10 Health Benefits of Turmeric Curcumin
For those familiar with the exotic spices of South Asia, you likely already know quite a bit about turmeric. Turmeric is a spice often used in cuisine within countries ranging from India to Sri Lanka and even all the way to Haiti. This delicious and rich spice adds a lot of character to food, but did you know that it has also long been used for medical treatment?
- What is Turmeric Curcumin?
Turmeric is a root plant that comes from the very same family of plants as ginger. It is native to tropical climates, primarily Southern Asia, and has a distinct flavor and golden orange color that makes it hard to mistake.
Curcumin is a compound that exists within the turmeric plant itself, and is the primary compound that turmeric derives its striking color from. It is also the compound that experts believe gives turmeric all of its striking health benefits.
- The Benefits of Turmeric Curcumin.
Turmeric has been used in ancient and modern medicinal practices for thousands of years. However, it is only recently that medical professionals have begun to trace the scientific reason behind the many medicinal benefits of turmeric.
Let’s talk about those.
1 - Curcumin is a Potent Antioxidant.
The curcumin compound has long been known to have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are important because they combat free radicals within the body, which can cause damage to organic cellular structures. In essence, antioxidants are great for anti-aging purposes. This makes curcumin great for encouraging an overall feeling and appearance of wellness.
2 - Curcumin is Great for Brain Function.
Keeping the brain healthy and functioning is the most important piece to a long and happy life. When we lose production of the brain growth hormone known as Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, we begin to see cognitive damage rapidly. This leads to cognitive decline as well as other reduced brain functions. Curcumin is known to increase hormone production in the brain, and combat brain function deterioration.
3 - Curcumin Can Combat Alzheimer's.
Going along with what was mentioned above, curcumin can actually prevent one of the most serious mental illnesses known to our species--Alzheimer's. Alzheimer’s disease is responsible for loss of brain function, loss of long and short term memory, and even physical decline. This can be caused by inflammation in the brain, as well as buildup of harmful protein tangle production in the brain. Curcumin is linked to the direct reduction of both.
4 - Curcumin is Great for Combating Depression.
An exciting study of a group of 60 individuals with diagnosed depression showed that when given a dose of curcumin the results were very similar to that of the test group which was given Prozac. Even better, pairing prozac with curcumin produced even more astounding results. The study showed that curcumin was great at reducing the symptoms of depression as well as boosting antidepressant hormone production in the brain.
5 - Curcumin Can Reduce Cholesterol Levels.
Curcumin has been linked to the reduction of triglycerides in the body. These are fats that exist in the blood and are connected with increased cholesterol levels. Taking turmeric supplements can reduce the levels of these fats, and in-turn reduce cholesterol greatly.
6 - Curcumin is a Powerful Anti-Inflammatory.
Chronic inflammation is one of the leading causes of illness in modern society. It leads to heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and more. This is a problem that many aging Westerners face daily. Curcumin has been shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce these medical risks.
7 - Curcumin Combats Heart Disease.
Heart disease is the most dangerous foe we will ever face statistically. It is the #1 killer of humans in the world. That is why combating it is so important. Luckily, curcumin and its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can help reduce the risk of heart disease dramatically.
8 - Curcumin is Great For Arthritis.
In the same vein as above, arthritis is a scourge that plagues many elderly--and even young--people in the world. It is caused primarily by inflammation in the joints. This leads to extreme pain and joint disfiguration. Curcumin is known to reduce inflammation, and provides relief and treatment for arthritis.
9 - Cancer Can Prevent Cancer.
The dreaded ‘C’ word is one of the most terrifying prospects of diagnosis for all of us. It ravages the body, and medical professionals still can’t completely solve it. However,studies have shown that curcumin is directly linked to the prevention of cancer cells forming. In addition, more recent studies have shown that curcumin may even be able to slow the growth of cancer cells, and help treat cancer itself.
10 - Curcumin Can Help Treat Diabetes.
A recent study showed that when concentrated into tetrahydrocurcumin, the curcumin compound can perform astoundingly well in treating type 1 & 2 diabetes. The compound was shown to reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic rats, as well as increase their plasma insulin naturally. This indicates that curcumin can be effective in helping to treat and manage diabetes.
11 - Curcumin is Great For the Skin.
Because curcumin is known to have powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, it is pretty great for treating the skin. Conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, aging, etc,. Can be potentially treated using curcumin. Studies are still on-going, but look promising for the scientific evidence that curcumin is great for the skin.
- Curcumin is Great for Overall Wellness.
Curcumin is a compound that has been linked to multiple health and wellness benefits. From reducing aging, to cutting down inflammation, and preventing cancer cells from forming. This helps lend evidence--greatly--to the fact that ancient medicinal uses of curcumin were right. Curcumin is great for promoting an overall sense and feeling of health, wellbeing, and vitality.
- Final Thoughts.
Turmeric curcumin is a mysterious and yet wonderful organic compound that all of us can enjoy. It can be taken in capsule form, topically through ointments, and even through simply adding it to your diet. While much is still unknown about turmeric curcumin, a lot has already been revealed. It is a great compound for promoting overall health and wellness.