Health Benefits of Turmeric - Wonder Spice

Nature's Wonder Spice

Turmeric has been linked to numerous high-quality health benefits for both the body and the brain. Curcumin, the primary active ingredient, is responsible for many of these advantages.

Turmeric is a spice that may be among the best nutritional supplements available.

Continue reading to find out the benefits of turmeric and curcumin as well as what the science says about them.

What are turmeric and curcumin?

Curry's yellow hue comes from the spice turmeric. For thousands of years, it has been used as a spice and medicinal herb in India. Studies have indicated that there are compounds called curcuminoids in turmeric that have therapeutic benefits.

The primary active component of turmeric, curcumin, is the most significant curcuminoid.

These are the top ten health benefits of curcumin and turmeric that are supported by research.

1. Turmeric has bioactive substances with therapeutic qualities.

It is an extremely potent antioxidant and has potent anti-inflammatory properties, even though turmeric contains only 1% to 6% curcumin by weight.

Since curcumin (curcumin) is the main ingredient in turmeric extracts used in most studies on the herb, it would be difficult to obtain these levels by using turmeric as a spice alone.

Instead, studies typically use dosages exceeding 1 gramme (g) per day. For this reason, some people decide to take supplements.

Furthermore, your bloodstream absorbs curcumin poorly. Curcumin's bioavailability - the speed at which your body absorbs a substance - must increase if you want to fully benefit from it.

Black pepper, which contains piperine, complements it well. A naturally occurring substance called piperine increases curcumin absorption by 2,000%.

The best curcumin supplements are actually significantly more effective because they contain piperine.

Additionally, curcumin dissolves and breaks down in fat or oil because it is fat soluble. For this reason, taking curcumin supplements with a high-fat meal might be a smart idea.

2. Natural anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin

Curcumin is a bioactive compound that has anti-inflammatory properties, but it takes very high doses to be therapeutically effective.

This indicates that it may be able to combat inflammation, which is a factor in a number of illnesses and ailments.

For this reason, anything that has the potential to combat chronic inflammation may be crucial in both preventing and treating these illnesses.

3. The body's ability to produce antioxidants can be enhanced by turmeric.

It is thought that oxidative damage is one of the processes that cause ageing and numerous illnesses.

Free radicals are extremely reactive molecules that lack a paired electron. Free radicals frequently react with essential organic materials like proteins, DNA, and fatty acids.

Due to its chemical makeup, curcumin is a strong antioxidant that has the ability to scavenge free radicals.

Furthermore, research on cells and animals indicates that curcumin may both increase the activity of other antioxidants and inhibit the effects of free radicals. Additional human clinical research is required to validate these advantages.

4. Curcumin may increase neurotrophic factor derived from the brain.

Neurons in the brain can form new connections and multiply and increase in number in specific regions even in adulthood.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is located in the parts of the brain in charge of eating, drinking, and body weight regulation, is one of the primary factors driving this process. It also plays a part in memory and learning.

Reduced BDNF protein levels have been connected to a number of common brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and depression.

Studies on humans and animals have discovered that curcumin may raise BDNF levels in the brain. This means that many brain diseases and age-related declines in brain function may be effectively postponed or even reversed.

Given its effects on BDNF levels, it makes sense that it might also aid with memory and attention. To validate this, more research is necessary.

5. Curcumin might reduce the chance of heart disease

Globally, heart disease is the leading cause of death. According to research, curcumin may offer protection against a number of heart disease process stages.

More specifically, it helps your blood vessel lining, or endothelium, function better.

One of the main causes of heart disease is endothelial dysfunction. This is the condition in which your endothelium fails to control blood pressure, coagulation, and other physiological parameters.Curcumin may also benefit heart health, according to a number of other studies. Furthermore, as was previously mentioned, curcumin can aid in lowering oxidation and inflammation, both of which can contribute to heart disease.

6. Turmeric could aid in cancer prevention

Supplemental curcumin appears to be effective against a wide variety of cancer types.

Indeed, curcumin has been found to affect the growth and development of cancer and has been studied as a helpful herb in cancer treatment.

Research has demonstrated that it can:-

• aid in the death of malignant cells
• minimise metastasis (cancer spread) and
• reduce angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels in tumours).

Additionally, there is evidence that curcumin may shield the body from developing cancer in the first place, particularly from digestive system cancers like colorectal cancer.

7. Curcumin may be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer's

The most prevalent type of dementia, accounting for up to 70% of cases, is Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is known to be influenced by oxidative damage and inflammation, and curcumin has been shown to have positive effects on both.

Furthermore, studies indicate that curcumin may be able to remove the disease's accumulation of amyloid plaques, which are tangles of proteins.

That being said, more research is required to determine whether curcumin can actually stop, slow, or even reverse the onset of Alzheimer's in humans.

8. People with arthritis react favourably to curcumin supplements

Arthritis comes in many forms, the majority of which cause inflammation in the joints.

Curcumin was found to be more effective than a placebo in reducing pain in individuals with osteoarthritis, and studies have also found that curcumin's effects are comparable to those of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Another study on rheumatoid arthritis found that curcumin may have contributed to a decrease in inflammation associated with the illness.

Nevertheless, additional research is required to determine whether curcumin can truly take the place of these medications in the management of arthritic inflammation pain.

9. Curcumin is beneficial for preventing depression

There is some hope for treating mood disorders with curcumin. Its beneficial effects on the brain include lowering inflammation, promoting brain plasticity, and increasing the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin.

This implies that the herb might work well as an antidepressant.The hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in memory and learning, is shrinking and has been related to depression along with lower levels of BDNF. Curcumin has the ability to increase BDNF levels, which may help reverse some of these conditions.

Curcumin may also help lower anxiety, according to a 2018 study on animals; however, human studies are required to confirm this.

10. Curcumin may help prevent age-related chronic diseases and postpone ageing.

Curcumin may improve longevity if it is truly able to fend off heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's.

This implies that curcumin might be useful as a dietary supplement for anti-aging.

Since inflammation and oxidation are thought to contribute to ageing, curcumin may have benefits beyond merely preventing illness.

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