Can you imagine an Indian dish without turmeric? It forms an integral part of Indian cuisine. But, apart from being used as an ingredient in cooking, turmeric offers many health benefits. Turmeric contains more than 300 antioxidants, which makes turmeric a powerful healer. But turmeric not just heals you from inside; it also makes you more beautiful! It also works as a fairness agent. But is that all? Do all the 300 antioxidants work just to make us fairer? Not at all! It has several other benefits too!
Turmeric Benefits For Skin
Turmeric has been used as a beauty product for centuries. It is an inexpensive and natural way of treating several skin problems and getting flawless skin. It comes with a range of benefits for the skin.
1.Treatment Of Acne
How To Use
You can prepare a face pack by mixing turmeric powder and sandalwood powder and adding lemon juice to the mixture. Apply it on your face for 10 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water. For acne scars, apply a mixture of turmeric and plain water on the marks for 15 minutes.
Why Does It Work
Turmeric is effective in the treatment of acne due to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties that fight pimples and breakouts to provide a youthful glow to your skin. Turmeric face mask not only helps to clear acne scars and inflammation but also reduces the oil secretion by the sebaceous glands.
2. Facial Mask For Oily Skin
How To Use
For oily skin, make a paste by mixing 1 ½ tablespoon of sandalwood powder and a pinch of ground turmeric with 3 tablespoons of orange juice and apply it on your face. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water.
Why Does It Work
Turmeric is beneficial for oily skin as it regulates the production of sebum, an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands. Sandalwood acts as an astringent and orange juice, being a source of vitamin C, helps clear the blemishes.
3. Facial Mask For Dry Skin
How To Use
If you have dry skin, you can make a face mask by combining 1 egg white, 2 drops of olive oil, fresh lemon juice and rose water, and a pinch of turmeric. This can be applied to all dry areas such as the face, neck, elbows, and knees. Allow it to dry completely and then wash off with warm water.
4. Treatment Of Wrinkles
How To Use
Turmeric, in combination with other ingredients, is effective in reducing fine lines and wrinkles. You can prepare a face pack by mixing turmeric powder and rice powder with raw milk and tomato juice and apply it on your face and neck for 30 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water. This will reduce wrinkles as well as brighten your skin. If you have dark circles, you can add a pinch of turmeric to 2 tablespoons of buttermilk and apply it around your eyes for 20 minutes. Rinse off with cool water. This is effective in eliminating wrinkles as well as dark circles.
5. Signs Of Aging
How To Use
Being an excellent exfoliating agent, turmeric can help eliminate the signs of aging. You can make a paste by mixing besan (gram flour) and turmeric powder in equal proportions with water. This paste can also be prepared in raw milk or even yogurt. Apply it evenly on your body and allow it to dry. Rinse off with lukewarm water and scrub your face gently in a circular motion.
6. Treatment Of Stretch Marks
How To Use
Turmeric can help lighten stretch marks. For this purpose, apply a mixture of besan (gram flour) and turmeric with yogurt/raw milk/ water on the stretch marks.
7. Soothes Burns
How To Use
Turmeric can provide quick relief in case of burns, thanks to its antiseptic properties. You can apply a mixture of turmeric and aloe vera gel to the burn and experience the wound heal in no time.
8. Reduction Of Skin Pigmentation And Skin Tanning
How To Use
To remove skin tanning and pigmentation, apply a mixture of turmeric powder and lemon or cucumber juice on the affected area for 20-30 minutes and wash off with plain water. This should be done regularly for beneficial results.
9. Removal Of Facial Hair
How To Use
You can make a facial scrub by mixing kasturi turmeric with chickpea (gram flour). Applying this on your face can inhibit facial hair growth. This paste should be applied consistently for about a month to get effective results.
10. Treatment Of Cracked Heels
How To Use
Turmeric is an excellent healing agent. If you have cracked heels, you can apply a mixture of 3 spoons of turmeric with a few drops of coconut or castor oil on your heels for 10 to 15 minutes before taking a bath. Doing this regularly will soften your heels.
11. Night Cream
How To Use
You can apply a paste made from turmeric and milk or yogurt on your face. Leave the mask overnight and rinse it off the next morning using a light cleanser. Alternatively, you can add a pinch of turmeric to your moisturizer and cleanse the next morning. This should be done twice a week to get beautiful, healthy, and younger-looking skin.
12. Treatment Of Skin Conditions
How To Use
Being a natural antiseptic, turmeric with milk is effective in treating skin conditions like poison ivy, eczema, and psoriasis. Eczema is quite itchy and a painful disease characterized by red, scaly patches on the skin. Topical application of a mixture of kasturi turmeric with milk can soothe the skin and reduce redness and inflammation.
13. Removes Dead Cells
How To Use
Make a paste by mixing gram flour and turmeric with water and apply it to your body. Scrub gently while taking a bath. Doing this regularly can rid you of dead cells to give you glowing and spotless skin. Applying a mixture of turmeric and milk on your face and lips can cleanse your face as well as act as a healing agent for your lips to treat dry and chapped lips.
Turmeric Benefits For Hair
Not just the skin, turmeric can be beneficial for your hair in a number of ways. The use of turmeric with other ingredients can promote hair growth and can treat scalp conditions. Some of the benefits of turmeric for hair are given below.
14. Treatment Of Dandruff
How To Use
Dandruff and other scalp issues can be treated by applying a mixture of turmeric and olive oil to your scalp before taking a shower. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then wash off the mixture with a natural shampoo. It removes the signs of dandruff by increasing the circulation in the scalp and providing nutrition to the hair follicles.
15. Prevents Hair Loss
How To Use
Hair loss can take place due to various reasons like an unhealthy diet, stress, or disease. Curcumin is a component of turmeric that can inhibit the activity of the growth agent beta-one, known as TGF beta-one, which causes the death of hair follicles resulting in hair loss. Turmeric mixed with honey and milk can be extremely beneficial as they reduce the negative effects on your hair.
16. Natural Hair Dye
How To Use
The yellow hue of turmeric not only makes it usable as a textile dye but also as a natural dye for your hair to brighten your hair color. It can be combined with other yellow-colored herbs and flowers such as saffron, calendula, and chamomile tea. Boil this mixture and, after cooling, pour it over your head. Leave for 15 to 20 minutes and wash off to get a vivid color.
17. Treatment Of Scalp Conditions
Why Does It Work
Turmeric can be used in the treatment of various scalp conditions such as dermatitis and eczema that can lead to itchy, flaky skin, inflammation, and thinning hair. Cicatricial alopecia is a scalp ailment caused by inflammation that damages the hair follicles and prevents the growth of new hair. Fungal infections can also cause hair loss. Curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, is effective against these ailments due to its anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antioxidant, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties.
Turmeric Benefits For Health
- Turmeric is said to prevent cancer and childhood leukemia with the aid of its main component-curcumin.
- It helps in detoxifying the liver, which further prevents the risk of hepatitis, cirrhosis and jaundice.
- It also aids in fat metabolism to help manage the weight along with improving digestion, reducing gas and bloating.
- Turmeric extracts or bitters when taken twice a day daily for two weeks prior to the expected menstruation cycle will help reduce the monthly menstrual cramps in ladies.
- Turmeric has antibacterial properties along with anti- inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Thus, turmeric is a good healing agent.
- It boosts the immunity on account of its strong antioxidant activity that fights off free radical attacks in the system.
- Its strong anti-inflammatory property also acts against the development of rheumatoid arthritis and delays it.
- When taken as supplements, it also aids in reducing joint pains.
- The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties also reduce inflation in the brain, which is believed to be the main reason behind Alzheimer’s disease. This can, therefore, also delay the onset of Alzheimer’s.
- Turmeric regulates the homocysteine levels and, therefore, through its interactions in the level, it also controls the cholesterol level. It is also useful to ward off cardiovascular diseases.
- Turmeric also moderates your insulin levels thereby having a limited level of influence over diabetes control.
- Alzheimer disease is a severe neurological disorder in which the person suffers from gradual memory loss. It has many complications and side effects. Turmeric juice treats Alzheimer disease effectively. It tones down the brain inflammation by blocking the pathway of the COX-2 enzyme. The blocked pathway of the COX-2 enzyme leads to neural inflammation of the brain in Alzheimer disease.
- Antioxidants are the key molecules that hamper and regulate the growth of free radicals in the human body. Free radicals are cancer-causing agents that interfere with the normal cell growth. Turmeric juice, which contains many antioxidants, keeps cancer at bay.
- If you are suffering from indigestion, you will get benefits from turmeric juice for sure! Turmeric juice eases digestion by increasing the metabolic rate in the body. This spice makes you free from digestive disorders like gas and constipation.
- Acidity occurs due to the upset pH level in the stomach. Sometimes, acidity can also lead to ulcers. Turmeric juice is a cooling agent and contains many healing antioxidants. Its consumption restores the normal pH level of the stomach. Hence, it makes a revolutionary health drink against acidity and gas.
- Turmeric juice is an herbal formula that keeps your body toxin free. Toxins lead to acne and blood infections. Sometimes it also leads to cancer. Turmeric contains curcumin that helps flushing out toxins from the human body and gut. It also soothes the internal inflammation caused by harmful toxins.
- Turmeric juice maintains a balance between bilirubin and bili verdin. These two liver secretions are the keys to maintaining liver health. Turmeric juice ensures a balance between the two and keeps the liver safe.
Precautions Involved
Dosage
At any given time, the dosage of turmeric should not exceed over 4 doses of 500 mg ingested orally. The turmeric dosage for inflammation caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is two doses of 500 mg.
Side Effects
There are no severe or significant side effects that are correlated with consumption or application of turmeric. However, doctors suggest that turmeric is safe when ingested or applied for approximately 8 months.
While most patients do not complain of any side effects, a counted few may suffer from:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Upset Stomach
- Diarrhoea
Special Precautions
Like most things, too much of anything can turn sour; doctors suggest that consumption of turmeric be limited to 1500 mg a day.
During Pregnancy And Breast Feeding
Consuming food prepared with turmeric is likely to be safe during pregnancy. However, consuming large doses of turmeric orally is best if avoided, as it may stimulate the uterus putting the pregnancy at risk.
How To Select And Store?
Selection
These days, dried herbs and spices are widely available in supermarkets. But it is better to purchase them from local spice stores in your area as their collection of dried herbs and spices are of superior quality and comparatively fresher than those offered by regular markets. When purchasing turmeric, always prefer to buy organic turmeric as it does not possess additives.
The color of turmeric varies greatly and it is important to choose the correct turmeric powder. Often, turmeric is mixed with other ingredients to give it a yellow-red hue. Being a natural colorant, it is also used by industrial workers to ward off the risks that may arise from the usage of artificial coloring material. The turmeric in curry powder has the highest content of curcumin, averaging about 3.14 % in weight. Turmeric is available both in chunks as well as powder and should be purchased after verifying the freshness and quality.
Storage
Turmeric powder should be kept in a tightly sealed container, and stored in a cool dry place, protected from light. Fresh turmeric rhizome should be placed in the refrigerator. Too much heat should be avoided as it can volatilize and dissipate its aromatic essential oil whereas high humidity will cause it to cake. Sunlight, on the other hand, can fade its color. The containers should be tightly closed after using and older stock should be used first. Exposure to air for a long time will cause flavor and aroma loss.
Tips For Usage (Cooking/Eating)
Turmeric is also known as Indian Saffron due to its characteristic yellow-orange hue. It can form a part of several dishes, imparting its color, aroma, and flavor to them. Turmeric root is ground to make turmeric powder, which is a common spice, particularly in curries. Some of the ways in which turmeric can be enjoyed are given below.
- Turmeric root can be eaten plain. All you need to do is wash it in running cold water to remove any dirt or debris and peel the skin off with a knife. You can eat it raw.
- Turmeric powder can be added to your salad dressings to provide them an orange-yellow hue. Turmeric root can also be used in salads. For this purpose, peel and chop fresh turmeric root and this can be added to any kind of salad.
- You can mix brown rice with raisins and cashews, and season it with turmeric, cumin and coriander.
- Chopped turmeric root can be added to sandwiches to provide flavor, without being overpowering.
- You can prepare a creamy, low-calorie dip by mixing some turmeric and dried onion with some mayonnaise, salt and pepper. This can be served with raw cauliflower, celery, sweet pepper, jicama and broccoli florets.
- Turmeric powder is delicious on sautéed apples and healthy, steamed cauliflower or green beans and onions. Turmeric is a great spice to flavor recipes comprising of lentils.
- Not just curries, turmeric powder can greatly complement different kinds of soups. You can also add peeled and chopped turmeric to soups.
- Turmeric can be used to prepare a delicious dish comprising of cauliflower. Cut cauliflower florets into half and saute with turmeric for 5 minutes. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste after removing from the heat.
- Fresh turmeric root can be added to your favorite smoothie. Blend peeled turmeric root with other fresh fruits and vegetables to make a delicious and healthy smoothie.