Turmeric is a major antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food, so it provides a lot of benefits! People and pets alike can benefit greatly from the addition of turmeric to their diets.

The "Golden Spice" has been revered and used in religious ceremonies

for millennia, and added daily to meals for enhanced immunity for over 4,000 years.

From traditional Ayurvedic medicine, it has become one of the most

researched plants in the world with over 21,000 cited articles identifying

nearly 300 pharmacological properties.

Turmeric may even improve conditions that are resistant to conventional treatment. It can act as an excellent preventative agent to many illnesses and may help with diabetes, dementia, arthritis, depression, and cancer, along with many others.

What does turmeric actually do?

Anticoagulant: It allows blood to flow correctly and inhibits abnormal blood clot formation (thrombosis). If you are already on anticoagulants, please consult your doctor to ensure consuming turmeric is appropriate with your medication.

Arthritis: Curcumin in turmeric inhibits the breakdown of cartilage and has been shown in some studies to be as effective as hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone in relieving the symptoms of arthritis such as inflammation, swelling and joint stiffness. Turmeric has been shown to be safe at very large doses and will offer relief to symptoms without the significant side effects of the aforementioned drugs.

Blood Pressure: Reduces and normalises blood pressure. Those on blood pressure medications may be able to work with your doctor to reduce your medication dose.

Cancer: Curcumin defends the body against cancer via multiple actions: it detoxifies carcinogens thereby preventing the initiation of cancer cells; suppresses the progression of cancerous cells by inhibiting their proliferation while simultaneously increasing their rates of death and removal; and inhibits the spread of cancerous cells to other areas of the body. It can also reduce the side effects of chemotherapy treatment and enhance the action of some chemotherapy agents. Various studies have demonstrated either turmeric (as a whole food) or curcumin/curcuminoids (as isolates) to have beneficial results in preventing or treating a wide range of cancers. These include including melanoma, ovarian, breast, lung, oral, stomach, liver, colon and prostate cancers.

Cardiovascular Effects: Curcumin improves the ability of the liver to reduce LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and increase HDL ("good" cholesterol). In addition, it prevents the oxidation of both LDL and HDL (oxidised cholesterol leads to blood vessel damage and plaque build-up that can result in heart attack or stroke).

Cognition and Brain Health: In addition to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant protection turmeric affords against neurodegenerative diseases, curcumin has been shown to inhibit the formation of the plaques between neurons (nerve cells) that disrupt and impair brain function.

Type 2 Diabetes: Along with cinnamon and ginger, turmeric is effective at reducing blood sugar and increasing insulin sensitivity. It can enhance glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and other tissue, which lowers blood sugar. Blood sugar levels should be monitored, as your diabetes medication or insulin dosage may need to be reduced.

Depression: Anecdotes of turmeric acting as a "mood lifting" or mentally energising" agent are common. If you are on antidepressants, you may need to consult your doctor as there can be some additive effects.

Energy: Turmeric helps to increase metabolic rate, normalise blood glucose, and increases alertness. Diabetic animals fed curcumin not only had a significant reduction of blood cholesterol levels (LDL cholesterol) but also a significant reduction of blood triglycerides and phospholipids (elevated levels of both are associated with the disturbed lipid metabolism characteristic of type 2 diabetes).

Fertility: Turmeric can improve fertility in dogs, cattle, and horses. Chicken egg production was improved by 30% which may result in hens laying eggs more consistently, even as they age.

Gastrointestinal Tract: Inhibits the growth of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium associated with both gastric duodenal ulcer formation, and gastric and colon cancers. Other studies have indicated that turmeric (in appropriate amounts) can enhance the healing of gastric ulcers via an increase in gastric wall mucus production. Furthermore, turmeric has been shown to have an antispasmodic effect on the gastrointestinal tract which may reduce stimulated colonic motor activity to relieve gastric upset. In addition, turmeric and curcumin have been investigated and found to be protective against Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Liver Health: Turmeric has a liver-protecting action. It both prevents and repairs liver damage. It protects the liver from inflammation and improves the clearing function of the liver when it has been damaged and dramatically increases the rate of clearance of alcohol from the system.

Hair, Skin and Nail Health: Significant reduction in itchiness of the skin based on trials conducted on people, dogs, and horses. Turmeric improves the quality of fingernails and hair in people, and improves hoof strength in horses. It can also deepen coat colour in horses and dogs. It can counteract sunburn even after redness appears due to its antioxidant effect, i.e. it scavenges radiation-induced, reactive, free radicals.

WEIGHT LOSS: Above effects may contribute to weight loss.

WOUND HEALING: Promotes rapid healthy healing of wounds.

Now you just need to cook your turmeric and you're golden.

It works on other animals as well!

HAVE YOU HAD YOUR TURMERIC TODAY?