How Turmeric Can Protect Your Immune System This Summer

by Martand Agarwal 22 July 2022

How Turmeric Can Protect Your Immune System This Summer

Have you ever wondered what exactly brings that vibrant yellow pigment, especially in Indian Cuisine, seen in curries and popular dishes? Believe it or not, it's an ancient herb with many lifestyles and health benefits. 

It seems like everyone wants to be healthy in our current days. However, in recent years, society has grown to understand how life-changing and beneficial simple life choices can be towards your mind, body, and spirit. 

With that being said, it's vitally important to keep your immune system healthy. 

Simply put, your immune system is your body's warrior. It is responsible for fighting off any illnesses and keeping yourself healthy. Therefore, implementing turmeric into your daily life will bring positive results.

What is Turmeric?

The usage of turmeric dates back to thousands of years ago in Ancient India. It was often used medicinally and got incorporated into the culinary world. One key component within the spice is known as curcumin. Curcumin is a quite powerful antioxidant and has potent anti-inflammatory effects. It is also what brings out the rich yellow color.

 

Health Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric, specifically the curcumin within, has potent anti-inflammatory effects. This is important because, depending on one's given health, inflammation of the body can lead to heart disease, cancer, degenerative conditions, and even Alzheimer's disease. Each of these illnesses can be potentially fatal. In addition, inflammation can also lead an individual to suffer from Syndrome X. Syndrome X can cause unusually high cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and a surplus of body fat (usually around the waist). This is why preventing inflammation is essential to keep your body healthy. 

 

Turmeric can also increase the capacity of antioxidants that inhabit one's body. Antioxidants are vital for good health, as they avert free radicals in your body. Free radicals can be an atom, ion, or molecule which contains one or more unpaired valence electrons. Free radicals, put, cause a multitude of illnesses, damage the body's cells, and facilitate aging. Turmeric counteracts these free radicals to neutralize the body.

 

More people die of heart disease every year compared to any other cause. Turmeric helps to improve the lining of one's blood vessels. This is known as the endothelium. When one's endothelium is dysfunctional, it can lead to blood clotting, blood pressure changes, and more. In general, turmeric has shown improvements in overall heart health, lowering the risks of a heart attack. 

 

Turmeric is a great, natural way of preventing inflammation and other health issues.

 

Why Should You Supplement with Turmeric?

Many pose the idea of simply implementing the spice into everyday cooking. While this definitely won't hurt, it will not provide the same effects as supplementing it.

 

Firstly, turmeric is made up of only 3% curcumin. Supplements use an extracted form of turmeric, which has a much higher potency of curcumin.

 

Additionally, curcumin itself does not correctly spread throughout one's bloodstream. This is why high-quality turmeric supplements include black pepper. Black pepper contains piperine, which strongly increases the absorption of curcumin. While supplementing turmeric, many tend to take their supplement with a high-fat meal, which will help the curcumin dissolve and break down. 

 

Additional Benefits

 

When an individual struggles with depression, their hippocampus (a section of the brain) often shrinks, and memory/learning abilities tend to weaken. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a gene that creates a protein that promotes neuron life, tends to also decrease in cases of depression. Turmeric can help the body boost these BDNF levels, aiding one's healing process.

 

With some medical issues, many begin to use immediately prescription drugs and medicine. While they might alleviate problems caused by an illness, it always comes at a cost. This is why it is imperative to experiment with natural treatments first. Turmeric has zero toxic effects and might be a solution that works for you. 

 

Protect your Immune System and Enjoy Your Summer 

We all want to live a little and stay healthy. This summer of 2022 is the first "real" and unregulated summer for many since 2019. Many of us have been and plan on traveling. During travel, our immune system is under attack, as we are exposed to an overload of external pathogens and viruses. This makes it especially important to keep your immune system in excellent health. Also, If you struggle with anti-Inflammatory issues, bloating, or just want to feel healthier- try turmeric for a natural and extraordinary result!