Turmeric is a spice that has been used in Indian households for cooking for thousands of years. Turmeric also has medicinal properties. Many scientific studies have proved that turmeric provides major benefits for your body and the brain. The active compound in turmeric that contains these medicinal properties is called curcumin. Many ayurvedic supplements contain curcumin as their active ingredient.
Benefits of turmeric curcumin:
1. Helps to provide Anti-inflammatory Benefits
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury, infection, or irritation, characterised by redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Chronic inflammation, if unchecked, can lead to an increased risk of various diseases including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune disorders.
Curcumin has been shown to possess powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation in the body and alleviate symptoms associated with inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, joint pain, and inflammatory bowel disease.
2. Helps to provide Antioxidant Benefits
As you age your body naturally produces a molecule called free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules with unpaired electrons, formed during normal bodily processes. They can damage cells, proteins, and DNA, leading to accelerated aging, inflammation, and increased risk of chronic diseases.
Curcumin is known to have strong antioxidant properties, which help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, reducing oxidative stress and protecting cells from damage. Incorporating turmeric into your diet may contribute to overall health and well-being due to its antioxidant effects.
3. Helps to Improve Brain Health
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein that supports the growth, survival, and maintenance of neurons in the brain. It plays a crucial role in neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections, which is essential for learning and memory.
Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, has been studied for its potential to increase BDNF levels in the brain. Research suggests that curcumin may indeed help boost BDNF production, leading to potential cognitive benefits such as improved memory and mood regulation (1).
4. Helps to improve Heart Health
Heart health is important if you want to live a healthy and long life. Curcumin helps to improve heart health and reduce the risk of heart attack. Curcumin provides antioxidant benefits which help to neutralise the free radicals damaging heart cells (2).
Curcumin also helps to improve the function of endothelium or the lining of your blood vessels. Endothelium illness is a major cause for heart disease. Weak endothelium is unable to regulate blood pressure, blood clotting, and various other factors.
5. Helps to Prevent Cancer
Curcumin has been extensively studied for its benefits in preventing cancer. Curcumin supplements are used in cancer treatment (3). Curcumin contributes to the death of cancerous cells, reduces the growth of new blood vessels in the tumor and reduces the spread of cancer.
6. Helps to treat Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the brain, leading to a decline in memory, cognitive function, and behavior. It is the most common form of dementia and typically worsens over time, eventually interfering with daily tasks and independent living.
Research suggests that inflammation and oxidative damage contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, while curcumin has shown beneficial effects on both aspects. Moreover, studies indicate that curcumin may aid in clearing amyloid plaques, protein tangles associated with the disease (4).
7. Helps to Prevent Arthritis
Arthritis is a group of inflammatory conditions that affect the joints, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and decreased range of motion.
Multiple studies have found that in people with osteoarthritis, curcumin is more effective at reducing pain compared to a placebo, and its efficacy is comparable to that of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (5).
8. Helps to Manage Depression
Curcumin has shown potential in addressing mood disorders, potentially serving as an antidepressant. Its impacts on the brain involve enhancing neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, diminishing inflammation, and promoting neuroplasticity, indicating its efficacy in mood regulation is beneficial.
9. Helps to Delay Ageing
Curcumin has been studied for its potential anti-aging effects due to its antioxidant properties, which help combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammation, both of which are associated with aging.
10. Helps to Improve Liver Function
Turmeric has gained recent attention due to its potent antioxidant properties. Its antioxidants seem effective in protecting the liver from damage caused by toxins, which could be particularly beneficial for individuals using potent medications for diabetes or other conditions that may potentially harm the liver over time (6).
Conclusion
Turmeric, and its active component curcumin, offer numerous scientifically supported health benefits, including the potential to improve cardiovascular health and lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.
Curcumin exhibits potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may aid in alleviating symptoms of depression and arthritis. Incorporating turmeric is not a problem especially, in Indian diets. But the bioavailability of curcumin is very low, hence taking a curcumin supplement is also a great option.
FAQs
1.What are the health benefits of turmeric and curcumin?
Turmeric and its active compound curcumin offer potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-depressant, and arthritis symptom-relief properties, among others, supported by scientific research.
2. Is it safe to take turmeric curcumin every day?
Yes, it is safe to take turmeric curcumin every day.
3. Who should not take turmeric and curcumin?
Individuals who are pregnant, nursing, have gallbladder issues, are prone to kidney stones, or are scheduled for surgery should avoid turmeric or curcumin supplements
4. What organ is turmeric good for?
Turmeric is particularly beneficial for liver health due to its antioxidant properties, which help protect the liver from damage caused by toxins and support overall liver function.
5. What are the side effects of curcumin?
Common side effects of curcumin supplements include gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, nausea, and stomach upset.
6. What is the best time to take turmeric curcumin?
The best time to take turmeric curcumin supplements is typically with meals to enhance absorption.