Turmeric is an important ingredient in most of the Indian recipes. A pinch of turmeric is a must in all Indian curries, without which a dish is not complete. It has lots of health benefits and is also used in many beauty treatments. It is an excellent and effective cure for diabetes.
Turmeric originated in South Asia and is well known for its medicinal properties and culinary benefits. Turmeric is used from the ancient times because of its great benefits. Turmeric belongs to the ginger family and it is the root of this plant that we use. Curcumin is the main constituent of turmeric and this provides a dark orange-yellow color to turmeric. It has mustard like aroma and somewhat bitter and hot taste. It is a well known spice and imparts a flavor and excellent taste when added to any of the dishes. Various ceremonies and rituals are not complete without turmeric in Hindu and Buddhist religions. It is also a good dying agent and provides a yellow color to clothes, threads, foods that you prepare and so on.
Other than the above mentioned uses, turmeric also has great medicinal and therapeutic properties. It has excellent healing properties and medicinal benefits. It is used for treating various diseases like infections, allergies, inflammations, aches, problems of the heart, indigestion, osteoarthritis, diabetes and so on. if yo suffer from common cold, drinking a glass of milk with a teaspoon of turmeric added to it will give to relief from the infection. Ayurveda and Chinese medicine system give great importance to turmeric and it is one of the main constituents of these medicines.
You get turmeric in various forms like powder, rhizome, capsule, oil and tincture. You can consume it without any worry of suffering from any side effects as it is natural and safe for consumption. However, if you take wrong doses of turmeric supplements, or take it under incompatible conditions, you may suffer from ulcers, acne, stomach problems and so on. If you are a pregnant lady, breastfeeding mother or a patient going to have a surgery, then you must avoid taking it.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes Mellitus or diabetes is a group metabolic disease that many people suffer from. Here the glucose or sugar level in the blood is disturbed. Diabetes may be of two types. Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the body produces insufficient amount of insulin in the body. In Type 2 diabetes the body is not able to respond properly towards the insulin produced. Diabetes is often found hereditary in many families. Once you get this disease, you have to take as little sugar as possible or completely stop taking sugar. In extreme cases diabetes can affect the kidneys and lead to kidney failure. So you must always keep it under control with proper exercise, diet and medicines.
Is Turmeric Good for Diabetes?
Turmeric is an excellent cure for diabetes. It has antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-glycemic properties because of the presence of curcumin in it. As a result, this spice helps in keeping the insulin level in the body within normal levels. It also maintains the blood sugar and triglyceride levels, and prevents the insulin resistance or insulin sensitivity. In addition, it helps in increasing the immunity of the body, prevents infections, inflammations, reduces stress and body fat, and thus is beneficial for preventing diabetes.
Turmeric Can Fight Diabetes in the Following Ways:
Boosts immunity:
As stated earlier, turmeric has antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-glycemic properties because of the presence of curcumin in it. This helps your body to fight against various disease causing agents and make your body immune to diseases like diabetes. So including turmeric in adequate quantities in your daily diet is an excellent way to keep diabetes at bay.
Improves general health:
Turmeric is a rich source of phytonutrients and antioxidants, and thus helps in treating various diseases. This way turmeric improves the health and general well beings of the people. It also makes your immune system strong and prevents various health problems, ensuring that you have a healthy body that can withstand diseases like diabetes very effectively.
Prevents infections and inflammations:
Type-1 diabetes may occur as a result of the actions of certain pathogens in the body like the virus Coxsackie B4. Turmeric, with its antiviral, antibiotic and antibacterial properties, helps in preventing infections caused by this virus and thus prevents diabetes. Metabolic and inflammatory diseases are also cured by turmeric, which if left untreated may lead to high blood sugar problems.
Regulates insulin levels:
Insulin is produced in the human body by pancreas. Turmeric helps in ensuring normal functioning of the pancreas as it has anti-glycemic property. It regulates the insulin levels in the body and makes sure that you body does not become insulin resistant. It also reduces the blood sugar and triglycerides in the body, thus helping in effective treatment of diabetes.
Reduces unwanted body fat:
If you suffer from diabetes you must take care that you do not gain weight as this can make things worse. Obesity is one of the risk factors for diabetes. Curcumin present in turmeric helps in reducing the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the body and keep the blood sugar and glucose within normal levels. It is also beneficial in improving your digestion and getting rid of harmful fats and their accumulation in the body. This way turmeric helps in treating obesity and problems connected with it, bloating and unwanted gain of weight and so on. Thus it prevents the occurrence of diabetes that may result from such problems.
So include turmeric in your daily diet and remain healthy as well as free from diabetes. Turmeric also has other health benefits and is good for your skin also, making your skin blemish free, smooth and glowing.