Health Hint: Turmeric 101

Taking care of your health is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Baylor College of Medicine experts have plenty of tips to help you stay healthy. This month’s Health Hint looks into the health benefits of turmeric that many espouse.

Turmeric is a bright orange spice from the root of the Curcuma longa plant. It’s the active ingredient, curcumin, that gives the spice its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Some of our providers recommend it for inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis. It is not meant to be used in place of medicine, but research shows that turmeric can help increase the longevity of the remission period for IBD patients. Some literature shows turmeric improving memory in non-Alzheimer’s patients, reducing arthritis pain and lowering cholesterol levels. All in all, there’s some pretty promising research out there about turmeric, but I want people to know it isn’t a ‘fix-it-all’ cure.”