Turmeric is the spice that gives certain curries their yellow color. It has been used in India for thousands of years both as a spice for cooking and in Ayurveda as a medicinal plant. Beyond that, turmeric has also seen use in traditional medicine in countries such as Korea, Japan, China, Malaysia and Pakistan.

But what gives turmeric its healing properties in the first place? The answer is curcumin, the curcuminoid that gives turmeric its golden yellow color. This compound is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which contribute to turmeric’s health benefits.

Curcumin’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

In a review, titled “Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health,” researchers discovered that curcumin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that make it helpful in managing metabolic syndrome, arthritis, anxiety, hyperlipidemia as well as exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness.

The review also confirmed that curcumin’s health benefits are best experienced when it’s combined with black pepper. This is because the latter contains piperine, which increases curcumin’s bioavailability –the rate and extent to which a compound, such as curcumin, is absorbed by the body –  by 2000 percent. This is vital since curcumin has poor bioavailability on its own.

Other studies support the findings of the review. One study, published in Nature, discovered that curcumin was more potent in suppressing certain proteins that contributor to the proliferation of tumor cells when compared to common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) like aspirin.

Other health benefits for curcumin

On top of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, curcumin can also provide you with a host of other health benefits, which include the following.

• Lowers your risk of heart disease – Studies show that curcumin may help reverse the many steps involved in the heart disease process. Its main benefit may come from improving the function of the endothelium – the lining of your blood vessels. This is on top of the benefits that its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties provide to your heart.
• Helps fight Alzheimer’s disease – One of the key features of Alzheimer’s disease is the buildup of protein tangles, called amyloid plaques, in your brain. Studies show that curcumin – which can cross the blood-brain barrier – can clear these plaques.
• Helps relieve arthritis – Most types of arthritis involve inflammation in the joints. As such, it makes sense that a potent anti-inflammatory compound like curcumin helps relieve arthritis. In particular, studies in people with rheumatoid arthritis show that curcumin was more effective than anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Helps uplift your mood – Curcumin has shown promise in treating depression. The latter has been linked to reduced levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Meanwhile, studies show that curcumin boosts BDNF levels. In addition, there’s also evidence that curcumin boosts the brain neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, both of which are associated with feelings of happiness and pleasure.
• Fights cognitive decline – Curcumin’s ability to boost BDNF levels has also been linked to improved brain function and a lower risk of brain disease. In addition, it may also be able to help improve your memory.
• May help fight diabetes – In one animal study, researchers found that increased consumption of curcumin, especially tetrahydrocurcumin, one of its major metabolites, reduced the blood glucose and plasma insulin levels of diabetic rats.

The curcumin in turmeric turns the latter into an amazing superfood that can provide you with mean health benefits. With this in mind, you may want to consider adding more curcumin to your diet.

Sources:

MDPI.com

ScienceDirect.com 1

Nature.com

ScienceDirect.com 2

OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com 1

OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com 2

Hindawi.com

Link.Springer.com

OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com 3