If you’re familiar with supplements or research surrounding the benefits of natural compounds for body and mind, you’ve likely heard of curcumin, the active compound in turmeric. While this medicinal compound, extracted from a ginger-like root, has been in use in ancient Chinese medicine for centuries, in recent years curcumin has achieved mainstream popularity as researchers continue to unveil an impressive array of health benefits for the body and mind.
Curcumin is sometimes confused with turmeric, since turmeric is the root from which this bioactive compound is derived. While turmeric is often used for its culinary purposes, its health benefits come from its curcumin complex, and the most beneficial way to harness those benefits is by curcumin supplementation--since turmeric root only contains small traces of this active ingredient.
But you may be wondering: what are the uses of turmeric, and what does research say about curcumin’s benefits for overall health? Read on to learn everything you need to know about the health benefits of turmeric and curcumin, as Nutrisips summarizes the latest scientific research to explain how this powerful natural remedy can boost your health.
Curcumin is the biologically active compound in turmeric, a root derived from the underground stems of the curcuma longa plant. Turmeric belongs to the ginger family, and grows in temperate climates worldwide.
Turmeric has been used for years for its health benefits, as well as for its flavorful properties as a spice. However, dietary turmeric used in recipes only contains small amounts of curcumin. That’s why, when it comes to embracing the health benefits of turmeric, Nutrisips’s high-bioavailability curcumin supplements are your best bet.
Curcumin has been used for thousands of years, since traditional Chinese medicine, for its purported benefits for the body, mind, and brain. But what are the benefits of curcumin? Wondering if this is the right supplement to help you reach your health and wellness goals? Read on to learn more about the research-backed benefits of this powerful compound.
According to studies, curcumin has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Given the fact that inflammation plays a key role in many of the most common conditions and symptoms, curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties are a major contributor to its overall health benefits.
Turmeric-derived curcumin may also help strengthen the body’s defenses against free radicals and oxidative stress. Curcumin has been shown to act as a powerful antioxidant capable of neutralizing the free radicals that cause oxidative damage to the body and brain. Further studies have shown that curcumin may block free radicals from preventing damage, while stimulating the activity and efficacy of other, naturally-occurring antioxidants found within the human body.
Curcumin is also thought to support cognitive and neurological health by helping the brain form new neurons, a crucial factor to long-term brain health as we age. Curcumin enhances the process behind the regeneration of neurons--or nerve cells--by boosting a protein known as BDNF, which contributes to memory and learning. By increasing levels of BDNF proteins, curcumin could help strengthen defenses against certain age-related brain diseases, and against forms of cognitive or neurological dysfunction that sometimes occur later in life.
Further research indicates that curcumin may prevent the buildup of neurotoxic proteins in the brain.
Curcumin has been shown to enhance cognition by boosting memory and focus.
Studies have also shown that curcumin can provide especially impressive benefits for mood. Curcumin could enhance mood by replenishing the body’s supply of mood-boosting neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are essential to feelings of happiness, satisfaction, and contentment. Researchers also suggest that curcumin may reduce anxiety.
Curcumin supplementation is also popular among those looking to manage symptoms of arthritis, and to ease stiff, sore, or inflamed joints. In a recent study on individuals afflicted with osteoarthritis, researchers found that curcumin provided more effective relief than placebo, while its anti-inflammatory benefits for arthritis suffers were comparable with those of NSAIDs--OTC drugs often used for arthritis, but that can come with undesirable side effects.
Studies also suggest that supplementation with curcumin could support a healthy heart. According to research, curcumin may help the body defend itself against factors that contribute to heart disease. Curcumin is thought to provide these benefits by improving endothelial function, which refers to the lining of blood vessels, and by reducing inflammation and oxidation associated with heart problems.
If curcumin sounds like the right compound to help you reach your health and wellness goals, you’re in luck. We offer various supplements containing effective concentrations of curcumin from turmeric, including our Relief Gel, which targets discomfort and promotes joint health and mobility. Our Relief Gel contains the precise, daily recommended amount of turmeric, taking the guesswork out of how much curcumin you need to take each day.
