What is Turmeric (Curcumin)?
Turmeric is a plant with the botanical name Curcuma longa, belonging to the ginger family. It is a spice and an herb used for ages in India and in South Asian countries. The usage of turmeric has been for cooking, and skincare by women, and as ayurvedic medicine. “Turmeric health benefits” are now popular because of its curcumin compound.
Turmeric has been in use for centuries in ayurvedic treatments. It has a long history of medicinal use in Ayurveda the traditional medicine native to India.
Now turmeric is known all over the world for its best usage. Especially with the health benefits that brings with its major compound Curcumin. Many studies do support great curcumin health benefits. Many people are experiencing the benefits around the world.
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Curcumin Compound in Turmeric
Turmeric is famous because of the curcumin compound in it. The Curcumin compound in turmeric is what provides most of the health benefits.
But we should know that our digestive tract is not so good at absorbing curcumin compounds. It passes through the digestive tract without going into our bloodstream. The absorbing ability increases dramatically when taken along with black pepper.
The reason behind this is the Piperine substance of black pepper. The Piperine increases the absorbing ability of curcumin to the full. Piperine influences the absorption of curcumin by almost 2000%.
Turmeric and Health Conditions
This is more of curcumin’s health benefits rather than turmeric’s health benefits. The health benefits of curcumin turmeric are enormous.
Here are many of the health conditions that curcumin supports:
- chronic inflammation
- heart disease
- depression
- anxiety
- GERD
- acid reflux or heartburn
- Alzheimer’s
- arthritis
- asthma
- blood pressure
- blood sugar or diabetes
- cancer,
- breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer
- high cholesterol
- cold
- colitis, cyst
- digestion disorder
- improve fertility
- hair loss
- autoimmune hepatitis
- obesity
- improve memory
- menopause transition
- menstrual cramps
- psoriasis
- thyroid conditions
- gout
- and so on.
Impressive Nutrient Values of Turmeric
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has detailed the amazing nutrient values of turmeric.
List of Turmeric Health Benefits
Let us now see how turmeric with curcumin is good for healing various health conditions.
1. The bioactive compound of turmeric fights Cancer
The bioactive is well known for anti-cancer. Many studies and research are supporting it. So, turmeric is a natural source of medicine for treating cancer.
The NCBI has published a study about the bioactive compound and its impact on breast cancer. It says that breast cancer in India is low compared to the rest of the world. Though it is multifactorial, India has the highest consumption of turmeric. The primary source is dietary curcumin.
Turmeric-derived curcuminoids inhibit breast cancer cells. Thereby turmeric provides one of the great health benefits to women.
A paper published by CSPJ provides scientific evidence. Turmeric-derived curcumin has anticancer potential and is a major bioactive.
2. The anti-inflammatory compound of Turmeric
Inflammation in various parts of our body is one major cause of many health conditions.
Inflammation happens in our body to fight the alien substances and to heal the impact. Otherwise, bacteria and viruses can infect our bodies and can end up in to be fatal.
Prolonging and recurring inflammation plays a key role in fatal diseases. These fatal diseases can be cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and metabolic. And also, other irreversible health conditions.
Here comes the curcumin of turmeric as a powerful natural anti-inflammation medicine. Curcumin exercises the anti-inflammation activity. Prevents various molecules that may cause inflammation in our body or organs. Refer to the study published in NCBI on curcumin in relation to its ability to function as an anti-inflammation.
3. Anti-oxidant properties of Turmeric
Worried about aging? Yet again curcumin is the simple answer.
The main reason for aging is claimed to be oxidative stress. The result of intake of curcumin alleviates oxidative stress.
Free radicals cause damage to our healthy cells and contribute to faster aging. This is where anti-oxidants come into play to protect our bodies and slow down the aging of our cells.
Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant and is capable of defusing the effects of free radicals. It also enhances our body’s antioxidant enzymes. NCBI provides more details on the anti-oxidant capability of curcumin the turmeric.
4. Turmeric health benefits for the brain
Curcumin increases the brain-derived BDNF in our brains.
BDNF is a protein and a member of the neuron’s family of growth factors. These growth factors are related to the nerve growth factor that plays a major role in our brain.
BDNF also helps to support the survival of existing neurons. By affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Most brain disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and Alzheimer’s have a link to low levels of BDNF in the brain.
The AJGP has published a research paper. It indicates, that people who took curcumin had significant memory and attention benefits. So, it is evident that curcumin plays a role in boosting our memory power to a greater extent.
5. Curcumin Lowers the Risk of Heart Diseases
It is interesting to learn how curcumin could reverse the bad effects of heart disease. It provides overall heart-protective effects.
A study says that curcumin has anti-proliferative, anti-thrombotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties assist in reducing serum cholesterol levels. The result of reduced serum cholesterol levels means more protection for the heart. the heart.
Endothelial dysfunction is one major reason for heart disease. The endothelial function in our hearts declines as we age. A study shows that curcumin reduces the age-related decline in endothelial function.
6. Arthritis Patients and Curcumin Supplements
Arthritis is a common problem in the modern lifestyle. There are many types of arthritis that involve inflammation in joints.
Many studies have proven intake of curcumin supplements does give relief from arthritis. A study shows that curcumin is found to be effective with rheumatoid arthritis.
7. Curcumin and anti-aging supplement
Curcumin is becoming famous as an anti-aging supplement. Because of this magical curcumin assists in depression, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. It also fights Age-Related Chronic Diseases.
Furthermore, inflammation and oxidation are known to be bigger contributors to aging. Curcumin helps to nullify all these bad effects effectively to slow down aging.
Takeaway
“Turmeric health benefits” make turmeric an important herb.
The curcumin compound of turmeric has been an ayurvedic medicinal value for ages. The proven turmeric health benefits protect you from many fatal diseases.
The powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant help in depression, arthritis, and delaying aging.
Curcumin should be taken with black pepper. Otherwise, e it will pass through our digestive tract and has no health value.
The curcumin dosage varies based on the purpose of the health condition. Refer here for the curcumin dosage details. Ensure curcumin supplements that you buy have Bioperine (piperine) on labels.
