Turmeric has been a popular spice and traditional remedy for thousands of years. Now multiple studies confirming the health and fitness benefits of its active ingredient, curcumin, are making it one of the UK’s best-loved supplements.
What is tumeric used for?
Turmeric is used by some people to help with heartburn or bowel problems like diarrhea, intestinal gas, and bloating. Others use it to help with Alzheimer disease or problems with the liver or gallbladder. Some people believe turmeric may help with cancer. It may also help to lessen swelling in some people and help with signs of arthritis. Some people believe it may help lower cholesterol.
The benefits of Turmeric
Much research shows that high concentrations of curcumin, which gives turmeric its distinctive colour, can help decrease exercise-induced muscle damage. Curcumin has promise as an immune booster. Here are the top 10 evidence-based health benefits of turmeric.
Turmeric Contains Bioactive Compounds With Powerful Medicinal Properties
Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.
Curcumin Is a Natural Anti-Inflammatory Compound
Inflammation is incredibly important as it helps your body fight foreign invaders and also has a role in repairing damage. Without inflammation, pathogens like bacteria could easily take over your body and kill you.
Although acute, short-term inflammation is beneficial, it can become a major problem when it becomes chronic and inappropriately attacks your body’s own tissues.
Turmeric Dramatically Increases the Antioxidant Capacity of the Body
Oxidative damage is believed to be one of the mechanisms behind ageing and many diseases. It involves free radicals, highly reactive molecules with unpaired electrons.
Free radicals tend to react with important organic substances, such as fatty acids, proteins or DNA. The main reason antioxidants are so beneficial is that they protect your body from free radicals. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals due to its chemical structure.
Curcumin Boosts Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Linked to Improved Brain Function and a Lower Risk of Brain Diseases
More many years it was believed that neurons weren’t able to divide and multiply after early childhood. However, it’s now known that this does happen. Neurons are capable of forming new connections, but in certain areas of the brain they can also multiply and increase in number.
Curcumin Should Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease
Heart Disease is the number one cause of death in the world Curcumin may help reverse many steps in the heart disease process. Perhaps the main benefit of curcumin when it comes to heart disease is improving the function of the endothelium, which is the lining of your blood vessels.
It’s well known that endothelial dysfunction is a major driver of heart disease and involves an inability of your endothelium to regulate blood pressure, blood clotting and various other factors.
Turmeric Can Help Prevent Cancer
There are many different forms of cancer, however, many still have several things in common. Some of them appear to be affected by curcumin supplements.
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. Studies have shown that it can contribute to the death of cancerous cells and reduce angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels in tumors) and metastasis (spread of cancer).
Curcumin May Be Useful in Preventing and Treating Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the world and a leading cause of dementia. Unfortunately, no good treatment is available for Alzheimer’s yet, therefore, preventing it from occurring in the first place is of utmost importance.
There may be good news on the horizon because curcumin has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier It’s known that inflammation and oxidative damage play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, and curcumin has beneficial effects on.
Arthritis Patients Respond Very Well to Curcumin Supplements
There are several different types of arthritis, most of which involve inflammation in the joints.
Given that curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory compound, it makes sense that it may help with arthritis. In a study in people with rheumatoid arthritis, curcumin was even more effective than an anti-inflammatory drug.
Studies Show That Curcumin Has Incredible Benefits Against Depression
Curcumin has shown some promise in treating depression. In a controlled trial, 60 people with depression were randomized into three groups One group took Prozac, another group one gram of curcumin and the third group both Prozac and curcumin.
After 6 weeks, curcumin had led to improvements that were similar to Prozac. The group that took both Prozac and curcumin fared best.
Curcumin May Help Delay Aging and Fight Age-Related Chronic Diseases
If curcumin can really help prevent heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s, it would have obvious benefits for longevity.
For this reason, curcumin has become very popular as an anti-aging supplement But given that oxidation and inflammation are believed to play a role in aging, curcumin may have effects that go way beyond just preventing disease.
The Bottom Line
Turmeric and especially its most active compound curcumin have many scientifically-proven health benefits, such as the potential to prevent heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer.
It’s a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and may also help improve symptoms of depression and arthritis.
Where and how to use it?
You can use turmeric as an ingredient is cooking meals, not only does it add flavour, it is fantastic for your health.
Alternatively, you can purchase turmeric supplements through Lea to support your natural healing.
Source: Healthline.com