20 Amazing Benefits of Turmeric for Skin and Health

Turmeric has been a part of Indian culture and is used in a number of religious ceremonies. It is also used as a cooking ingredient in almost every Indian dish. Turmeric has a number of health benefits and is highly nutritious. It has been used in India and other south Asian countries for almost 4000 years for its medicinal values.

Nutritional Profile of Turmeric

Benefits of Turmeric for Skin

It is a known fact that turmeric or haldi is widely used for skin care in India. There are many benefits of haldi or turmeric on face and skin mentioned in Ayurveda. It is also used in making sunscreens, face creams etc.

1. Is an Anti-Aging Product

The yellow colour of the turmeric root is due to the presence of curcuminoids. The curcuminoids in the turmeric are found to be natural antioxidants. These antioxidants help fight free radicals which are known to damage the cells which further leads to aging. Using turmeric helps to keep the skin young and healthy.

You need

• 1 tsp. turmeric
• 1-2 tbsp. milk
• 1 tsp. honey

Method

1. Mix all the above ingredients to a paste like consistency.
2. Apply to the face and neck and leave it for about 20 minutes.
3. Wash with lukewarm water.
4. Do it once a week for best results.

2. Helps Treat Acne

Propionibacterium acnes or P. acnes is responsible for the skin condition called acne. Turmeric can be used to treat acne as it is proved to have strong antimicrobial properties. The other benefits of turmeric for acne are that also has anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce the swelling and redness caused by acne. Here’s a DIY mask using turmeric to help reduce acne.

To Use

• 2 tbsp. rice flour
• 1 tsp. turmeric
• 3 tbsp. plain yogurt or curd
• ½ tsp. honey

Method

1. Mix all the ingredients together and make a thick paste.
2. Apply a thin layer on your face and neck.
3. Let it sit for 20 minutes.
4. Wash with lukewarm water.

3. Can Be Used as A Natural Hair Remover

Turmeric can be used as a natural hair remover to get rid of unwanted hair. It removes the hair from the roots without causing any damage to the skin. Using turmeric as a hair remover regularly for a long period of time can help get rid of unwanted hair permanently. You can use the DIY given below for removing unwanted hairs by using turmeric.

To Use

• 2 tsp. turmeric
• ½ tsp. salt
• 3 tbsp. curd yoghurt

Method

1. Mix all the ingredients together.
2. Apply the paste thickly on the desired area.
3. Leave it on the skin for 30 minutes.
4. Wash with lukewarm water

Note: Do not use more than half teaspoon of salt as it can irritate the skin. If you have very dry or sensitive skin skip the salt.

4. Acts as an Antifungal

Turmeric has curcumin in it which is the most active component. This is the main reason for its medicinal values. Turmeric is also proved to have antifungal properties. A study showed that a crude ethanolic extract of turmeric killed all 29 tested clinical strains of dermatophytes. It can be used to treat fungal infections on skin and nails.

To Use

• 1 tbsp. coconut oil
• 1 tsp. turmeric powder

Method

1. Add one teaspoon turmeric to 1 tbsp. coconut oil
2. Mix them together and apply into the affected area with a cotton ball.
3. If you are applying to the nails use a Q tip and make sure you apply around the cuticles.

5. Is A Natural Antihistamine

Histamine is a chemical produced in our body and has many functions. It communicates messages to the brain, helps release stomach acid during digestion and it is released after an injury or allergic reactions. Antihistamines are used to treat allergic symptoms. Turmeric contains curcumin which acts as a natural antihistamine and can help relieve allergic symptoms.

6. Works as A Sunscreen

Exposure to the UV radiation can cause skin Cancer. It is also responsible for premature aging. Researchers have found that curcumin which is present in turmeric can prevent the bad effects of UVB radiations. It can also be used to treat sunburn. A simple DIY for treating sunburn using turmeric is given below.

To Use

• 2 tbsp. turmeric powder
• Water as per need

Method

1. Add water to 2 tbsp. of turmeric powder to make a paste.
2. Apply this paste over sunburn blisters.
3. Leave it for 10 minutes.
4. Wash gently with cold water and pat dry.
5. Do this daily until the sunburn blisters are cured.

7. Has Antiseptic Properties

Many pieces of research and studies have proved that turmeric has antiseptic properties. Even at low concentrations, turmeric was found to have antiseptic effects. Turmeric has been used in Ayurveda as an antiseptic to treat cuts and wounds.

8. Increases Collagen Production

Collagen is responsible for beautiful and healthy skin. Turmeric contains curcumin which increases collagen production in the body.

9. Reduces Hyperpigmentation

Turmeric is great for reducing hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Melanin sometimes gets over secreted due to external factors. Curcumin present in turmeric helps reduce the production of melanin in the body. This helps reduce hyperpigmentation and dark spots and helps in evening out the skin tone.

To Use

• ¼ tsp. turmeric powder
• 2-3 tbsp. gram flour
• ½ tsp. olive oil/almond oil
• ½ tsp. milk
• Lemon juice or cucumber juice

Method

1. Add ¼ TSP. of turmeric powder to 2-3 tbsp. of gram flour.
2. Add a little lemon juice (or cucumber juice if you have sensitive skin) to it.
3. Mix these ingredients together.
4. Add olive oil or almond oil to the mixture.
5. Add milk and bring it to a creamy consistency.
6. Mix all the ingredients together and make a paste. Add more besan (gram flour) if needed.
7. Apply the paste on the face and neck.
8. Let it sit for 10 minutes or until the mask dries.
9. Wash with lukewarm water using circular motions.

10. Makes the Skin Glow

Turmeric is used by many for glowing skin. Turmeric contains antioxidants and also helps increase the production of collagen. This not only helps in keeping the skin healthy but also gives some natural glow to the skin.

To use

• 1 tsp. turmeric
• 1 tbsp. plain yoghurt or curd
• 2 tsp. honey

Method

1. Mix all the ingredients together and apply on face and neck.
2. Let it sit for 20 minutes
3. Wash with lukewarm water.
4. Use this once a week for a healthy and glowing skin.

Benefits of Turmeric For Health

There are more than hundred components which have been isolated from turmeric. The main component of the turmeric root is volatile oil, containing turmerone which is responsible for the aroma of turmeric. Turmeric is very nutritious and is used to treat a number of diseases.

1. Fights Cancer

Turmeric has been reported to exhibit activity against the development of skin cancer, breast cancer, oral cancer and stomach cancer. Studies have found a decrease in tumor formation when rats injected with Dalton’s lymphoma were treated with turmeric extract. Curcumin was found to provide symptomatic relief by reducing smell, itching, lesion size and pain in human participants.

2. Works as A Natural Antidepressant

Curcumin present in turmeric can help balance serotonin, dopamine, glutamate and noradrenaline. Many experiments have shown antidepressant activities in animal models. Curcumin possess antidepressant activities by modulating the release of dopamine and serotonin.

3. Keeps the Heart Healthy

Turmeric contains curcumin which is a natural antioxidant. It has anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that curcumin prevented heart failure in rats. Curcumin also reduces the development of clogged arteries (atherosclerosis) which is an important risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

4. Helps Cure Diabetes

There are many health benefits of turmeric for diabetes. Turmeric was used to treat diabetes in Ayurveda thousands of years ago. Turmeric contains Curcumin which is known to reduce glycemia and hyperlipidemia in rats. It is also believed to reduce cholesterol levels.

5. Cures Cold Symptoms

Though turmeric cannot cure common cold, with the amazing benefits of turmeric milk one can relieve cold symptoms and clear sinuses. You can also combine turmeric milk with ginger and honey to make turmeric tea. The benefits of turmeric tea are that it not helps ease cold symptoms but also boosts immunity. Given below are simple recipes for turmeric milk and turmeric tea.

To Use (For turmeric milk)

• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp. turmeric
• 1 tsp. honey
• ¼ tsp. black pepper powder

Method

1. Add all the ingredients to a pan.
2. Mix them well and bring it to a boil.
3. Let it simmer for a minute.

Note: Adding black pepper helps the body absorb curcumin but it may be too spicy. Avoid black pepper powder if you’re making turmeric milk for kids.

To Use (For turmeric tea)

• 4 cups of water
• 1 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. honey
• ½ tsp. lemon juice
• ¼ tsp. black pepper powder

Method

1. Add 4 cups of water to a pan.
2. Bring the water to a boil.
3. Add 1 tsp. of turmeric powder and reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Strain the tea through a fine sieve into a cup.
5. Add honey and lemon to taste.
6. Add the black pepper powder to the tea.

6. A Potential Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease

Various studies have shown that Alzheimer’s disease among adults of age 70-79 were 4.4 times less than that of in United States. People who used curry everyday performed better on a standard test (MMSE) of cognitive function than those who rarely ate curry. Chronic inflammation of the nerve cells is one of the most important pathogenesis in Alzheimer’s disease. As Curcumin has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it believed to help relieve Alzheimer’s symptoms due to oxidation and inflammation.

7. Boosts Immunity

Studies suggest that Curcumin at lower doses can help enhance antibody responses. Using turmeric in your diet everyday will help boost your immune system. Many people drink turmeric water every day for its benefits. The benefits of drinking turmeric water are many. It detoxifies the body, improves metabolism, helps in weight loss etc.

8. Increases Male Fertility

There are many benefits of turmeric for men with fertility issues. Few studies suggest Curcumin can help prevent male infertility caused by toxins and improve sperm count. A few also suggest that as turmeric has vitamin C in it also helps in increasing the sperm count.

9. Helps Pregnant Women

Turmeric helps improve digestion and is a carminative substance. It helps reduce constipation in pregnant women. It boosts the immune system thus keeping the mother healthy. It also helps with hormone changes during pregnancy. Even though the benefits of turmeric during pregnancy are many, it should be taken in very limited quantities as it can stimulate the uterus.

10. Relieves Arthritis Symptoms

Curcumin is the most active component in turmeric. It is known to have anti-inflammatory properties which can reduce pain and inflammation of arthritis.

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