Turmeric is one of the natural remedies to maintain prostate health and helps reduce urinary symptoms in men due to age. When it comes to prostate health, turmeric can reduce prostate enlargement, fight inflammation and help manage pelvic pain. Turmeric even plays a role in preventing prostate cancer. A 2016 study looked at the effect and effectiveness of turmeric on prostate cancer. A recent study reported, curcumin nanoparticles have strong anticancer activity and are able to fight prostate cancer cells.
Does turmeric increase testosterone? Consuming turmeric is believed to increase the hormone testosterone, so it can increase fertility. However, this has not been clinically proven, so further research needs to be done to confirm it.
The study, published in Andrologia, International Journal of Andrology, examined the antioxidant effects of curcumin on sperm quality in men with leukocytospermia. Leukocytospermia is a condition where there are high white blood cells in the semen. In a study involving 40 semen samples from leukocytospermic patients, it was found that the compound curcumin in turmeric can significantly increase sperm motility.
Sperm motility is the ability of sperm to move efficiently in the female reproductive tract. In addition, the study also found that curcumin was able to protect sperm from oxidative damage due to exposure to chemicals, especially hydrogen peroxide.
Other laboratory studies conducted on animals also showed similar results, curcumin is believed to have a positive effect on sperm. Some of the positive effects in question, namely:
- Increase motility
- Improve concentration
- Protects from oxidative damage
- Increase testosterone levels.
- The compound curcumin in turmeric is also said to help reduce stress and depression. This makes men avoid psychological problems, which also affect fertility levels.
Then, other ingredients in turmeric, namely vitamins C and E are also powerful antioxidants that can help ward off free radicals. These compounds are also believed to help increase the number of sperm in a man’s body.