HEALTH SPECIAL ....Healthy haldi

Healthy haldi

Possibly the most beneficial health supplement in existence, haldi or turmeric, is packed with a host of goodness. Haldi can boost immunity and brain power. But what gives it its magic powers?

Curcumin. It is the magic active ingredient that is the fount of all its goodness, whether ingested or used topically. In addition, turmeric is a good source of iron, manganese, vitamin B6, dietary fibre, potassium and copper. For ease of recall, I’ve divided the benefits into anti and pro:

ANTI-OXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

It is the curcumin in turmeric that gives it its antioxidant properties. Oxidative damage (the chemical reactions that oxygen performs inside our bodies) leads to the development and proliferation of free radicals, which are highly reactive molecules. Free radicals have the potential to damage organs and also create a crazy, disease-prone, inflamed environment inside our body. Antioxidants help flush out free radicals and also work as a brilliant anti-inflammatory.

ANTI-SEPTIC

If you cut or even burn yourself, not only will the topical usage of haldi help with the pain and inflammation, but as a natural anti-bacterial, it will ensure that bacteria is prevented from entering the body via the wound.

ANTI-AGEING

The antioxidant properties in turmeric prevent organs from being damaged. Keep in mind that the skin is an organ too.

ANTI-ANXIETY

More and more studies are making linkages between haldi and its positive effect on anxiety. Curcumin seems to boost serotonin – the happy hormone, while lowering cortisol – the stress hormone.

PRO-HEART

Curcumin helps block the conditions that lead to cardiovascular damage, which helps manage blood pressure and reduces the formation of clots.

PRO-DIGESTION

Turmeric’s ability to relax abnormal muscle contractions and lower inflammation makes it great for digestive issues.

PRO-BRAIN POWER

Researchers are now discovering that haldi helps the brain repair itself as well as prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s.

PRO-IMMUNITY

Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties make it an effective immunity booster, mitigating incidences of infection, disease.

PRO-SLEEP

While a warm glass of milk before bedtime is in itself a wonderful inducer of sleep, a warm glass of haldi doodh seems to reduce the transition time from A to Zzzzz.

Ingest, apply or gargle when needed and take advantage of its availability and affordability in our country. That the world is already making tablets and capsules of turmeric and curcumin highlights something we’ve known for centuries – this gold dust is worth more than its weight in gold.

by Pooja Makhija

TOI15APR18