to be investigated further so that people do not consume turmeric carelessly.

4. Maintain digestive health

The essential oil from white turmeric is reported to be useful for treating various digestive disorders. For example, colic, muscle cramps, intestinal worms, flatulence, infrequent bowel movements, and decreased appetite due to a bitter tongue.

White turmeric also helps relieve intestinal inflammation which is triggered by excessive stress.

5. Treating snake bites

Many medicinal plants are recommended for treating snake bites. One of them is white turmeric.

White turmeric is effective for neutralizing snake venom because its extract works to inhibit the activity of snake venom in the blood. This in turn will reduce the effects of internal bleeding which can be fatal.

6. Relieves pain

The analgesic properties of turmeric are somewhat stronger than aspirin for relieving pain due to toothaches, headaches, fever, and joint pain due to rheumatism and arthritis. The joint pain relief benefits of turmeric come in particular from its diuretic properties.

White turmeric can also be used to protect the lungs of asthma patients by relieving inflammation in the bronchi that causes the airways to narrow.

Utilizing turmeric for skin beauty

Besides being good for body health, turmeric also has great benefits for treating skin beauty. The antioxidants in turmeric make the overall appearance of the skin appear brighter and younger. The easiest way to get these benefits is to mix natural masks.

Here are the inspirational choices for turmeric mask recipes for beauty:

1. Kasturi turmeric mask

Turmeric may rarely be processed as a body care therapy. However, a turmeric mask can be a natural way to get rid of blackheads on the face. So that you don't stain your skin or your clothes turn yellow, choose the type of musk turmeric.

How to make a musk turmeric mask:

• Uleg or blender a few segments of the musk turmeric until smooth.
• Take one tablespoon of turmeric that has been crushed, then mix it with a little coconut oil. Stir well until the texture is like a paste.
• Apply to the part of the face where there are blackheads, let stand for 10 minutes
• Gently massage on the T zone (forehead, nose and chin)
• Rinse with warm water and do it regularly to prevent blackheads from coming again.

2. Turmeric and papaya mask

Papaya masks are generally suitable for all facial skin types, including sensitive facial skin. Unripe papayas contain an enzyme called "papain" which can help minimize the growth of fine hair by breaking down the follicles where hair grows.

Now, to relieve inflammation due to the breakdown of hair follicles, mix mashed papaya with a tablespoon of fresh, crushed turmeric. This home treatment is also useful for removing dead skin cells and restoring skin elasticity.

How to make it as follows:

• Peel raw papaya and cut into small pieces
• Mash the papaya until it becomes a coarse dough
• Take 2 tablespoons of mashed papaya mixture and mix it with 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Stir well.
• Apply the mask on the face or other body part as desired
• Gently massage the skin that has been coated with the mask for 15-20 minutes, then rinse it off with water
• Repeat the procedure 2-3 times a week for best results

3. Turmeric and yogurt mask

The benefits of turmeric are not just for shrinking pores and making skin tone brighter. If you are prone to acne and have lots of stubborn acne scars, a yogurt turmeric mask can be a mainstay.

The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of these two natural ingredients can help reduce acne breakouts as well as fade the resulting scars.

You can mix turmeric and yogurt masks for your face in the following ways:

• Take 2 teaspoons of turmeric powder, 4 tablespoons of plain cold yogurt, and honey
• Mix the yogurt and turmeric powder slowly until the color is evenly yellow
• Let stand and chill in the refrigerator 10-15 minutes
• After that, mix it with honey
• Apply to clean face slowly. Avoid the eyes and nose
• Leave the turmeric mask on your face for 15-30 minutes then wash off with water.

So, getting interested in trying the various benefits of turmeric for body health and beauty? Don't forget to make sure to clean all parts of the turmeric body from the skin first before using it!