Turmeric has been used in folk healing since time immemorial. But increasingly, the composition of turmeric, the beneficial properties and contraindications for women of this spicy plant are being actively studied in official medicine.
A number of studies have confirmed the effectiveness of the use of spices in the treatment of female diseases. As a result of its use, lipid metabolism is normalized, digestion is improved, symptoms of colds are eliminated, and hormonal levels are normalized.
Types of turmeric
To date, about 40 species of this plant have been identified. Only 4 varieties are grown for culinary and medicinal use:
- long, from which powdered spice is mainly made;
- aromatic, most often used in aromatherapy, as it has a fairly high cost;
- Cedoaria or citvar root, an extremely rare plant, is used mainly for the preparation of alcoholic beverages;
- round, used for making starch.
A bright yellow hue indicates a high content of curcumin. There is more of it in cultivated varieties than in wild ones.
How and from what they are made
There are more than 40 types of turmeric in the East. Three are considered the most popular. They differ from each other in the color of their roots. Red - turmeric - is considered sacred. In ancient times, and even now, it is used during ritual and ceremonies. A spice is made from the yellow roots, most often turmeric. Fragrance powder is used:
- in medicine – dietary supplements, medicinal pills, oils;
- cooking - the spice adds color to flour products;
- cosmetology - added to lotions, scrubs, masks, creams;
- light industry - dyeing cotton and wool fabrics.
The process of preparing spices is labor-intensive and requires attention. I missed it a little, the raw materials will go for recycling. The yellow pigment curcumin is sensitive and can disappear in a few minutes. The collected roots, which weigh from one and a half to three kilograms at the time of collection, are washed, dipped in boiling water for 40-50 minutes, dried in ovens, and polished. By the end of processing they acquire a rich orange color. After this, they are ground into the finest powder. This produces a seasoning that Arab merchants valued at its weight in gold.
What are the benefits of turmeric, vitamins and minerals?
The main component of the spice is curcumin.
This element is very useful for people who have reached 50 years of age. It is a preventive measure against the occurrence of cancer. Curcumin helps you lose weight because it converts white fat into brown fat, which is beneficial for the body. The substance helps eliminate inflammatory processes and has a positive effect on the functioning of the liver and kidneys. Turmeric contains tumerone. This element is a natural antiseptic and helps cope with the symptoms of poisoning.
Curcumin helps prevent the appearance of cancer cells in the mammary glands. Bioflavonoids stimulate heart function and reduce the number of asthmatic attacks. The iodine contained in turmeric helps strengthen tooth enamel and improves the structure of hair and nails.
Sodium participates in metabolic processes and dilates blood vessels. Iron saturates the body with oxygen. Cineole – stimulates the stomach and destroys harmful microorganisms.
The benefits of turmeric for men after 50
The spice has a beneficial effect on the male body. In particular, the following therapeutic effects have been noted:
- Prostate cancer prevention; healthy
- Prevention of Alzheimer's disease;
- Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus;
- Relieving inflammation and pain;
- Increased libido;
- Improving joint mobility;
- Normalization of the urination process against the background of prostatitis;
- Stabilization of blood pressure;
- Reducing the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke;
- Strengthening blood vessels and heart;
- Obstruction of the production of female hormones in the male body.
Positive effects of turmeric on human organs
Important: men who experience regular problems falling asleep may develop insomnia while taking turmeric.
Drinks with turmeric
There are many recipes for drinks containing turmeric. A drink with lemon will improve your overall well-being and will be an excellent preventative against colds. To prepare the drink, bring a glass of water to a boil and remove from heat. Immediately add a quarter teaspoon of seasoning and the juice of half a lemon. Honey is added to taste. It is best to drink the drink on an empty stomach.
Instead of lemon, you can use lime, literally 20 g of fruit. Instead of water, you can use milk, but then the mixture must be allowed to brew under the lid and do not add lime, only honey.
Benefits for women
The main consumers of turmeric are women, because many of the properties of the product are important and beneficial specifically for the fair sex. As a rule, ladies find several areas of application for the “golden substance”.
Health
Traditionally, the root vegetable is used to treat colds as an antipyretic and antiseptic . Products based on it are useful in the following cases:
- Increased cholesterol levels;
- Digestive problems due to poor gastrointestinal microflora or high acidity;
- Difficulty in bile circulation;
- Diabetes or a hereditary predisposition to it;
- Gynecological diseases accompanying oncology;
- Alzheimer's disease;
- Skin inflammation, cuts, wounds;
- Arrhythmia and other cardiac problems.
Turmeric is especially beneficial for women during menopause, as it relieves symptoms.
Dietetics
Curcumin prevents the growth of adipose tissue - this was the conclusion reached by American scientists who studied its effect on the body. Of course, such news could not leave women indifferent who dream of losing excess weight. Demand creates supply: drinks, bars and other healthy products with turmeric have appeared on the dietary supplement market.
Nutritionists recommend using the seasoning in its pure form , after making sure there are no contraindications. Drinking a glass of kefir or milk with turmeric on an empty stomach will speed up your metabolism, remove toxins, saturate your body with the necessary microelements and energize you at least until lunch.
Cosmetology
For hundreds of years, women have been making homemade masks with turmeric to rejuvenate their facial skin . The substance has such a strong regenerating effect that it can get rid of not only wrinkles, but even small scars and burn scars.
The classic recipe is simple: mix one part of golden powder with two parts of clean water at room temperature. You should get a thick golden paste. It is applied to the desired areas: face, hands, feet, décolleté. After a quarter of an hour, the mixture is washed off with warm water.
By adding various ingredients to the classic composition, you can adapt it to the individual needs of the skin: oatmeal will provide additional hydration, jojoba oil will relieve acne. When combined with milk or cream, turmeric will eliminate dark circles under the eyes.
Cooking
Turmeric is a universal spice; it goes well with any food. It reveals the taste of meat, vegetables, and rice dishes especially well. In almost all Asian countries it is consumed with fish, poultry, mushrooms, and added to soups and desserts.
It is known that the “golden substance” is an aphrodisiac for the fair sex. Therefore, regular consumption of dishes with the addition of turmeric helps women reveal their sexuality.
How to take turmeric for medicinal purposes
Turmeric is widely used in folk medicine, both as a single remedy and in mixture with other medicinal herbs.
The spice is used to relieve pain, in particular migraines, stomach or throat pain. To prepare the medicine, 3 g of spice is mixed with 5 g of honey and diluted with one glass of boiled water. This drink will even help lower your blood pressure a little.
To keep your teeth sparkling white, you can brush them with turmeric. The easiest way is to dip your toothbrush in sunflower oil, then in the spice and brush your teeth. It is recommended to carry out this procedure 3 times throughout the week. Within a month you can enjoy the results. Turmeric toothpaste can be made using coconut oil with the addition of essential oils.
Popular recipes with ingredient ratios
In order for the treatment to be effective, you need to know what the ratio of turmeric and black pepper should be for the treatment of certain ailments. In addition, these spices are often mixed with other ingredients to give the mixture an appetizing appearance or enhance its taste.
For example, turmeric and black pepper are often combined with olive or coconut oil, ginger, honey, cinnamon, etc. You can also add these two spices to your usual dishes - this will also help to use their beneficial properties.
Turmeric with pepper
The healing properties of these spices make it possible to prepare a medicinal composition for wraps and masks from them. A mixture of turmeric and black pepper will perfectly add flavor to dishes or salads. You can also use it 1 tsp. per day (can be washed down with a small amount of water) for recovery.
Expert opinion
Semenova Evdokia Sergeevna
Healthy lifestyle expert
RECIPE! The following tea will help in the fight for slimness: 0.5 tsp. pour turmeric into a glass of hot water, add a pinch of black pepper and drink in small sips 15 minutes before meals. Should be taken 1-2 times a day for a month and a half. This tea is suitable for any diet. But it should not be drunk by those who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
With olive oil
By mixing these ingredients, you can get an excellent remedy that helps strengthen the body's defenses (take a quarter of a tablespoon of turmeric, 0.5 teaspoon of olive oil, a pinch of black pepper). This composition is perfect as a seasoning for salads or for individual use (1 teaspoon per day, you can wash it down with a small amount of water if desired).
It only takes 10 minutes to prepare a paste from the same ingredients:
- a quarter cup of turmeric;
- 1 tsp each freshly ground black pepper and olive or coconut oil;
- mix half a glass of water;
- place the mixture in a stainless steel pan, and then cook while stirring;
- when the composition begins to bubble, turn down the heat and cook until thickened;
- After the resulting paste has cooled, it is transferred to a glass jar, which is sent to the refrigerator. Here it can be stored for two weeks.
Use 2 tsp. in a day. It can also be added in the same amount to your morning smoothie or meal.
With ginger, cinnamon and honey
This composition is great for weight loss. For a cocktail, take 1 spoon of each of the indicated spices, which are poured with 2 tbsp. boiling water Then honey is added there and allowed to dissolve. The resulting drink should be drunk throughout the day in small portions.
A similar recipe with milk, which you should drink at night, will also help you lose weight (it is not suitable only for those who do not tolerate milk):
- take half a tsp. ground turmeric,
- fourth part tsp. ground (or grated root) ginger,
- 1 tsp. cinnamon powder, a pinch of black pepper,
- 1 tsp. honey
All this is mixed and poured into a glass of warm milk. Drink in small sips before bedtime. Used for a month and a half. The drink calms you down, provides deep sleep, and prevents night fasting.
With garlic
This drink is called miracle tea, which perfectly cleanses the blood, helps in the treatment of arthritis, arthrosis, heart pathologies, type 2 diabetes and other ailments.
Expert opinion
Semenova Evdokia Sergeevna
Healthy lifestyle expert
WE COOK SIMPLY! Place half a tsp in a glass.
ground turmeric, a fifth of tsp. ground black pepper, pour a glass of warm boiled water, mix. The peeled clove of garlic is flattened with a knife, finely chopped and also placed in a glass. The entire mixture is drunk in small sips.
The use of turmeric in cosmetology
Turmeric helps grow gorgeous hair and get rid of baldness. The easiest way is to mix turmeric and olive (sunflower) oil in equal parts and apply to the scalp. The mask is kept on the head for 30 minutes, the procedure is carried out 3 times a month.
The spice will help stop hair growth after hair removal. The spice is diluted in hot water, brought to a creamy consistency, and applied after the procedure to areas of the body treated from hair.
The spice is used to make face masks. To do this, mix honey, cream and turmeric, mix thoroughly and apply to the skin of the face. After 10 minutes, wash off.
Turmeric in the treatment of diabetes
The spice is great for diabetes. The fact is that turmeric is good at lowering blood glucose levels. You need to take the spice to treat diabetes three times a day. To do this, half an hour before meals, eat 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric plus a crushed mummy tablet and wash it all down with water.
But you should be careful if you are taking medications for diabetes. Concomitant use of turmeric with them can provoke a sharp decrease in blood sugar, which will lead to hypoglycemia.
Advice: Before starting treatment for diabetes with turmeric, it is recommended to consult with your family doctor.
Turmeric harm and contraindications
In fact, there are no specific contraindications to consuming turmeric.
But still, scientists identify some limitations that need to be heeded. It is not recommended to use the seasoning if you have gallstones, especially if they are large, more than 5 mm. Do not get carried away with the spice if you have hemophilia and hepatitis. It is necessary to minimize the use of turmeric during pregnancy, and it is best to avoid it, as during breastfeeding. Turmeric should not be introduced into a child’s diet before the age of 6 years.
The acute stage of an ulcer is also a contraindication, as is increased acidity.
Possible interactions of turmeric with drugs
Any biologically active substance that has a real pharmacological effect can interact with drugs, medicinal plants or nutritional supplements.
Disclaimer: To date, there is no complete information about all possible interactions of turmeric with drugs, dietary supplements, and other medicinal plants, as well as contraindications for taking the spice together with certain medications. We cannot give you a complete list of medications that interact with turmeric or black pepper as part of golden paste.
Dietary amounts of turmeric should not pose any risk, although its use for therapeutic purposes in conjunction with other medications requires consultation with your doctor or pharmacologist.
Interactions between turmeric and various drugs are not usually due to a reaction between the drug components and the active ingredients of the spice. But at the same time, curcumin can interfere with the activity of enzymes that metabolize the active substances of drugs, therefore, their simultaneous use can increase the concentration of these substances in the body. In this case, the therapeutic effectiveness of the drug will increase, but in the long term it may cause undesirable consequences.
Containing piperine in black pepper, when used with any medications and dietary supplements, slows down their metabolism (removal from the body) and increases their absorption in the body. Therefore, it is not recommended to take a large dose of gold paste close to the time of taking any other medicines.
Note that some researchers have stated that short-term use of the curcumin-piperine combination is unlikely to result in drug interactions.
We strongly recommend that you tell your doctor that you are taking turmeric when prescribing any medications. And also consult with your doctor before introducing the spice into your diet if you are already taking any medications.
Maintain a 3-4 hour gap between taking curcumin supplements or large dose of turmeric (Golden Paste) and any medications.
We have already written above about contraindications and possible risks of using spices with anticoagulants, antihyperglycemic drugs and insulin. In addition, the interaction of curcumin and piperine with the following classes of drugs should be taken into account.
Antidepressants
There are a number of contraindications to taking turmeric/curcumin together with certain antidepressants. Curcumin has antidepressant effects and has MAO inhibitor effects. The use of turmeric for therapeutic purposes is contraindicated in conjunction with drugs that should not be taken with MAO inhibitors (tricyclics, SSRIs, SSNRIs) as this can cause general malaise and even serotonin syndrome, which can be fatal.
In addition, as we have already written, piperine, which is part of the golden paste, also slows down the metabolism of many drugs, thereby increasing their side effects. These drugs include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Fluoxetine (Prozac, Prodel), Fluvoxamine (Fevarin), Sertraline (Zoloft). Paroxetine (Paxil), Cipralex, Cipramil (Cytahexal); Selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs), such as venlafaxine and tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline).
Many antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anti-anxiety medications are extremely powerful drugs that can have serious side effects. Some people are very sensitive to even very small changes in dosage.
Use extreme caution when using psychotropic drugs with herbal and dietary supplements.
You should know what class of drugs you are taking and ALWAYS consult with your doctor about the possibility of using turmeric for therapeutic purposes.
Chemotherapy
Curcumin may potentiate many chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases. There are also medications that may not work well with turmeric.
Do not use turmeric for chemotherapy without consulting your oncologist or rheumatologist.
Narcotic analgesics
The piperine in gold paste may slow the metabolism of analgesics such as morphine, fentanyl and codeine, thereby increasing the side effects of such drugs.
It is contraindicated to take turmeric along with any kind of narcotic analgesics (especially if they are used long-term) without consulting your doctor.
Even if you find that turmeric relieves your pain, do not stop using analgesics suddenly and without consulting your doctor.
Antiepileptic drugs
The piperine in gold paste may slow the metabolism of drugs such as phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), and benzodiazepinates such as Valium, Midazolam, Ativan, Serax (Oxazepam). This leads to an increase in their action, which can cause unwanted effects.
If you are taking antiepileptic drugs and benzodiazepinates, be sure to tell your doctor that you are taking/plan to take turmeric and black pepper.
Antihypertensive (hypotensive) drugs
Antihypertensive drugs are drugs that reduce blood pressure by various mechanisms.
Turmeric itself has a number of antihypertensive properties, and when interacting with medications to lower blood pressure, it can enhance their effect (piperine also helps to enhance the effect of such medications).
Taking turmeric together with antihypertensive drugs is possible only after consultation with a doctor and constant monitoring of blood pressure
Read more Benefits of Turmeric for Hypertension/High Blood Pressure.
Antibiotics
In general, there are no contraindications to taking gold paste together with most antibiotics, with rare exceptions.
It is not recommended to use turmeric with fluoroquinolone antibiotics, as it is known to reduce their antimicrobial effect.
Here is a list of the most common drugs in this group (trade names are indicated in brackets):
- Ciprofloxacin (Tseprova, Cipropan, Tsiprolet, Tsipromed, etc.)
- Lomefloxacin (Lomflox, Maxaquin)
- Okacin, Lomefloxacin, Xenaquin, Lofox Lomacin, etc.)
- Gemifloxacin (Gemifloxacin mesylate, Faktiv)
- Norfloxacin (Nolicin, Normax, Norilet, Norfatsin, etc.)
- Ofloxacin (Oflo, Zanotsin, Ofloxabol, etc.)
- Mokifloxacin (Avelox, Aquamox, Hynemox, Moxispenser, etc.)
- Sparfloxacin (Sparflo, Sparfloxacin)
- Levofloxacin (Eleflox, Lefoksin, Tavanic, Leflobact, etc.)
If you have a question about a specific antibiotic, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
The effect of a mixture of turmeric and pepper on the male body
The combination of black pepper and turmeric has a positive effect on the male body:
- the musculoskeletal system is strengthened;
- the likelihood of prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia is reduced;
- the condition of the genitourinary system improves;
- the body's sensitivity to stress decreases;
- performance increases;
- there is an increase in potency.
Excessive consumption of spice mixtures can cause digestive problems. If the recommended dosage of the drug is exceeded, unfavorable symptoms such as decreased potency and insomnia are also observed.
How to select and store
When you go shopping, arm yourself with knowledge. The root must be vacuum packed. Take a closer look at it so as not to buy an old copy. It won't do any good. Press down on the spine. Quality comes with elasticity.
If it is a powder, it should be in a hermetically sealed container. The one lying in the open air has long lost its beneficial properties.
Came back home? Place the packaging in the refrigerator. The root has a place on the fruit shelf. He is afraid of moisture, provide the guest with decent conditions. It is better to store not in plastic, but in a glass jar with a twist lid.
