Hi foodies! You know I make a pretty big deal about knowing what you’re eating, but something we don’t spend enough time thinking about is the value of herbs and spices on a medicinal level. Today I’m proud to introduce, Sarah, who is going to give us her top 6 reasons you will sleep better by having a little turmeric in your diet. Heeeeere’s Sarah!
Turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic Medicine for centuries. Yet it’s only relatively recently that it’s become popular in the west; at least, for something other than curries.
The thing is, this golden wonder has a whole heap of benefits, of which most of us are completely unaware. This is largely thanks to curcumin, the component that gives the spice its lovely colour. And curcumin helps us to get a better night’s sleep, for a number of reasons:
1) Reduces inflammation
If you’ve got a scratch or a bite, rub a little turmeric on it–because curcumin has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce swelling and promote healing. The same goes for if you’re suffering from a cold or flu, with inflammation in your throat or nasal passages. The soothing qualities of turmeric can ease congested sinuses and your other symptoms, helping you get to sleep even in the face of sickness.
2) Lowers blood sugar levels
Sometimes we can’t sleep at night simply because we’ve far too much energy. Our body normally converts glucose from our bloodstream into the energy that gets us through the day; however, if our blood sugar levels are too high, it can be next to impossible to get to sleep. One obvious way to prevent this is to avoid sugary foods in the first place, particularly before bedtime. To aid this process further, have a nice cup of turmeric tea in the evening; not only is it relaxing and tasty to drink, it’ll actively lower those blood sugar levels at the same time. Yay!
3) Eases your digestive system
If you suffer from heartburn, indigestion, cramps and pains, and they keep you awake–maybe take a look at those hard-to-digest evening meals and snacks that can wreak havoc on your stomach and may prevent you from the calm necessary for good sleep. Solution: add the super-food turmeric to your dinner, or maybe try Golden Milk as a bedtime treat. Even a tablespoon can offer huge relief for problems like IBS. So if cramps and pains are what’re keeping you up at night, maybe it’s time for some turmeric!
4) Boosts your immune system
If you’re the kind of person who catches every bug going around, you probably don’t have the world’s strongest immune system. Things like travel, changing weather, and new foods can knock you harder than most, and it seems you’ve just gotten over one illness only to be hit by another.
Not only is this likely to p*ss off your boss, it probably doesn’t help your sleep, either. You find yourself tossing and turning with a temperature, or hacking into the wee hours with a chesty cough, or unable to keep your eyes closed without a pounding head sending them flying open.
If this sounds familiar, it sounds like you need an immune-strengthening fix. Fortunately, turmeric is one of the top foods out there for giving your immune system a lovely boost. Hooray!
5) Reduces stress
Curcumin (and therefore turmeric) has been shown to enhance brain chemicals like serotonin and to increase the production of dopamine (which controls how we experience pleasure and suffering). How about pain instead of suffering here. So if we’re in a more positive mindset, we’re less likely to fall victim to night-time anxiety– a key factor in sleep deprivation for many people today.
In fact, a 2006 study that focused on chronically stressed rats, showed that their behavioural patterns and elevated cortisol levels were reversed by the effects of curcumin. So, if you’re constantly stressed out, especially at night, see what a daily dose of turmeric can do. I’ll bet you find yourself feeling calmer, more relaxed, and sleeping like a baby!
6) Detoxifies the liver
Sometimes the unhealthy lifestyle choices we make – like not enough exercise, with too much work ‘n’ play – can have a pretty harmful effect on our liver. It becomes overburdened with toxins, and our health suffers as a result.
One of the symptoms of poor liver function is difficulty sleeping. This is because the liver normally regulates hormones that are vital to our sleep-wake cycle. And once they’re disrupted, we can’t get to sleep when we need to.
Fortunately, turmeric’s antioxidant properties help to combat this problem. And even if we’ve had a few too many drinks on a Saturday night, by including some turmeric into our diet on Sunday we can still get the sound sleep that we seek.
These are just a few ways in which turmeric can help us get a better sleep… but there are many, many more. So if you’re having trouble catching some zzz’s, turn to this golden spice for comfort. And, if you still can’t nod off, well, maybe it’s time to consult the experts at: The Sleep Advisor | Healthy Sleep Tips, News and Product Reviews.
Here’s to having a deeper, sweeter slumber… tonight, tomorrow, and every night!
A little bit about the author…
Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m from sunny California, I’m addicted to three things, good food, good sleep and travel. I fell in love with turmeric when traveling in India and it has been a part of my diet ever since. When I’m not traveling, or eating, I’m researching and writing about sleep. My colleagues and I truly believe that if we all slept slightly better the world would be a happier, healthier and safer place to live.
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