Keep your Heart Healthy with Turmeric

Turmeric is used in Ayurveda and other traditional herbal medicines to treat heart conditions. It is considered a blood-thinning herb, as is garlic, andrographis, dong quai, coleus, myrrh, dan shen, and ginger. But how does this translate into western medicine? ^(vii.192)

Modern Research Shows Turmeric is a Heart-Healthy Herb

Western scientists have been rigorously testing turmeric and its compounds for decades, including for heart disease. Results show turmeric has a number of beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system: ^(vii.193)

• Prevent or delay development of atherosclerosis in healthy people. ^(vii.68)
• Protect the heart from inflammation and atherosclerosis promoted by chronic exposure to air pollution. ^(vii.194)
• Regulate or help lower high blood pressure. ^{(vii.193, 195)}
• Restores antioxidant levels and reduce free radical damage from toxic chemotherapy drugs. ^(vii.193)
• Improve age-related stiffening of blood vessels, especially combined with exercise. ^(vii.196)
• Reduce heart damage caused by chronic kidney disease (by blocking free radical damage and boosting mitochondrial function). ^(vii.197)
• Help stop the formation of dangerous blood clots, including those that cause stroke. ^{(vii.198-199)}
• Prevent cardiac hypertrophy due to high blood pressure, heart attack, high salt intake, or diabetes. An enlarged heart can lead to heart failure and even death. ^(vii.193)
• Protects the heart from injury caused by sepsis and chemotherapy drugs. ^{(vii.193, 200)}