Turmeric has seen a recent influx of popularity within mainstream culture. The traditional Indian spice has made its way out of the confines of the kitchen and into more niche spaces like health-boosting smoothies and spicy artisanal lattes.
More people than ever before are seeking out turmeric in their diet, and the availability of turmeric supplements is steadily rising as the public’s demand for them increases. But where did all this sudden passion for turmeric come from in the first place?
Well, there’s promising research that indicates turmeric has many beneficial properties that can significantly improve an individual’s quality of health. Rather than look at every possible benefit turmeric can have on general human wellness, we’re going to focus on the beneficial effects that turmeric supplements have for men’s health specifically.
Continue reading to learn more about the following:
- The significance of turmeric in history
- The many benefits of taking turmeric for men’s health
- General benefits that come with turmeric supplementation
How Does Turmeric Work?
Getting the Medical and Historical Facts
That little bottle of turmeric collecting dust in your spice rack might be better off taking up residence in the medicine cabinet of your bathroom, metaphorically speaking. Adding an adequate amount of turmeric powder to your food in order to reap the health benefits of this spice would be quite difficult, but concentrated amounts of turmeric that contain the active component circumin can spark a significant change in the quality of your health. This is no different from many of the other natural medicines and remedies available around the world.
Turmeric has a long history of medical use in South Asia, dating back to nearly four thousand years ago. The ancient Indian medical system, Ayurveda, believed turmeric to possess many medicinal properties like improving digestion, relieving gas and arthritis pains, enhancing strength, and regulating menstruation. Traditional Chinese medicine used turmeric to treat diseases associated with abdominal pain, liver problems, and to stop bleeding. Other South Asian countries use it as a general antiseptic and antibacterial agent for wound cleansing, treating cuts and burns with it.
The significance of turmeric within Indian culture is evident in the many applications the spice has accumulated throughout history. One of the foundational texts of Ayurveda, Sustra’s Compendium, documented the use of ointments containing turmeric to relieve the effects of food poisoning as early as 250 BC. Additionally, Indian culture uses turmeric as a remedy for skin conditions, to remove superfluous hair, and to purify blood. Turmeric is particularly symbolic in traditional Indian weddings and ceremonies, where it is applied as a paste to the skin of the bride and groom to manifest good health.
Benefits of Turmeric for Men’s Health
Taking turmeric supplements can be beneficial for pretty much anyone’s health, but we’re interested in the particular ways that turmeric positively affects certain aspects of men’s health. What could they possibly be? Get ready to have that question and many more answered as we discuss all the turmeric facts, including the actual science behind the claims.
Take a deep breath, sit back, and relax as we dive into the realm of turmeric for men’s health.
Prostate Health
One of the most prevalent health threats that exist for men over the age of fifty is prostate cancer. In fact, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis for men, and approximately one in eight men living in the U.K. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
There is mounting evidence that turmeric plays a role in benefitting prostate health via its active component, circumin. Turmeric can help support prostate health due to its various health properties, such as its anti-inflammatory effects that help the body respond appropriately to inflammation. Some experiments have even resulted in a reduction of prostate cancer tumors when turmeric was injected into prostate cancer cells.
Though common in the western world, the rate of prostate cancer is very low in India. This could be due to the significant amount of turmeric present in their regular diets. If you believe turmeric could be of help to you, consulting your doctor is a great first step to take.
Sexual Health and Libido
A considerable percentage of men experience a loss in libido as they get older due to factors like age, personal stress, and life-changing events. Low libido is attributed to decreased blood flow, which the circumin in turmeric can help counteract by increasing blood flow and boosting testosterone production, overall benefitting the male libido.
While it is a topic of embarrassment for some men, discussions surrounding your sexual health are nothing to be ashamed of. Be transparent and open about any issues you experience when talking with medical professionals.
Face and Skin Care
It’s absurd to believe women are the only people who care about their good looks. Most men have a desire to look decent when out in public, and many at least make an effort to take minimal care of their skin.
There is a high amount of collagen present in men’s skin, making it about twenty percent thicker than women’s skin. Men also have more and larger pores present on their skin and produce a higher amount of sebum, making their skin prone to impurities and way more oily than women’s skin.
Luckily, turmeric might offer a skincare remedy. It is suggested that turmeric can be applied topically or taken orally to improve overall skin quality, so those extra minutes you dedicate to tending to your facial routine at the end of the day might end up paying off after all. Work out a skincare routine that works for you and get to know your body on a whole new level of cleanliness.
Mental Health
So many mental health problems go unaddressed in a vast majority of men due to the social stigma surrounding mental health treatment, personal fears and apprehensions, and a general bleak outlook on having the capability to get better.
Results of the men who took a mental health survey revealed that seventy-seven percent of them suffered from depression, anxiety, or stress. Around forty percent of those individuals confessed that they would not seek out help until the presence of self-destructive thoughts got to be too much.
There are discussions surrounding turmeric that, among its amazing health benefits, speculate the potential of turmeric in regards to mental health. Turmeric has been shown to improve general feelings of negativity and reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, and their similar counterparts. Taking turmeric may offer the boost you need to elevate your mood and feel like a brand new you.
Mental health is equally important as physical health and should be given as much respect and consideration. While turmeric may serve as a possible influence for your health, I highly recommend talking to a professional medical expert before turning to turmeric as the go-to option. There are many lifestyle changes you can incorporate into your regular activities that can serve as a positive influence and transform your outlook.
General Health Benefits of Turmeric
Many positive aspects concerning turmeric aren’t dependent on gender, meaning female friends can join in on the supplement fun. Let’s see what else to expect when starting the turmeric lifestyle.
Fight Inflammation and Pain
There are several nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the market that individuals take to manage long-term pain caused by arthritis, but the problem with these drugs is that there are an abundance of health risks that come alongside their daily consumption.
While it’s a difficult reality for those that suffer from chronic pain to cope with, a sufficient alternative may exist in the form of circumin. A study on Meriva circumin and resveratrol, another natural supplement, found that these supplements were suitable replacements for several anti-inflammatory drugs.
Powerful Antioxidant
Turmeric is no fish oil supplement, but its antioxidant properties are not to be overlooked as a result. The circumin present in turmeric seeks out oxygen free radicals and prevents them from causing harm to the body’s cells.
Cardiovascular disease is a huge risk of inflammation and other damage brought on by free radicals, which turmeric can overall help manage and even prevent. Turmeric has also been shown to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in individuals at risk for heart disease, possibly improving blood pressure as well.
Anti-Cancer Effects
There have been various animal and human studies that have explored the effects of turmeric on cancer, many among them finding that turmeric may affect the growth and development of cancer on a molecular level.
Research shows that turmeric can contribute to the death of cancerous cells, reduce the spread of cancer, and reduce negative side effects commonly associated with chemotherapy. Much still has yet to be explored in regards to turmeric’s effect on a variety of cancers, but what we currently know looks promising.
What Else?
We’ve covered a majority of the benefits turmeric can have, but there’s always more to be discovered. Additional health benefits of turmeric include the following:
- Heart health
- Diabetes
- Digestive health
- Psychological health
Get the Most Out of Turmeric
What You Need to Take Away From this Quick Read
Wow, turmeric really does sound like it would be an amazing supplement to add to your life. Thinking about boarding the turmeric hype train already and setting off towards healthier horizons and a more positive outlook on the world around you?
Unfortunately, things are never that simple, but they don’t have to be all too difficult either. Adding turmeric to your routine shouldn’t be an issue, though be warned that you’ll want to have concentrated doses of the natural supplement to get the results you seek. Circumin is the active component found in turmeric that does pretty much all the work, and the amount of it found in a tasteful pinch of the spice won’t be enough to impact your health.
Try combining turmeric with black pepper and certain fats, like olive oil, to increase rates of absorption!
There is no harm in adding a beneficial natural supplement to your daily routine in an effort to improve aspects of your health. If you wish to try turmeric, have at it – just remember that a doctor’s input is valuable and should always be considered. Talk to your primary health provider about turmeric and see if it’s the right thing for you.
