Turmeric, a spice that has long been recognized for its medicinal properties, has received interest from both the medical/scientific world and from culinary enthusiasts. Curcumin is being recognized and used worldwide in many different forms for multiple potential health benefits.
Many high-quality studies show that it has major benefits for your body and brain. Here are the top 10 evidence-based health benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin.
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant (Curcuma longa) of the ginger family The yellow color is due to polyphenol compounds are called curcuminoids of which most important is curcumin. Curcuma longa has been traditionally used in Asian countries as a medical herb due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory antimutagenic, antimicrobia], and anticancer properties.
Curcumin is being recognized and used worldwide in many different forms for multiple potential health benefits. For example, in India, turmeric—containing curcumin—has been used in curries. Curcuminoids have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS), and good tolerability and safety profiles have been shown by clinical trials.
Health benefits of Turmeric
Powerful Antioxidant
The main reason antioxidants are so beneficial is that they protect your body from free radicals that have damaging effects on our body. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant that can scavenge different forms of free radicals, such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS, respectively) and can modulate the activity of body’s own antioxidant enzymes like GSH, catalase, and SOD enzymes active in the neutralization of free radicals. This is responsible for most health benefits of Turmeric.
Natural Anti-Inflammatory Compound
Oxidative stress has been implicated in many chronic diseases and its pathological processes are closely related to those of inflammation. Curcumin is strongly anti-inflammatory agent due to its antioxidant properties. Curcumin has also been shown to suppress inflammation through many different mechanisms. Clinical trials indicate curcumin have potential as a therapeutic agent in diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, arthritis, and chronic anterior uveitis, as well as certain types of cancer.
In fact, in the right dose, curcumin may be a more effective anti-inflammatory treatment than common inflammation-fighting medications such as Advil (ibuprofen) and aspirin, according to a past study.
Turmeric Boosts the Immune System
Turmeric is a natural way to help bolster the immune system by increasing the immunomodulating capacity of the body. Traditionally known for its an antiinflammatory effects, curcumin has been shown in the last two decades to be a potent immunomodulatory agent that can modulate the activation of T cells, B cells, macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells. Curcumin at low doses can also enhance antibody responses.
This suggests that curcumin’s reported beneficial effects in arthritis, allergy, asthma, atherosclerosis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cancer might be due in part to its ability to modulate the immune system.
Turmeric Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease
Numerous reports have indicated that inflammation plays a major role in most CVDs. Inflammation and oxidant stress contribute to atherogenesis. Curcumin reduces inflammation and oxidation, which play a role in heart disease as well. A past study shows that curcumin may improve endothelial function, or the health of the thin membrane that covers the inside of the heart and blood vessels. This membrane plays a key role in regulating blood pressure. Lower endothelial function is associated with aging and an increased risk of heart disease. Thus, curcumin may help protect against age-related loss of function and reduce your likelihood of developing heart disease.
Turmeric Can Help Prevent Cancer
Curcumin has been studied as a beneficial herb in cancer treatment and been found to affect cancer growth, development and spread at the molecular level. Curcumin leads to several changes on the molecular level that may help prevent and perhaps even treat cancer. A study in mice suggests that curcumin may help slow the spread of tumor cells and may even prevent tumors from forming in the first place.
Turmeric Helps in Prevention of Neuro-degenerative disease
It’s known that inflammation and oxidative damage play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, the most common neurodegenerative disease in the world and a leading cause of dementia. Curcumin can cross the blood-brain barrier and has been shown to lead to various improvements in the pathological process of Alzheimer’s disease due to antioxidant properties. It enhance learning by increasing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein found in the brain and spinal cord that plays a key role in keeping nerve cells (neurons) healthy, as well as regulating communication between nerve cells, which is critical for learning and memory
Turmeric Helps in Arthritis
Arthritis is a common disease in which involve inflammation in the joints. Curcumin helps alleviates the symptoms of Arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties. In fact in a study In a study in people with rheumatoid arthritis, curcumin was even more effective than an anti-inflammatory drug.
Turmeric Helps In Depression
Turmeric is found to be an effective way to help reduce symptoms of depression. The reason behind this is thought to be because turmeric contains compounds that are able to stimulate the nervous system while providing positive effects on overall mood, and helping to balance all the consequences that come with stress.
Acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS)
There are several reports indicating that curcumin may be an effective treatment for AIDS. These effects of curcumin are mediated through suppression of replication of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) virus.
Turmeric helps Improve Skin Health
Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, its curcumin has become very popular as an anti-aging supplement. It is used as topical ointment in traditional Indian system as antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. Turmeric has found to be effective treatment for a variety of skin conditions, including acne, eczema (atopic dermatitis), photoaging, and psoriasis.
It’s recommended to find a product with piperine which is the substance that enhances curcumin absorption by 2,000% . Without this substance, most of the curcumin just passes through your digestive tract. Turmeric and especially its most active compound curcumin have many scientifically-proven health benefits of turmeric due to potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.
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