Turmeric and Cholesterol, find out why this herb is important.
Studies with Turmeric and cholesterol have shown that Turmeric helps to reduce the amount of cholesterol and blocks the absorption of cholesterol
People everywhere are embracing lifestyles that include plenty of physical activities such as running, playing a sport, or working out. Many of these folks look outwardly very healthy. But this is only part of the story. Many of these same people are harboring a silent killer inside their bodies. This substance is known as cholesterol.
Overly high levels of cholesterol in the blood have been linked to a wide variety of life threatening health conditions. These include hypertension, heart disease, and clogged arteries. This situation has become such an epidemic that modern medicine has developed a range of artificial treatments to combat this condition. The bad news is that many such cures are less than effective, and often have harmful side effects.
The good news is that there are some all-natural remedies that can reduce the levels of harmful cholesterol in the body. One such natural cure is the super food known as Turmeric. In this article, readers will find out more about what Turmeric is. At the same time, they will learn more about the relationship between Turmeric and cholesterol, and also some of the ways in which Turmeric reduces the amount of this potentially fatal substance in the body.
A definition of turmeric
Turmeric is the name of a famous Asian spice. It is used to make delicious curries and mustards, and also has applications as a dye. Turmeric contains a number of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Turmeric is found in the roots of the Curcurma longa plant. These roots are harvested, and then processed to produce the final product. This processing includes boiling, drying, and grinding into powder.
One of the most powerful ingredients in turmeric is called Curcurmin. This highly beneficial substance has gained widespread fame for its apparent ability to prevent or cure a wide variety of serious diseases.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a wax like substance that comes from two main sources. One source is the food that people eat, and the other source is the body itself. The liver plays a big part in producing cholesterol inside the body, at which point it is dispatched throughout the body for various purposes.
It´s important to note that there are 2 basic kinds of cholesterol, one good for health and the other detrimental. HDL, or High Density Lipoprotein, is the “good” variety. LDL, or Low Density Lipoproten, is the “bad” variety. LDL is considered harmful because if there is too much of it in the blood it can cause plaque to build up on the walls of arteries. Over time, this plaque can completely close blood vessels, resulting in strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots.
Turmeric and cholesterol
This is where Turmeric comes into play. It mitigates the effects of LDL cholesterol in several key ways. First, it´s important to understand that Turmeric and Curcurmin are powerful antioxidants. This means that they resist the oxidation of the body that is a result of life processes. Since oxidized LDL is especially dangerous, Curcurmin´s ability to stop oxidation prevents oxidized LDL from forming in the first place.
Turmeric also acts on cholesterol in other ways. Studies with Turmeric and cholesterol have shown that Turmeric helps to reduce the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver. At the same time, it helps to block the absorption of cholesterol into the body from the high cholesterol foods consumed by many. Those who are suffering from high LDL cholesterol would do well to put away the artificial drugs and instead spice up their meals with Turmeric. They will avoid the debilitating side effects of these drugs, and will win much praise for the great taste of their culinary creations.