TURMERIC AND SMOKING

Does Turmeric reverse or reduce the effects of smoking?

Smoking in India is not a new thing it has been here for the centuries and here cigarette smoking takes one life in every six seconds that has earned the credit equal to the heart disease and cancer. Did you knowcigarette smoking is equally hazardous to the others or nearby persons? That is also called as a second hand smoke or passive smoke. Nicotine is the main component of cigarettes, it is a highly toxic and addictive substance, it supports cancer forming process, though it is not carcinogenic, it is linked to the heart problems, birth defects, ulcer, stroke, emphysema, brittle bones and lung damage.

An average cigarette delivers 2 mg of nicotine that is found in tobacco leaves. It’s tough to control urges and to give up smoking, as a result harmful substances get accumulated over the time inside the body if not quit or limit at the earliest.
Cigarette smoking has the tendency of addiction, withdrawal symptoms such as, mood swing, restlessness and trouble with concentration, insomnia along with nausea are uncomfortable and hard to deal for a regular smoker, besides cigarette craving might take long time to overcome the addiction. Though people are aware of the unsafe side of the smoking yet it is quite difficult to give up compulsion linked with smoking. Regular smokers crave during the stressful situation or bad mood since nicotine for the short time gives calmness, relaxation, reduces anxiety and pain. There are so many remedies to help quit smoking, but it is not only enough to quit, one need to detoxify the whole body as well to get rid of accumulated toxins over the years. In this regard turmeric can be a life saving elixir for the heavy and regular smokers.

According to the various studies, cigarette smoking may impose certain health threats:

• Smoking triggers the neurotransmitters that may increase the heart beat.
• It reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood and increases the level of carbon mono oxides thereby affecting the whole body and its working capacity or stamina.
• It inflames the lung cells and the whole respiratory system.
• It causes the lipid oxidation, which is responsible for the premature aging and a number of heart diseases due to build-up plaque and the narrowing of blood vessels or arteries (atherosclerosis).
• It may cause insulin resistance or decreases insulin sensitivity.
• Smoking may cause plaque in blood vessels and enhance the chance of many types of cancer.

How turmeric helps in nicotine or tobacco induced damage?

Smoking may contribute in lung diseases, including cancer, asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and emphysema, it is found from the various scientific studies that turmeric is helpful in these diseases and protects the lungs from any harm caused by the regular or occasional smoking.
Turmeric is the most popular medicinal spice across the world that is filled with many polyphenols especially curcumin, which is a proven therapeutic molecule contains antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic and anti-tumour properties. It not only removes toxins, but also offers protection against any damage done by the cigarette smoking.
It is shown in various studies that curcumin in turmeric owns potential benefits that may help to flush out harmful accumulated toxins within the body and simultaneously heals and protects the organs.
• Turmeric boost immunity, reduces inflammation and provides ample amount of anti-oxidants in the body, cleanse up the phlegm or mucus thus alleviate the severity and reduces the irritation caused by the blocked airways.
• It raises the antioxidant content and reduces the oxidation of lipids caused by the free radicals, thereby reducing the oxidative stress in the body.
• Curcumin in turmeric helps in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by activating and moving the leucocytes in the lungs, hence preventing the lung damage caused by nicotine.

• Nicotine may support the cancer survival cells that can be nullified by the curcumin since it can prevent the activation of kappaB and other related genes, thus slows down the lung cancer progression in smokers.
• Turmeric may also protect DNA, which may get damaged by the smoking or nicotine and it also inhibits mutagen formation caused by the chronic smoking.
• Cigarette smoke may cause inflammation in the alveoli or air sacs of the lungs (emphysema) that may hamper the oxygen content towards the lungs thereby may affect the lung efficiency and may cause shortness of breath, here turmeric may counteract the effect by providing enough anti-oxidant support to the ongoing damage
To restore normal lung health, one can have turmeric on the daily basis to get the longer lasting protection and to support other organs, including kidney and liver from the harmful effects of cigarette smoking. Though curcumin or turmeric can’t deal the negative effects induced by the smoking instantly, but it could be a better way to limit the injurious effect and reverse the damage done by the chronic smoking.