Turmeric for weight loss: does it work?

The spice called turmeric, is now known, is a very valuable food, capable of lending itself to a thousand different uses, one of which seems to be its ability to help those who want to lose weight in a healthy way .

Another well-known thing these days is the social emergency called obesity, an ever-increasing problem. But let's be clear, we should not demonize the weight itself that can be given by a greater muscle mass or a specific physical structure, or a tendency to water retention, and in this there is nothing wrong, in fact sometimes we see heavy individuals but in good regards, happy and long-lived.

Obviously there are recommended weight thresholds based on the tonnage, so that the weight does not affect health. The real problems, however, arise when the excess weight is caused by an overabundance of fat, which can generate numerous diseases in various parts of the body: heart, joints, blood circulation, liver. Eating too much and badly, lack of exercise, excess alcohol are just some of the causes of overweight.

It is not a joke: it seems that excess abdominal fat causes more heart attacks than smoking and is linked to the onset of diabetes.

How does turmeric work against excess weight?

It is in cases like these that we should rely on a weight-loss program, which includes a precise diet, regular exercise and, in extreme cases, surgical procedures. But how can the humble spice like turmeric help us in all this?

Turmeric is able to detoxify the liver, to help the processes of removing cholesterol plaques from the coronaries; the reduction of cholesterol in the blood has a direct effect on the reduction of adipose tissues, and therefore of excess weight. How does it happen? Turmeric stimulates the receptors of capsaicin, the alkaloid which in the chili pepper and in other solanaceae produces the sense of spiciness; this involves the so-called thermogenesis, capable of producing a faster and greater combustion of lipids .

In vitro and in vivo experiments have shown the veracity of the theories based on the data presented above: people fed regularly with turmeric showed specifically a low level of triglycerides, fatty acids and blood glucose, cholesterol and liver fat and therefore a weight more compliant.

Turmeric and other weight loss supplements

Is turmeric enough?

It is necessary to remember that miracles do not exist and that without work and sacrifice we will hardly see results.

So let's stop looking around for magic wands and, after rolling up your sleeves, empty the cupboards and the fridge from junk food and excessive alcohol, and instead of consuming fatty and poorly nutritious foods on the sofa in front of the TV, we plan a series of physical exercises that are the basis of our program to burn fat and re-oxygenate the muscle tissues of the areas most affected by excess lipids.

It would be illogical and impractical to base an entire slimming strategy on a simple spice, albeit a precious and rich one.

Some precaution on the use of turmeric

Spices are a concentrate of active ingredients and there is a reason if they are consumed in "pinches" and never in excess. Turmeric is no exception, and can be found both in powder, in drinks and tinctures, and in capsules.

Excess turmeric can cause reactions such as nausea, dizziness, diarrhea . Especially pregnant women should limit their use .

The consumption of turmeric as a spice turns out to be the safest way of intake, compared to that of supplements in a nutshell: taking it during meals, therefore with all the activation of gastric juices, helps the body to assimilate it better, with less consequences in case of overdose (should not exceed 3 grams per day).

The zeodaria (Curcuma zeodaria), a rare species of turmeric native to India and not common in our markets, seems to be even more effective than the common turmeric (Curcuma longa).