What are the benefits of turmeric?

The main reason that turmeric has been hailed as a natural hero in recent years is because it has anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation in the body can lead to all sorts of short-term and long-term conditions, illnesses and diseases, including cancers and diabetes.

“Our modern lives are geared towards inflammation,” says Toral, as inflammation can often be caused by our diets, smoking, excess alcohol and stress. “I think that these anti-inflammatory properties are why the rest of the world has got interested in it recently.”

And it’s not in vain: a 2012 study from the International Immunopharmacology journal shows that turmeric can reduce inflammation in the body by blocking some of the signalling molecules that are involved in inflammatory response. For that reason, turmeric is often associated with helping conditions such as:

Arthritis or joint pain
IBS
Heartburn
Depression or anxiety
Hayfever

What are the benefits of turmeric? A nutritionist explains how healthy this spice really is