Turmeric has long been the subject of numerous studies and has been shown to bring many benefits to our bodies. Traditionally used as a spice and medicinal herb in India for millenniums, it is now a commonly used health supplement. While some of these benefits may still require further research, it is worth noting its potential medical usage and health advantages. 

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Turmeric as an Anti-inflammatory 

Turmeric, the spice that colours the curry yellow, owes many of its positive effects to its main active ingredient, curcumin. Research has shown that curcumin has strong anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation is one of the processes our fantastic body uses to fight against foreign invaders and repair damage. However, enduring long-term inflammation can be harmful to your body’s tissues.

Curcumin has been proven to be able to suppress inflammation and reduce certain proteins in our body that contribute to inflammation. Given its anti-inflammatory properties, it is thought that curcumin may be of benefit in conditions such as heart disease, cancer, arthritis, metabolic syndromes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other degenerative conditions.

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Several studies have found that curcumin can reduce the risk of heart diseases and improve heart health. Another study had found that turmeric is as effective as exercising to aid in reducing inflammation and oxidation that occurs in menopausal women. Curcumin is also shown to be even more effective than the anti-inflammatory drug in a study that assessed the safety of curcumin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Tumeric as an Antioxidant 

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Turmeric is also a powerful antioxidant. Oxidative damage occurs when specific reactive particles react with substances such as our protein and DNA to cause damage. It is believed that this particular mechanism is a contributing factor to aging as well as other chronic diseases.

Curcumin in turmeric is an incredibly potent antioxidant that can stop the action of these reactive particles. Thus, it is thought to be able to delay aging and combat age-related chronic diseases thereby enhancing longevity.

Turmeric and Brain

It is also thought that curcumin can help the promotion of new neurons in our brain which essentially aids in improving memory, attention, and learning. Due to its ability to reduce a certain protein called the BDNF protein, it is thought that curcumin may also have benefits in managing Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and depression.

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What else should I know?

Given that the curcumin content in dietary turmeric is low, the effect may not be apparent. Furthermore, curcumin itself is poorly absorbed into our body if it were eaten by itself. Hence, turmeric supplements are a wonderful alternative to ensure that the necessary level of curcumin in our body is reached to enjoy its benefits!

Furthermore, many curcumin supplements contain piperine which is a substance present in black pepper that significantly improves the absorption of curcumin into our body to amplify its effect. Moreover, turmeric is generally considered safe with few side effects reported at higher doses such as nausea, headache, and diarrhoea. Nonetheless, as with any dietary supplements and natural medicines, always ensure to ask any healthcare professionals around before starting it to ascertain that it is suitable for you!

I want to try it! What are my options?

There are many options to obtain your intake of curcumin goodness. One of our recommendations is the Thycurm Turmeric Soft Gummies. This is the first mouth-dissolving lozenges of turmeric extracts which enables almost 100% of curcumin in its purest free form to be rapidly absorbed into our blood.

As it is a gummy, it simply requires consumers to place it in your mouth between your cheeks which results in an improved absorption of the curcumin. It is able to achieve such a high level of absorption because of the unique method of delivery that avoids our digestive system. In effect, it is estimated that 3kg of turmeric has the same effect as 1 pastille of these gummies. 

Another option is the Nutriflex Curcuwin which exists as sachets whereby the powder is mixed with water. This product contains a mixture of orange juice with curcumin and an additional component, type II collagen. However, it is important that this form of curcumin is essentially a type of an oral liquid. While it provides rapid absorption of the turmeric extract into our body, the curcumin must still traverse through our stomach which reduces the absorption of the product.  

On the other hand, if you prefer capsules, an option to go for would be the VitaHealth Tumercumin Vege Capsules. Undoubtedly efficacious, even so, as it is consumed in capsule form, the curcumin will be absorbed much slower and may require a greater frequency of administration. 

In conclusion, turmeric is a supplement that is associated with an abundance of medical and health advantages. While indeed there are certain areas that may require further research, much evidence exists to point out curcumin’s positive effects. As such, to all who are exploring how turmeric may serve to improve their life and well-being, we wish you the very best and where possible, ensure to have a chat with a trusted healthcare professional before you begin. 

References

Akazawa, N., Choi, Y., Miyaki, A., Tanabe, Y., Sugawara, J., Ajisaka, R., & Maeda, S. (2012). Curcumin ingestion and exercise training improve vascular endothelial function in postmenopausal women. Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.), 32(10), 795–799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2012.09.002

Chandran, B., & Goel, A. (2012). A randomized, pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of curcumin in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 26(11), 1719–1725. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.4639

Gunnars, K. (2021). 10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric

Hewlings, S. J., & Kalman, D. S. (2017). Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 6(10), 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods6100092

Lumeng, C. N., & Saltiel, A. R. (2011). Inflammatory links between obesity and metabolic disease. The Journal of clinical investigation, 121(6), 2111–2117. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI57132

Marchio, P., Guerra-Ojeda, S., Vila, J. M., Aldasoro, M., Victor, V. M., & Mauricio, M. D. (2019). Targeting Early Atherosclerosis: A Focus on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2019, 8563845. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/8563845

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2021). Turmeric. Retrieved from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/turmeric 

Natural Medicines. (2021). Tumeric Capsule. Retrieved from https://naturalmedicines-therapeuticresearch-com.ap1.proxy.openathens.net/databases/commercial-products/commercial-product.aspx?cpid=116410

Natural Medicines. (2021). Tumeric Extract. Retrieved from https://naturalmedicines-therapeuticresearch-com.ap1.proxy.openathens.net/databases/commercial-products/commercial-product.aspx?cpid=165675

Ng, T., Ho, C., Tam, W., Kua, E. H., & Ho, R. C. (2019). Decreased Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International journal of molecular sciences, 20(2), 257. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20020257

Slika, L., & Patra, D. (2020). Traditional Uses, Therapeutic Effects and Recent Advances of Curcumin: A Mini-Review. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry, 20(12), 1072–1082. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389557520666200414161316

University of Utah. (2020). Benefits of Turmeric. Retrieved from https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/postings/2020/02/turmeric.php

VitaHealth Malaysia. (2021). Tumercumin. Retrieved from https://www.vitahealth.com.my/turmercumin/#/ 

ZEBS Health Innovations. (2018). The First Mouth-Dissolving

Turmeric Extract (Curcumin 100mg) Gummy Form. Retrieved from https://www.thycurm.com/about-us.html