✍Surbhi Dinesh Singh Khichi

If you have cough and cold, have turmeric...if it's something related to the skin, turmeric is all you need. Something with the gut, tumeric will help you out. There's basically nothing that turmeric cannot do. And when it's the winter season, turmeric proves to be a savior. It's not a mere spice in the kitchen jar that gives the yellow color to your dish, it is a powerhouse with all the essential benefits. Since ages, turmeric has been used by our ancestors, as the go to herb. A pinch of turmeric, as much as 8 gms can do wonders to your health. Studies show that turmeric has medicinal proporties. For, it contains compounds called curcuminoids. Among these, the major active ingredient found in turmeric is the curcumin. Here's the 5 pro benefits of turmeric and curcumin - 

• Increases the antioxidant capacity of the body -  The damage cause by oxidants leads to ageing and many other diseases. They have free radicals that react with proteins, fatty acids and the DNA as well resulting in cell damage. Curcumin has phytonutrients, present in many plant based foods, that neutralize free radicals (sunlight, pollution) in the body and can even help in stimulating the action of other antioxidants.​
• Anti - inflammatory - Curcumin helps in fighting inflammation. During inflammation, your body may be in pain and even swelling. Curcumin has proved to be helpful even in chronic inflammation, in joints which causes arthritis. Some other diseases might be neurological gastrointestinal and even cardiovascular. Turmeric lowers inflammatory problems.

• The highly effective medicinal proporties - Your turmeric powder is very effective medicinal supplement for the body. Firstly, it helps in your indigestion problems by stimulating the gall bladder to produce bile. Secondly, it can lower your cholestrol levels, at the same time reducing the risk of heart diseases or a potential stroke. It also reduces the muscle soreness. Furthermore, in the cold flu season, it helps your immune system fight with the viruses. It is even helpful in a premenstrual syndrome, also PCOD (Polycystic ovarian syndrome). That's why it is considered to be a medicinal herb.
• Helps in preventing cancer - It is effective in cancer treatment, treating various forms of cancer. Also, lowering the growth and development. Curcumin kills cancerous cells, not allowing the development further and reducing angiogenesis. Even, a person may not face cancer in the first place, especially in the digestive system (colorectal cancer).
• Beneficial in fighting depression - Curcumin is an effective anti - depressant which has a positive effect on the brain. Like boosting seretonin and dopamine levels, BDNF levels which improve learning and memory, encouraging brain plasticity and again, in reducing inflammation. It might even help with anxiety issues.

With these, now you know why turmeric can be highly effective and beneficial for plenty of reasons. Not only during winters, but the whole year along. And why you can rely on it. With more research we may get to understand some more healthy benefits associated with the consumption of turmeric. Till then, do not skip your daily dose of turmeric, be it in warm water, in the form of turmeric tea or in the milk.