8 Unexpected benefits of drinking turmeric milk

This article is written by Sparkle Purpose. Follow Sparkle Purpose on Twitter and Pinterest.

Health benefits of turmeric milk

1. Turmeric milk can help to prevent cancer

Turmeric kills cancer cells and prevents them from proliferating.

Turmeric milk works as a furious combatant against cancer. Turmeric acts as an antioxidant. It reduces the oxidative stress that helps free radicals (cell damage) flourish throughout your body. This strengthens cancer development. Studies have linked the turmeric found in the beverage to lowering your risk of various cancers.

Turmeric milk also contains the chemical curcumin, which is known to kill cancer cells and prevent the growth of blood vessels in tumors. Keep in mind that this research is compelling; but it’s also limited.

While our chances of getting cancer in life are never fully eliminated, the evidence for turmeric milk lowering the odds seems very optimistic. 

2. Turmeric milk boosts your immune system 

If you are vulnerable to the common cold, turmeric milk might be great for you. Golden milk can have great benefits if you're suffering from a cold or sickness. Curcumin (an active ingredient in turmeric) contains plenty of antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral properties that fight against illness.

Curcumin tackles dangerous cells and foreign agents, preventing them from infecting your body. If you’re stuck at home with an awful cough and stuffy nose, try some turmeric milk as a healthy remedy.

This may interest you: 9 foods to boost your immune system

3. Turmeric milk helps to prevent heart disease

Did you know that drinking turmeric milk every day can help to reduce your risk of heart issues?

Ingredients such as turmeric, ginger and cinnamon all have links to lowering the chances of heart disease.

In one particular study, 41 patients with type 2 diabetes were given 2 grams of ginger daily. After 12 weeks their risk factors were 23-28% lower than before. 

Keeping consistent with our curcumin theme, the chemical may improve your blood vessel lining. People undergoing heart surgery are normally given curcumin. During your hospital stay, you are 65% less likely to suffer a heart attack if you consume the chemical.

4. Turmeric may lower your blood sugar levels

Some research has shown that golden milk ingredients - particularly cinnamon and ginger - help to lower blood sugar. While more compelling evidence is necessary for a conclusion, one study states that 1-6 grams of cinnamon per day for 40 days lowered blood sugar by 24% and lowered cholesterol by 18%. 

This may interest you: 8 techniques to lower blood pressure

Turmeric may also reduce insulin resistance. Cinnamon reduces the glucose level absorbed in your gut after eating. Adding ginger to your diet helps lower your blood sugar by about 12%.

While it may have these benefits, you need to make sure that your golden milk is unsweetened. Certain brands contain honey and maple syrup. For the best chances of lowering blood sugar, stay away from those ingredients.

5. Turmeric milk detoxifies your liver  

If you suffer from an unhealthy liver, turmeric milk might be able to improve your condition. It is important for your liver to cleanse itself regularly. Drinking golden milk will cleanse the liver of toxins. It prevents toxins from damaging the liver.

Turmeric milk will also help to prevent fatty acids and other harmful chemicals from building up in your liver. This purifies your body and enables you to process food better without building up the toxins that are left behind.

6. Turmeric milk has powerful anti-inflammatory properties

Golden milk can reduce inflammation in the body. Reducing inflammation can reduce your chances of developing arthritis, pancreatitis and bowel disease. Inflammation also plays a major role in heart disease, Alzheimer's and cancer.

If you make turmeric milk a regular part of your diet, you will most likely see a reduction in overall inflammation.

Studies have shown that consuming about 500 mg of curcumin (three times daily) has the same effect as 50 mg (twice daily) of regular arthritis medication. Turmeric milk has a better effect on osteoarthritis patients than placebo medication given out by doctors. Golden milk works by blocking certain enzymes that allow inflammation to take place.

7. Turmeric milk improves your mood 

Is there anything that curcumin can’t do at this point?

Do you feel depressed? Curcumin can most likely help you with that. While the jury is still technically out, research points towards golden milk improving your overall mood. 

During a study on 60 participants with depression, curcumin reduced depressive symptoms with the same effects as regular antidepressants. Other research links depression with inflammation. 

The curcumin goes to work fighting free radicals, preventing inflammation and reducing oxidative stress. More research needs to be done, but if you’re experiencing mental health issues, drinking a glass of golden milk won’t hurt.

8. Turmeric milk improves your memory 

Things don’t just stop at the mood-enhancing benefits of turmeric milk. Turmeric has plenty of other healthy effects on brain function. While current research is still uncertain, there is reason to believe that the ingredients of golden milk improve your memory and state of alertness. 

Curcumin can increase your levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). 50 mg/kg increased BDNF by 78% while 100 mg/kg increase BDNF levels by 95% in this study.

This helps your brain connect and grow new brain cells. If you are suffering from low BDNF, you may be vulnerable to memory loss.

The cinnamon in turmeric milk fights against the buildup of tau protein. This protein is crucial for the development of Alzheimer's disease. Considering that an estimated 5.8 million Americans are living with this horrible condition, a drink that fights against it is exciting news.

Ginger also improves brain function and enhances memory.

You might find this interesting: Hot water helps with weight loss.

This article is written by Sparkle Purpose. Follow Sparkle Purpose on Twitter and Pinterest. Check out their article on 15 foods highly rich in calcium.

Do fitness trackers cause cancer?

Fitness trackers have taken the world by storm. The ability to monitor everything from the steps you take to the amount of high quality sleep you get and the amount of exercise you do has made the recording of personal progress as simple as looking at your watch or tapping on your phone. Since the people that would most want to use these devices are the ones who are most concerned about their health, an obvious question would be about whether they have any negative health effects.

Can fitness trackers cause cancer?

The mechanism used by fitness trackers to transmit information is very similar to that used by mobile phones. They do this using something called non-ionizing radio frequencies or radiation (RF). Radiation is a scary word, but the sun's rays and our own body heat emit a form of radiation. Some forms of radiation can cause cancers, whiles others don't. Since the form of radiation emitted by tracking devices is non-ionizing, the energy is not strong enough to alter molecules or atoms. They do, however, make electrons go into a higher energetic state. Forms of radiation that alter molecules are the ones that cause mutation and cancer. The radiation from fitness trackers doesn't directly change your molecular structure, but they do energize electrons. This means that the cancer-causing risk of these devices are low... but not absent.

The World Health Organisation states that mobile phones are possibly carcinogenic because of the long-term radiation that they emit. More research needs to be done, since mobile phones have not been around for as long as we think and cancer takes a long time to form. This makes it very hard to study and draw definitive links between the two. More research is currently being done. The radiation in these devices is relatively low. There are bodies like the FCC that closely monitor the amount of radiation emitted from consumer devices to make sure that they stay within pre-determined limits. Fitness trackers emit far less radiation than mobile phones.

Should we be wearing fitness trackers all day long?

Fitness Finest explains that researchers have pointed out that the increase in mobile phone usage without an increase in brain cancers shows that there might not be a link between the two. They also say that since fitness trackers emit even less radiation, long-term cancer should be 'the least of your worries for now'. They also say that the unproven cancer risk of wearing one of these devices is far less than the risk of diseases caused by living a sedentary lifestyle. If you live a healthier lifestyle than what you would without a fitness tracker, you would be better off wearing one.

The New York Times quotes Dr. Joseph Mercola, who has had a lot of focus on the connection between mobile phones and cancer. Dr. Joseph Mercola says that as long as the fitness tracker does not have 3G capabilities, the cancer-causing effects of fitness trackers are "minimal, if any". He says that fitness trackers with a 3G connection, though, would equate to having a phone strapped to your wrist permanently.

My verdict

I would look at whether or not wearing a fitness tracker encourages you to live a healthier lifestyle. If the answer is yes, then the known positive effects will outweigh the unknown negative health effects. If wearing one of these devices does not affect the amount of exercise you do, restful sleep you get or the food you eat, there is not much point in using one anyway.

I am looking forward to reading what you have to say about whether or not you think fitness trackers can cause cancer in your comments below. Stay Strong!

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Is Black Pepper Good For You?

We look at whether black pepper is a healthy or unhealthy way to flavor food.

Have you ever wondered whether black pepper was good for you while adding it to your meal? Well here are the facts:

The Unhealthy or Risky things about Black Pepper:

• It can be painful to taste for people who are allergic or sensitive to it.
• It can alter the way the liver metabolizes substances and therefore can have the wrong interactions with some medications. Consult your doctor about whether black pepper is a problem when consumed with any medication you are taking (especially if you consume it a lot).
• It can cause discomfort if breathed in. It will also cause discomfort if it comes into contact with the eyes.
• Excessive amounts of black pepper can irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
• It can also irritate the prostate and urinary tract in large quantities.
• Eating it in very high quantities or without food can cause it to enter into the lungs. This can provide serious health issues if it happens in excess.
• Inhaling black pepper and cause asthma as well.
• When consumed in larger quantities it can dry the skin.

The Healthy or Positive things about Black Pepper

• Black pepper aids digestion as your stomach produces more acid when it is ingested, breaking down the rest of your food more easily. This also means that the food you eat with it will also be better absorbed.
• It slightly increases the body's core body temperature. It therefore increases metabolism and energy turnover. This means that you will have a little more energy as your body burns more calories, leading to fat loss.
• Black pepper helps with flatulence. This is because the food it is ingested with is broken down and absorbed better so there is less food in the gut for bacteria to feed on and produce gas.
• It contains manganese, iron, potassium, and vitamin K and A.

To find out more about the health benefits of manganese, iron and potassium click here.

• It helps the liver detoxify the body.
• It is antimicrobial, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
• Black pepper can be used to help a congested nose and lungs. It is also used to treat coughs because it encourages the body to produce liquids like saliva and mucus. It can also loosen phlegm. 
• It is said that black pepper aids in cancer prevention, but more research is needed. Other research shows that it could be carcinogenic (cancer causing) as well. 
• It improves taste and increases appetite, which is why it is sometimes used to help people who struggle to eat.

Some Interesting Facts about Black Pepper:

• It loses its flavor when exposed to light and air. Just like the flavor, the health benefits decrease when exposed to light and air as well. The best thing to do (health and flavor wise) is to keep whole peppercorns and grind them directly onto your food.
• A teaspoon of black pepper contains around 6 calories.
• Black, green and white peppers come from the same plant. This plant is native to Asia.
• It is now grown extensively in India and Brazil as well
• Green peppers corn are picked sooner, white pepper corns have the black skin removed and black pepper corns are dried out with their skins on.
• Red pepper comes from a different plant, however.

Should you use Black Pepper?

The answer is yes. It helps to increase metabolism and has other health benefits. The key is moderation. Overdosing on anything could turn into a bad thing and black pepper is no different. If you eat a lot of black pepper and are using medication or have breathing problems, consult with your doctor first for the best solution to your unique situation. Stay Strong!

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