New Medicine On The Block! – Turmeric For Diabetes
Turmeric is a spice belonging to the ginger family with curcumin as its main incumbent. This spice is bright yellow in color with a pungent flavor to it. Though not a widely used spice outside the Indian and Middle Eastern countries, it has caught attention of the west in recent times thanks to the researchers growing interest in its natural qualities.
Turmeric has proven its worth by being a useful medicine for a number of ailments. The curcumin, an anti-oxidant with its powerful qualities has made it one of the most sought after spices. It’s a known fact that This compound is said to have a great healing ability. Its antiseptic effect works wonders on wounds and bruises.
The researchers however have found out turmeric to be much more than just a healer.
Homeopathic remedy temporarily corrects mineral imbalances in the blood and pancreas
Helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels and promotes pancreatic health
Helps maintain blood pressure already within normal range, plus promotes complete cardiovascular health
Bones are also one of the beneficiaries of this supplement. Consumption of This supplement is good for building up of strong bone structure thus, protecting us against arthritis or joint pains.
New Reports have found out turmeric to be good medication for diabetes. Diabetes occurs due to disordered metabolism which causes high blood sugar levels. There are different kinds of diabetes, namely, type 1, type 2 and gestational. Type 1 is caused because of less generation of insulin and type 2 is caused due to resistance to its effects.
One major negative point about diabetes is that though it is something that can be treated and controlled, science has still not been successful in curing it completely.
The benefits of this compound for diabetes is a recent discovery. A laboratory experiment was conducted on mice divided into 2 groups. One group was fed with turmeric and others were not. It was observed that the group that had consumed it was less prone to develop type 2 diabetes as compared to the other group. Also, the researchers noticed there was less inflammation in this group.
Inflammation is one of the major factors causing diabetes. The presence of Curcumin in Turmeric spice is responsible for the reduced inflammation and lessened insulin resistance, thus keeping a tab on diabetes. These observations concluded that intake of this compound leads to reduction of insulin resistance and inflammation of the fat tissues.
Thus, it can prove helpful to obese people as well as for diabetic patients. Since curcumin is the ingredient helping in prevention of diabetes, one should look at supplements with higher curcumin component. More the curcumin, higher is the effect!
Though not a foolproof solution, Turmeric for Diabetes can be considered as one of the medications. An expert’s advice is recommended before taking of any supplements.
January 12, 2010
I have been vegetarian for 41 years, although it hasn’t stopped me from becoming diabetic. I do feel quite healthy, however. I think I would have got it earlier as diabetes is in my family if I had been eating a so called normal diet.