Numerous high-quality studies have shown that turmeric has significant benefits for the brain and body. Curcumin, the main active ingredient in turmeric and is curcumin is responsible for many of these benefits.
What is turmeric and curcumin?
Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow hue.
It has been used as a medicinal herb and spice in India for thousands upon thousands of years. Science has recently supported traditional claims that turmeric contains compounds that have medicinal properties.
These compounds are known as curcuminoids.
Curcumin, the main active ingredient of turmeric, is what makes it so potent. It is an anti-inflammatory agent with powerful antioxidant properties.
These are the top 10 health benefits that turmeric and curcumin have been shown to provide.
1. Turmeric is rich in bioactive compounds that have medicinal properties
The curcumin content in turmeric is not high. It is around 1.5% by weight. The majority of studies on this herb used turmeric extracts, which contain curcumin. These dosages are usually more than 1 gram daily.
These levels would not be possible if you used turmeric in your food.
Supplements can be a great way to get this.
Curcumin is not well absorbed into the bloodstream. To experience full benefits of curcumin, you need to increase its bioavailability (the rate your body absorbs the substance).
It is best to consume it with pepper which contains piperine. Piperine, a natural substance, increases curcumin absorption by 2,000%.
Piperine is a key ingredient in the best curcumin supplements, making them even more effective.
Curcumin can also be fat-soluble. This means that it dissolves in oil or fat. It may be a good idea for curcumin supplements to be taken with high-fat meals.
Furthermore, curcumin can be broken down into nano-particles which are very small particles of the curcumin compound that have been broken down into a size that is much smaller than the normal size of curcumin particles. This can make it easier for the body to absorb the curcumin and use it more effectively.
Carecumin has taken all of the steps above to increase absorption.
2. Curcumin is a completely natural anti-inflammatory compound
Inflammation can be a very important thing. It is important for your body to fight off foreign invaders.
While acute, temporary inflammation can be beneficial, chronic inflammation can cause damage to your body's tissues.
Scientists believe chronic low-level inflammation may play a role for some diseases and conditions. These include:
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Heart disease
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Cancer
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Metabolic syndrome
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Alzheimer's disease
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various degenerative conditions
It is possible to prevent and treat chronic inflammation by taking steps to reduce inflammation.
Although the subject of inflammation is complex and there is likely to be no one answer, the main takeaway about curcumin is that it's a bioactive substance that can combat inflammation. To produce medicinal effects, however, high doses of curcumin are necessary.
3. The antioxidant capacity of the body can be increased by actively taking turmeric
One mechanism behind aging and many other diseases is thought to be oxidative damage.
This is due to free radicals, highly reactive molecules that have unpaired electrons. These free radicals can react with essential organic substances such as proteins or DNA.
Antioxidants are important for your body because they protect it against free radicals.
Curcumin, a powerful antioxidant, can neutralize free radicals because of its chemical structure ( 11Trusted Source).
Animal and cellular research suggest that curcumin may inhibit the activity of free radicals as well as stimulate the action other antioxidants. These benefits will be confirmed in human clinical trials ( 12Trusted source).
4. Curcumin can increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor
Scientists didn't know much about neurons before they had better understanding. It was thought that neurons couldn't divide and multiply after childhood. They now know this is not true.
Neurons can form new connections and multiply in certain parts of the brain.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) is one of the key drivers of this process. This gene is responsible for making a protein that promotes the life of neurons.
The BDNF protein is involved in memory and learning. It can be found in the areas of the brain that are responsible for eating, drinking and body weight.
A number of common brain disorders, such as depression and Alzheimer's, have been shown to be linked to decreased levels in BDNF protein.
Animal studies have shown that curcumin can increase brain levels of BDNF.
This may help delay or reverse many brain diseases, as well as age-related declines in brain function. These studies were done in animals so it is difficult to know what the results will mean for humans.
It could also improve attention and memory, which is logical considering its effects on BDNF levels. This is yet to be confirmed.
5. Curcumin may reduce your risk of developing heart disease
Heart disease has been studied by researchers for decades, and they have learned much about its causes. Heart disease is complex and many factors are involved.
Curcumin could reverse the progression of heart disease, according to studies.
Perhaps the main benefit of curcumin when it comes to heart disease is improving the function of the endothelium, the lining of your blood vessels.
Endothelial dysfunction can be a key cause of heart disease. The causation of this is when your endothelium becomes unable to effectively regulate blood pressure and blood clotting.
Numerous studies have shown that curcumin may improve heart health. One study also found that curcumin is as effective as exercise for post-menopausal women.
Curcumin, as mentioned above, can also help to reduce inflammation and oxidation. This can be a factor in heart disease.
Researchers compared the effects of curcumin and placebo on 121 patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery. The results were based on a study that included 121 patients.
The risk of having a heart attack at the hospital was 65% lower for those in the curcumin group.
6. Turmeric may be able to prevent cancer
Cancer is a disease that causes uncontrolled cell growth. Curcumin supplements appear to affect many types of cancer.
It is believed that curcumin can be a useful herb for cancer treatment.
- contribute to the death of cancerous cells
It is not yet clear if high-dose curcumin, preferably with an absorber like piperine, can be used to treat cancer in humans.
There is evidence that it may stop cancer occurring in the first instance, particularly for cancers of the digestive tract like colorectal.
A 30-day study of 44 men suffering from colon cancer showed that 4 grams of curcumin daily reduced the number of lesions.
7. Curcumin could be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease, the most common form dementia, may be responsible for up to 70% of dementia cases.
Although there are treatments for certain symptoms of Alzheimer's, there is currently no cure. It is therefore important to prevent it from happening in the first place.
There may be good news on the horizon because curcumin has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier.
There is a scientific concensus that inflammation and oxidative damage plays a role in Alzheimer's disease, and curcumin has a beneficial effect on both.
Curcumin's ability to slow down or reverse Alzheimer's disease progression in humans is still unknown. This needs to be investigated further.
8. Curcumin supplements are a good choice for arthritis patients
Arthritis can be a serious problem in Western countries. There are many types of arthritis. Most of them involve inflammation of the joints.
Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory compound that has potent anti-inflammatory properties. It makes sense that it could help with arthritis. Numerous studies have shown that curcumin and arthritis are linked.
Curcumin proved to be more effective than anti-inflammatory drugs in a study of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Other studies may have also examined the effects of curcumin in arthritis. These studies showed improvements in many symptoms.
9. Curcumin is a natural remedy for depression
Some promising results have been seen with curcumin in treating depression.
A controlled trial was conducted in which 60 patients with depression were randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group received Prozac; another took 1 gram curcumin. The third group took Prozac plus curcumin.
Curcumin led to similar improvements to Prozac after 6 weeks. The best group took Prozac with curcumin.
This small study shows that curcumin can be as effective as antidepressants.
A decrease in BDNF levels and a shrinking hippocampus are also associated with depression. This is a brain region that plays a key role in memory and learning. Curcumin may be able to increase BDNF levels and reverse some of these changes.
Some evidence also suggests that curcumin may increase brain neurotransmitters serotonin, and dopamine.
10. Curcumin could delay aging and combat age-related chronic disease
Curcumin may be able to prevent heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's. It could also have longevity benefits.
This suggests that curcumin could be used as an anti-aging supplement.
Curcumin could have a wider range of effects than just its prevention of disease, as oxidation or inflammation are thought to play a part in aging.
The bottom line
Research has shown that turmeric, and curcumin (turmeric's most active compound), have many health benefits. They can improve heart health, prevent against Alzheimer's disease, and may even help you avoid cancer.
It is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and antioxidant. It can also be used to improve the symptoms of arthritis and depression.
You should always consult with your doctor or medical professional before taking any new supplements.
To buy your own, highly potent and absorbable curcumin supplement, click the link here.