Turmeric Can Help Fight Diabetes, Researchers Find

Helen Holmes March 25, 2013

Turmeric, the magic ingredient behind curry dishes, has been used as a traditional medicine in Asia for centuries. However, it was not until recently that the medical community has recognised its therapeutic value. And since then, turmeric became widely known for its overflowing health benefits.

Aside from its superior antioxidant effects that make this popular Indian spice a health booster, turmeric is now given credits for its ability to fight and prevent diabetes.

One of the earliest studies that show a link between diabetes and turmeric was conducted in 2007, and led by a group of researchers from the National Centre for Cell Science in India. In this study, scientists exposed a sample of pancreatic cells from mice to a stressor and then incubated some of them in a curcumin solution. Curcumin is the active compound that is responsible for the health benefits of turmeric. The researchers found that the cells which were treated with curcumin were less damaged by free radicals as compared to the undertreated pancreatic cells. According to the study authors, this has significant implications since damage on the pancreas could result to problems in the production of insulin.

Preventive Effects on Diabetes

In a more recent study published in the journal Diabetes Care, another team of scientists found that turmeric has the potential to prevent prediabetes from developing into diabetes. For this study, researchers invited prediabetic participants and asked half of them to take a daily supplementation of curcumin (250mg) and the other half to take a placebo supplement. After the study period, none of those who took curcumin developed diabetes as compared to the 16.4 percent of the placebo group.

Therapeutic Benefits for Patients

Over the years, scientists have failed to develop a magic bullet weapon that could fight and eliminate diabetes. Most therapies for diabetes are only preventive while others simply manage the symptoms by stabilising blood sugar levels. Other than preventing the onset of the disease, turmeric has been found to provide positive benefits to individuals who already have diabetes. That’s the result of the study conducted by the Harbin Medical University and the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Here, researchers found that diabetic patients who were given 300mg of curcumin daily for three months dramatically reduced their glucose levels and insulin resistance. They also had a reduction in their haemoglobin A1c levels and free fatty acids.

Other Health Benefits of Turmeric

For thousands of years, people in India have relied on the power of turmeric in alleviating different kinds of illnesses, from simple cold and flu to severe cases of infection, pain, and cancer. Turmeric has many amazing health benefits, such as the following:

· It naturally detoxifies the liver.

· It reduces risk of childhood leukaemia

· It serves as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that is as potent as pharmaceutically available medications but without side effects.

· It promotes metabolism, an essential aspect of weight management.

· It speeds up wound healing.

· It helps fight skin problems, including acne.

Dear Readers,

What other health benefits of turmeric can you add to this list?

Share your comment below.

Source of this article:

Study finds that turmeric prevents diabetes

Turmeric and Diabetes: This Spice Proven to Fight Diabetes…Again!

Curcumin May Have a Role in Diabetes Prevention