Turmeric has become the wellness industry’s hottest new curative ingredient. But it’s not all just fake hype because turmeric is an authentic wonder supplement. This versatile spice not only gives food it’s signature bright yellow color, but it also provides so many benefits to human health. Turmeric’s potential to enhance your physical health is indicated by a number of studies. However, the medicinal history of turmeric stretches further beyond modern science as it had been used as a natural medicine in countries like India for centuries prior.
So, what makes turmeric so advantageous? Scientists have narrowed it down to the curcuminoids present in the wonder spice; the most significant of which is curcumin. The accumulation of curcumin in turmeric is about 3 percent by weight. Curcumin has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Consuming turmeric is never the wrong choice, but with the aid of a good curcumin additive, you can promote the benefits further.
However, whether you ingest turmeric by adding it to your dishes or by taking a supplement containing curcumin, you will need an additional potent component to increase your absorption. Without it, the majority of the curcumin in your body is likely to be left unutilized.
Continue reading to know all the wonderful advantages of turmeric and we’ll reveal the secret ingredient at the end that enhances them all.
Natural Anti-Inflammatory Effects
When you have a wound or infection, a defense mechanism that is very crucial is inflammation. It aids the body in fighting foreign invaders and secluding afflicted areas. Without inflammation, harmful microorganisms would have an easy way to take complete control of your body. However, inflammation is a relatively harsh instrument that can occasionally become persistent for no apparent reason. You become susceptible to a wide range of illnesses as a result, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Since curcumin has no harmful side effects, its strong anti-inflammatory qualities are comparable to those of some medications produced explicitly to reduce inflammation. It is well known that curcumin inhibits the NF-kB molecule, which enters cell nuclei and triggers inflammation. Therefore, you are lowering inflammation at the cellular level when you consume turmeric or take a pill containing curcumin.
High Antioxidant Activity
Curcumin, the yellow pigment in turmeric, has improved antioxidant capacity. Curcumin can scavenge various reactive oxygen species such as superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen, nitric oxide, and other organic free radicals.
One of the major mechanisms behind the process of aging and diseases is the generation of oxidative damage. Antioxidants are capable of inhibiting such oxidative damage. Free radicals tend to react highly with single electrons – these can then rebound within your body and react with proteins, fatty acids, or DNA. As a result of this process, you will have signs of premature aging on your skin externally. Internally, you could become more susceptible to the formation of diseases; particularly cancer.
Antioxidants like curcumin neutralize the free radicals by sticking with them before they cause injury. Curcumin is a powerful inhibitor of reactive oxygen-generating enzymes such as cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. That’s not all – curcumin also encourages your body’s own antioxidant enzyme to work more efficiently. So, consuming turmeric gives you double the protection.
Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular or heart disease is the leading cause of death all around the world. It is a complex disorder that can be influenced by a number of elements, but luckily, curcumin has the ability to defend against it. As mentioned earlier, curcumin is a strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound; and these two functions can enhance heart health significantly.
Additionally, curcumin appears to help the endothelium or the lining of the blood vessels. Blood pressure control, blood clotting, and other aspects of cardiac regulation are all impacted by endothelium problems. Curcumin has been shown in one study to be as effective as exercise in promoting heart health, while another claims that it is just as effective as the heart drug Atorvastatin.
Cancer Inhibitor
Cancer is one of the primary causes of death in industrialized countries. In recent years, early diagnosis and an increase in curative options have decreased the number of cancer-related deaths. Cancer cells are specified by uncontrolled signaling pathways involving a sharp increase in productivity, programmed cell death, and angiogenesis. Unbounded cancer cells then grow tumors and spread to other parts of the body. There are many different forms of cancer, but some of them may be vulnerable to curcumin.
Studies have shown that curcumin is mean to be a promising candidate as an efficient anticancer drug that can delay the growth and spread of cancerous cells, and even eliminate them in some situations. It also affects the different signaling pathways and molecular targets involved in developing several cancers.
There is strong evidence to suggest that curcumin can help stop the onset of cancer. This is especially true for tumors of the digestive system like colorectal and stomach cancers. However, the specific role of curcumin in cancer treatment needs to be researched further.
Pain Relief
Numerous over-the-counter medications marketed as “pain relievers” actually target inflammation rather than pain. The best example is ibuprofen. It turns out that curcumin has at least equal anti-inflammatory potency to these chemical drugs.
It was revealed by studies that curcumin is very effective in mitigating pain that arthritis patients experience. When compared to anti-inflammatory drugs, curcumin is much more successful for people with the rheumatoid type of arthritis. Thus, turmeric and curcumin can be safely used as therapeutic agents for osteoarthritis. Curcumin also works as a friendly remedy for people with wounds or post-workout discomforts.
The Bottom Line
Curcumin is an extremely powerful compound that enhances your body’s function, slows the process of aging, and uplifts your mood and energy. The ideal way to include curcumin in your meals is turmeric, but turmeric has a relatively low amount of curcumin. Therefore, to cure an already active ailment, a curcumin additive is advantageous for people with such ailments.
Unfortunately, merely taking a curcumin supplement does not promise that much of it will penetrate your blood. Make sure the supplement you pick for that purpose also contains a compound piperine. Black pepper’s key ingredient, piperine, offers a number of health advantages on its own and can also help your body absorb curcumin by 2,000% more.
Make sure to add some black pepper when you consume turmeric. Not only do these two spices work together to provide the best health benefits, but they also taste great together! Furthermore, curcumin is fat soluble, so it functions best when consumed with a fatty meal. Although we don’t advise consuming enormous amounts of bad trans fats, healthy fats are always good to have in your diet. Therefore, look to pair curcumin-containing meals with a lot of avocados, almonds, and even eggs.
