Showing posts with label Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin. Show all posts

9.8.21

Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin




Turmeric has been argued to be one of the most beneficial herbs to our health. Its benefits are not only vast, but they are also very well researched, with over 10,000 published journal articles that prove it’s beneficial. The most healing compound in turmeric is curcumin.
Turmeric has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavor or color curry powders, mustards, butters, and cheeses. Because curcumin and other chemicals in turmeric might decrease swelling, it is often used to treat conditions that involve pain and inflammation
.Here are several ways turmeric and curcumin may benefit your health:
inflammatory properties, making it a potentially effective treatment for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. For example, a small past study found that participants with rheumatoid arthritis who took a 500 mg curcumin supplement twice daily for eight weeks saw greater improvements in joint tenderness and swelling compared with patients who took a prescription anti-inflammatory or a combination of the two treatments.
Reduce Depression Symptoms Depression has been linked with lower levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein in the brain and spinal cord that regulates communication between nerve cells. In rats, curcumin effectively increased levels of BDNF over the course of 10 days, according to a study published in Behavioural Brain Research. In humans with major depressive disorder, those who took 1,000 mg of curcumin daily for six weeks saw similar improvements to those who took an antidepressant or a combination of the two treatments, according to a small April 2014 study published in Phytotherapy Research.
Turmeric Can Aid Digestion
Turmeric not only enhances the flavor of your favorite dishes but also plays an important role in making them more digestible. Adding a tablespoon of turmeric to your food every day can enhance the efficacy of organ functionality which in turn will simplify complex process of digestion. Also, it acts as a natural remedy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS) as turmeric is full of vitamins, minerals, anti-inflammatory compounds, antioxidants, and fiber. Turmeric also contains magnesium and potassium that can help ease diarrhea, stomach ache and fight dehydration.
Contribute to Treating Diabetes Thanks to turmeric’s anti-inflammatory effects, it’s also a promising treatment for inflammatory conditions, including diabetes. A study published July 2019 in Nutrition & Metabolism found that feeding curcumin supplements to obese mice with type 2 diabetes helped lower blood insulin levels after 16 weeks. ( Curcumin may also help prevent type 2 diabetes by improving insulin resistance, lowering high blood sugar, and reducing high cholesterol, according to a review in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
People commonly use turmeric for osteoarthritis. It is also used for hay fever, depression, high cholesterol, a type of liver disease, and itching, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using turmeric for COVID-19.
Don't confuse turmeric with Javanese turmeric root or tree turmeric. Also, don't confuse it with zedoary or goldenseal, which are unrelated plants that are sometimes called turmeric.
Aid Weight Loss It’s unclear whether turmeric can actually help you lose weight, but preliminary research suggests it may enhance your efforts. In one study of 44 people and published in November 2015 in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, people with metabolic syndrome (a condition characterized by obesity, high blood pressure, high blood triglycerides, insulin resistance, and low levels of HDL “good” cholesterol) who lost nearly 2 percent of their body weight added an 800 mg curcumin supplement to their daily diet
After 30 days, this group lost close to 5 percent of their body weight, helping them reduce their body fat by more than 8 percent. (Researchers had added 8 mg of piperine, the active compound in black pepper, to the supplement; piperine helps the body absorb more of the curcumin.)
Reduces body inflammation-
Inflammation is your body’s defensive response to the action of allergens, injuries, or any foreign particle that tries to invade or pose a threat to your body. You must understand that a little or short-term inflammation is beneficial for you but excessive or long-term inflammation can be extremely harmful to the body and if left untreated, may even lead to fatalities. Moreover, healthcare professionals tout chronic inflammation as a ‘silent killer’ as it makes your body more likely to develop a plethora of debilitating health conditions such as poor cardiovascular health, weak joints, liver problems, and many more. These powerful anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants in turmeric powder help fight harmful inflammation in the body and reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases.
Muscle and joint health-
Stiff muscles and joints cause immense discomfort and give rise to serious ailments as well. Turmeric Curcumin effectively reduces swelling, redness, and pain that occur as a result of inflammation, injury, or strain in the muscles. Also, the phytochemicals in this ayurvedic medicine help reduce the symptoms of auto-immune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis which is characterized by swelling, itching, inflammation in joints, and muscles. Regular use of these turmeric capsules enhance your body’s inflammatory response and protects muscles and joints from injuries and infections.
Curcumin/ Turmeric Has Powerful Antioxidant Effects-
Antioxidants protect your bodies from the harms caused by free radicals which are highly reactive molecules. When your body has too much exposure to these free radicals, they tend to react with fats, proteins, and even DNA in our body. This may lead to several diseases such as cancer, arthritis, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Curcumin boosts the activity of certain antioxidant enzymes in our body. Antioxidants in turmeric may also reduce the risk of many health conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. Taking curcumin supplements is a great idea to prevent the oxidative damage done by free radicals.
Improve cardiovascular health-
Heart attacks and other cardiovascular maladies make one of the common causes of deaths across the globe. Also, healthcare experts tout chronic inflammation as the greatest contributor to most heart ailments. Turmeric curcumin pills, in contrast, comes enriched anti-inflammatory agents that are highly effective in lowering inflammation and improving the inner lining of the heart muscles. Also, curcuminoid in this pure turmeric capsules act as a natural vasodilator and broadens the blood vessels for improved blood flow, thus reducing the risk of getting a stroke or heart attack.
Complement Cancer Treatment It’s unclear whether turmeric can prevent cancer growth in humans, according to the American Cancer Society. Yet this spice may offer potential, thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, according to a past review. Authors of past research note that turmeric (curcumin specifically) may prevent tumors from forming and becoming cancerous, though more research in humans is needed.

Boosts Brain Function

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein functioning in our brain that plays a vital role in the brain’s learning and memory functions. A decrease in this hormone level has been associated with many brain disorders like depression and Alzheimer’s. Curcumin can boost the levels of BDNF and is an effective antidepressant. This may help delay or even reverse many brain disorders and boost brain functions that have deteriorated due to age-related factors.

Turmeric/Curcumin May Work As An Anti-Ageing
Curcumin has been shown to have powerful anti-aging properties that can be directly linked to its potent antioxidant richness. Studies have shown that curcumin helps slow down cellular senescence, which is a process that promotes aging and disease progression. It does so by activating specific proteins. And as Curcumin is already known to prevent health conditions like heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s, it can promote longevity. One of the most important benefit of turmeric and curcumin is that it is anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory because of which it plays an important role in delaying aging.
Effective for
Hay fever. Taking turmeric by mouth seems to reduce hay fever symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny nose, and congestion.
Depression. Most research shows that taking curcumin, a chemical found in turmeric, by mouth reduces depression symptoms in people already using an antidepressant.
High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia). Taking turmeric by mouth seems to lower levels of blood fats called triglycerides. But the effects of turmeric on cholesterol levels are conflicting. Also, there are many different turmeric products available. It is not known which ones work best.
Buildup of fat in the liver in people who drink little or no alcohol (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD). Taking turmeric extract by mouth reduces markers of liver injury in people who have this condition. It also seems to help prevent the build-up of more fat in the liver.
Osteoarthritis. Taking turmeric extracts, alone or together with other herbal ingredients, can reduce pain and improve function in people with knee osteoarthritis. Turmeric might work about as well as ibuprofen for reducing pain. But it doesn't seem to work as well as another drug, called diclofenac.
Support Skin Health Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant-rich spice, making it potentially effective for treating skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis, though more studies are needed. Due to its poor bioavailability, it likely wouldn’t be a standalone treatment for skin disorders but rather complement existing treatments, write the authors of an article published in September 2019 in Nutrients.
 Curcumin may be useful in treating Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to up 70% of dementia cases
While treatment exits for some of its symptoms, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s yet. That’s why preventing it from occurring in the first place is so important.
There may be good news on the horizon because curcumin has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier
Arthritis patients respond well to curcumin supplements
Arthritis is a common problem in Western countries. There are several different types of arthritis, most of which involve inflammation in the joints.
Given that curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory compound, it makes sense that it may help with arthritis. In fact, several studies show that there is an association.
In a study in people with rheumatoid arthritis, curcumin was even more effective than an anti-inflammatory drug
Take Precautions While Taking Turmeric/Curcumin if:
You are pregnant or a breastfeeding mother: As it may cause harm to the uterus.
If you suffer from gall bladder problems: curcumin can make it worse.
If you have bleeding disorders: It might slow blood clotting.
If you have diabetes: curcumin might make blood sugar too low if taken in larger amounts.
If you have Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), curcumin can upset your stomach and worsen the GERD symptoms.
If you have to undergo surgery: As turmeric might slow blood clotting, it can cause more bleeding before or after surgery.