Tumeric may not hog the attention for its medicinal value the way super plants like aloe vera, sage and garlic do, but it is a potent weight loss agent. Over the years, turmeric has been proven to actually help the body burn more fat and helping prevent diseases associated with high cholesterol levels. It has been used for centuries as a treatment for metabolic disorders and can boost your fat burning efforts.
In one review published in the 2011 European Journal of Nutrition, it was noted that curcumin, an antioxidant found in turmeric helps fight inflammation in a number of cells including pancreatic, fat and muscle cells. This action helps prevent and fight insulin resistance, control blood sugar and cholesterol levels all which are conditions associated with diabetes.
In another experiment done in 2009 to determine the effect of turmeric in preventing fat gain, 18 mice were placed in three groups and fed special diets for a period of 12 weeks. A control group was given a diet with 4% fat while the remaining two were placed on high fat diets of 22%. One of the high fat groups had its diet mixed with curcumin of about 1.5 – 1.75 mg daily. The fat distribution and total weight gain were recorded at the end of the period.
It was observed that the group which had a diet mixed with curcumin had a reduced total body weight and body fat gain in comparison to the one that fed on a high fat diet alone. As further proof of the effects of turmeric on weight loss, the mice on a diet with turmeric were found to have lower fatty acids, glucose levels, triglycerides and liver fat. These two studies demonstrate a number of turmeric weight loss benefits.
Aside from speeding up fat-burning process, turmeric prevents fat plaques from building up in the artery walls and its lipid-lowering properties ensure the adipose tissue does not gain weight.
A healthy and efficiently functioning liver is the key to proper fat break down and body detoxification. Turmeric protects the liver from harmful radicals and detoxifies environmental pollutants in the liver. It also aids in digestion. All these functions ensure one burns fat faster and prevents more weight gain during the weight loss period and after.
While some may say that the spice is only starting to become the flavor of the month, there is no doubt that there are turmeric weight loss benefits that we cannot ignore.
Also read: Why Exercise is NOT the Key to Losing Weight
This post was written by Maggie Martin, a Ph.D. in Cell Biology graduate. She is very passionate about healthy living and has been writing about Food and Healthy Lifestyles. When she is not busy, she takes interest in a variety of things such as lifestyle, food, health, herbal medicine, and the benefits of turmeric. Follow her on Twitter @Maggiemartink.
Originally posted on January 16, 2017 @ 10:00 am
