Can turmeric be used for weight loss? It looks like we now have an extra excuse to eat more curry. Turmeric, a spice used commonly and often liberally in curried foods, has been linked to weight loss, and the prevention of obesity and Type Two Diabetes.
A Million Uses and Counting
These latest findings are only the newest findings linking turmeric to health. This root herb grown in India and Asia has been in use for the treatment of patients for centuries. Some of the common uses anciently included the regulation of menstruation, relieving arthritis pain, and to help liver and digestion functions.
In modern medical research these claims have been substantiated as well as expanded. Now medical researchers are looking into how turmeric can help to ease and treat Alzheimer’s disease. Turmeric is also linked to slowing certain degenerative diseases that cause swelling and pain in joints, like fibromyalgia and other autoimmune disorders.
Yet it seems that all the beneficial effects of years past will pale in comparison to the news released in The Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco. It was there that researchers first announced the initial findings of its study on how turmeric acts as a weight regulator.
Eat Curry, Be Thin
In the study subjects were fed with meals high in fat and calories. As expected, the weight of subjects in the control group increased. The mice in the test group dined on the same fare, but with the addition of turmeric as the secret ingredient. The result was a measurable and significant loss of fat and weight. Although mice were the stars of the research, doctors were very optimistic that similar results will be seen in human tests.
It is thought that one of the mechanisms turmeric affects is fat metabolism. The body’s added ability to rid itself of fats will lend to weight loss in spite of a fatty diet.
A recent study involving 44 people struggling with weight loss used curcumin, the main compound found in turmeric, as a weight loss aid. The study results were very promising; those participating in the study experienced significant reductions in weight and body mass index. The study paired the curcumin with piperine, a compound found in black pepper that is thought to increase curcumin absorption.
These test results are still in the infancy of research. Before a broad statement can be levied at turmeric’s real weight loss potential much more research, especially more tests which include human subjects, need to be conducted. If turmeric as a weight loss aid interests you, be sure to keep an eye on evolving research. New studies are conducted all the time; while it often takes time for the results of these studies to be published, that's a good thing. It means the results are being properly vetted by experts.
How to Supplement Your Diet With Turmeric
Researchers say that to use turmeric as a dietary supplement, a dose of 1 ½ teaspoons each day seems to be the ideal dose. Remember that while spicing up your diet with turmeric, make sure you still balance your diet, exercise, and rest.
Before taking turmeric as a supplement, it may be a good idea to have a chat with your doctor. Your doctor can evaluate your health profile to see if adding turmeric would make a difference. They can also advise you on how much turmeric to consume each day.
The content of this article should not be taken as professional medical advice. Always consult a medical professional before making decisions that affect your health.
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