This is an education channel on the subject of health and nutrition of Turmeric
Turmeric the World's Most Powerful Herb
The traditional Indian spice,
Science Behind Turmeric
Turmeric and its components, including curcumin, have been the subject of scientific studies.
“Some research results show that people who have osteoarthritis reported less joint pain when eating turmeric in recipes,” Brown says. “Turmeric’s effect on mood disorders, depression and dementia have also been explored, but studies are small, so more research will reveal if there is a benefit.”
Turmeric Supplements and Drug Interactions
High doses of curcumin, as found in concentrated turmeric supplements, can interact with certain medications.
Pain relievers: Turmeric supplements can lessen the effects of indomethacin, aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Chemotherapy: If you are receiving chemotherapy treatments, talk to your doctor before taking turmeric supplements, and especially avoid them if you are taking these chemotherapy agents:
Camptothecin
Mechlorethamine
Doxorubicin
Cyclophosphamide
Blood thinners: Turmeric or curcumin supplements can increase the risk of bleeding in people taking warfarin.
Immunosuppressive drugs: People taking a medication called tacrolimus may experience increased side effects if they consume high amounts of curcumin.
Turmeric Side Effects
While turmeric is safe for most people when enjoyed in tea or food, if you are allergic to the spice, eating it may cause a rash, hives or abdominal pain.
Most of the side effects are associated with very high concentrations of curcumin found in supplements (pills, capsules and gummie.
Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin
Medicinal properties
Anti-inflammatory
Antioxidants
Brain health
Heart disease
Cancer
Alzheimer's disease
Arthritis
Depression
Aging
Many high-quality studies show that turmeric has major benefits for your body and brain. Many of these benefits come from its main active ingredient, curcumin.
What are turmeric and curcumin?
Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow color. It has been used in India for thousands of years as both a spice and medicinal herb. Research Source has shown that turmeric contains compounds with medicinal properties.
These compounds are called curcuminoids. The most important one is curcumin, which is the main active ingredient in turmeric.
Here are the top 10 evidence-based health benefits of turmeric and curcumin.
Turmeric contains bioactive compounds with medicinal properties
It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. and is a very strong antioxidant. That said, the curcumin content of turmeric is only around 1-6% by weight.
Most studies on this herb use turmeric extracts that contain mostly curcumin itself, with dosages usually exceeding 1 gram (g) per day, which means it would be hard to reach these levels just by using turmeric as a spice. That’s why some people choose to use supplements.
In addition, curcumin is poorly absorbed into your bloodstream. In order to experience the full effects of curcumin, its bioavailability.(the rate at which your body absorbs a substance) needs to improve.
Curcumin is also fat soluble, which means it breaks down and dissolves in fat or oil. That’s why it may be a good idea to take curcumin supplements with a meal that’s high in fat.
Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory compound
Curcumin is a bioactive substance that can help fight inflammation, though very high doses are required to produce medicinal results.
Still, it means it has the potential to fight the inflammation that plays a role in many health conditions and diseases.
That’s why anything that can help fight chronic inflammation is potentially important in preventing and helping treat these conditions.
In fact, curcumin has been studied as a beneficial herb in cancer treatment. and has been found to affect cancer growth and development.
Studies have shown that it can:
In another study on rheumatoid arthritis, curcumin appeared to have helped reduce disease-related inflammation.
1. Fights Infections
2. Improves Digestion
3. Helps in Muscle Recovery
4. Boosts immunity
5. Relieves Headaches
6. Delays Ageing Effects
7. Supports detoxification
8. Reduces Inflammation
9. Improves respiratory Health
10. Improves eye health
11. Improves liver health
12. Reduces Acne Breakout
13. Lowers Bad Cholesterol
14. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels
15. Improves Bone Health
16. Improves Memory
17. Relieves IBS Symptoms
18. Improves Sleep Pattern
19. Helps Patients with Depression
20. Heals Wounds
Cancer
In lab and animal studies, turmeric has stopped the growth of tumor cells, helped detoxifying enzymes work better, and more. What these studies can't tell us, though, is what will happen in the human body when a person eats turmeric. Plus, there's a chance that turmeric might interfere with some chemotherapy drugs.