Find Out Why You Should Include This Vibrant Spice Into Your Diet
Can turmeric help with diabetes therapy? Many types of spices commonly used in cooking also contain various medicinal properties that are critical for treating not just diabetes but also Alzheimer’s disease, skin cancer, and some UTIs. Turmeric is a very popular nutraceutical product that many people use to maintain their health or to alleviate the symptoms of multiple health conditions. We have written extensively about the health benefits of turmeric, and how turmeric can help relieve symptoms of arthritis and even help manage other conditions such as hypertension. Turmeric may be able to help manage diabetes symptoms, and could also even delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. While further studies are needed to fully understand the health benefits of turmeric, it is clear that turmeric provides many types of health benefits, which can assist people who have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes. It is also possible that turmeric may help prevent diabetes, especially if someone takes it years before they become at risk.
Understanding Diabetes
If you have diabetes, your body is either not producing enough insulin or doesn’t use up the available reserves. Since insulin hormone regulates blood sugar levels, a faulty system is a precursor to further health problems like hyperglycemia.
The two primary forms of Diabetes revolve around insulin production inside your body. Type 2 diabetes is a lot more common. Your body places a high demand for insulin, and your pancreas works to fill the deficit. Eventually, the organ can only produce so much and ultimately slows down insulin production.
Because there isn’t enough of this hormone flowing inside your body, blood sugar levels will spike. You may notice dry skin, feeling hungry or thirsty all the time, and frequent urination. Naturally, you can get some insulin into your system to correct the imbalance. But there are a few shortcomings of insulin treatment, especially if you’re not keen on daily insulin shots. Alternative treatments like turmeric, fenugreek, and apple cider vinegar are slowly gaining recognition as alternative or complementary treatments for people with diabetes. Moreover, the good news is that turmeric is merely one of many types of nutraceutical products that may be able to help relieve symptoms of diabetes. Other options include zinc, fiber, barley and alpha-lipoic acid to name a few.
How Turmeric Can Help with Diabetes
The yellow-tinged spice’s active ingredient, curcumin, is credited with most of turmeric’s medicinal properties and it can be a critical component in managing diabetes.
Researchers have mentioned how turmeric can decrease blood glucose levels and even prevent the onset of diabetes. This is very crucial given that key insulin changes take place years before someone is officially diagnosed with diabetes, according to WebMD. Nevertheless, there is still a need for further studies into the impact of curcumin inclusion in diabetes treatment. The most effective approach may be to include turmeric as a part of a healthy diet beforehand, to avoid the diagnosis of diabetes later in life. NCBI has posted several research studies noting how turmeric consumption could help to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. However, there is currently limited research that addresses turmeric’s role in preventing diabetes, though it has been researched for its ability to help with a wide variety of health issues, including diabetes, hypertension, and various forms of cancers.
Here are several health benefits of turmeric you can draw from turmeric to help manage your diabetes.
1. Blood Sugar Management
Insulin hormone maintains blood sugar at optimum levels. If your insulin production system is impaired, you’ll need a supplement such as regular insulin injections. Alternatively, turmeric can help regulate the level of glucose in your blood. Turmeric is not a hormone but can act in the place of insulin via a couple of methods. The most obvious way is how the spice stimulates insulin production, which can help to manage some of the symptoms of diabetes.
2. Promotes Weight Loss
Living a healthy lifestyle is a reliable method of reversing Type 2 diabetes. And there are plenty of things you can do like changing your diet and exercising more to delay the onset of diabetes. Moreover, adding turmeric to your meals can also help you lose weight and to become healthier.
Curcumin, found in turmeric, dissuades fatty deposits from accumulating inside blood vessels and around various body organs. This action keeps your body leaner while burning away the fatty deposits around your organs. Randomized controlled trials focused on people with diabetes and other health disorders have found that turmeric can help to assist with weight loss goals.
3. Decreases Insulin Resistance
Increased blood sugar demands more insulin. Turmeric improves the functioning of beta cells which are responsible for producing insulin. The beta cells will increase the level of insulin produced to counter higher glucose levels. Additionally, turmeric also cuts down how much glucose the liver produces, effectively depressing insulin resistance.
Adding Turmeric To Your Diet
Now that you know the potential benefits of including turmeric in your food, here are some creative ways you can undertake to realize the full health benefits of turmeric.
Turmeric And Black Pepper
The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, doesn’t dissipate effectively once inside your body. However, piperine, a compound in black peppercorns, increases how well your body absorbs curcumin. You can include black pepper alongside turmeric when spicing food. You can also purchase curcumin supplements, which also may contain piperine. Studies have shown that it is best to add black pepper with turmeric to help you fully realize the health benefits of turmeric.
Turmeric Tea
Brewing tea is not only a healthy way of ingesting crucial antioxidants but also therapeutic. You can get a wide variety of tea bags infused with turmeric, cinnamon, and a host of other flavor-rich spices. One popular nutraceutical product includes green tea with turmeric, which provides a plethora of health benefits.
Spice Up Low-Carb Food And Broths
Turmeric is well known as a cooking spice in many countries, notably India, and can be added to a variety of foods. Sprinkle some turmeric into your chicken broth and pair it with several fresh veggies for a wholesome meal. Additionally, remember to include as few carbs as possible.
The Takeaway
Turmeric is not a quick fix for diabetes if you’re leading an unhealthy lifestyle. Nevertheless, adding a dash of turmeric to your food means you’re set to enjoy the numerous health benefits of turmeric. There is enough support to show that turmeric may help with diabetes, by alleviating some of the unpleasant symptoms. Furthermore, it may be helpful for those who are at risk of developing diabetes, if they begin taking turmeric before they develop diabetes.
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