Turmeric and Diabetes: This Spice Proven to Fight Diabetes…Again!

Research highlighting turmeric‘s powerful health-boosting properties just seems to never cease, with some recent research showing yet again that the super spice can help to prevent diabetes risk thanks to the spice’s active compound curcumin. What’s more, the compound helps to prevent diabetes among those with prediabetes – indicated that extremely high blood sugar levels that could ultimately result in type 2 diabetes. Without a doubt, there is a clear connection between turmeric and diabetes.

Turmeric and Diabetes – Curcumin in Turmeric Fights Diabetes Risk, Even for those with Prediabetes

Published in the journal Diabetes Care, the study involved 240 Thai adults with prediabetes. The participants were divided into 2 groups, with one group taking curcumin capsules containing 250 milligrams of curcuminoids, while the other was given a placebo. After a 9 month period, it was found that 19 individuals of the 116-person placebo group developed type 2 diabetes, while none of the participants of the 199-person curcumin group developed the disease.

“Because of its benefits and safety, we propose that curcumin extract may be used for an intervention therapy for the prediabetes population,” Dr. Somlak Chuengsamarn of Srinakharinwirot University in Nakornnayok, Thailand and the researchers write.

Turmeric and curcumin have been shown in previous research to also fight inflammation and oxidative damage – two processes which help a number of diseases to appear and develop, including type 2 diabetes. One study published in the journal Nutrition shows how turmeric normalizes insulin and triglyceride levels while boosting antioxidant defenses; keeping triglyceride and insulin levels low effectively reduces your risk for numerous health conditions like metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and – you guessed it – diabetes.

Conductor of the study published in the journal Nutrition, Shelia West, found that the levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, decreased by approximately a third in a meal prepared with spices. The decrease even occurred when oily sauces high in fat were present. The research shows how extremely simple dietary changes can have such a positive influence on health.

What’s also fantastic about turmeric spice is that it provides a large array of other health benefits. In addition to preventing and fighting diabetes, turmeric has also been shown to:

• Rest among the most powerful of cancer-fighting foods.
• Promote healthy fat loss.
• Help detoxify the liver and promote liver health.
• Cut heart disease risk.
• Be a solution for skin issues such as acne.

What’s great about the implementation of turmeric is that the spice doesn’t come with the harsh side effects that tag along with historically-dangerous diet drugs. Instead of resorting to such drugs, try adding turmeric into your daily lifestyle by using turmeric in a number of different delicious ways.

Additional Sources:

PubMed