tumeric

Turmeric and It’s Benefits

Turmeric the plant that curcumin comes from has been in the news a lot lately. This amazing herb has been used for thousands of years in India and has a long history of medicinal use.  This ancient plant is making headlines for the many benefits it has. It has been proven to support a healthy inflammation response, as well as support healthy joints. It also has shown to provide antioxidant activity and supports a healthy response to environmental stressors. 

Many of Turmeric’s Benefits Come From Curcumin

 Most of this spice’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, properties come from its active ingredient, curcumin. 

Some of the best-known health issues that curcumin can benefit include:

  • Cancer: Research shows curcumin can influence the natural treatment of several cancers including colon, stomach, lung, breast, and skin cancers.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis: Curcumin shows promise for those with autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. Some studies show curcumin has a similar impact to NSAIDs without the side effects of medications.
  • Osteoarthritis: Animal studies show curcumin’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits significantly slow osteoarthritis progression and relieve pain.
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders: Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory benefits can support people with GI disorders including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.
  • Oxidative stress: As an antioxidant, curcumin is a free radical scavenger that also binds and eliminates potentially damaging metals including iron and copper.
  • Brain health: Oxidative stress and inflammation play a role in many neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease. Research shows curcumin protects your brain cells against oxidative stress-induced damage, lowers inflammation, and protects your energy-producing mitochondria.
  • Depression: Oxidative stress and inflammation also contribute to depression. Depression, like any disease, is multifactorial, meaning multiple culprits contribute. One study found using 500 mg of curcumin twice daily for four to eight weeks provided anti-depressive benefits for people with major depressive disorders.
  • Anxiety: Animal studies also show curcumin can positively impact the behavioral symptoms associated with anxiety.
  • Cholesterol levels: As little as 500 mg of curcumin for one week can improve your lipid profile including total cholesterol and HDL (your “good” cholesterol) levels.
  • Liver health: Research shows curcumin’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits can prevent the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Cystic fibrosis: Curcumin’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can also aid in the treatment of cystic fibrosis, characterized by chronic respiratory infections and inflammation.  For more information please check out this article at maxliving.com

Although turmeric has many many benefits one problem with it is that it doesn’t stay in the body long enough.  This problem was addressed by MediHerb a company out of Australia.  I have used this company for years in my office and they are professional strength herbal products that are held to pharmaceutical standards. MediHerb through careful research found that by adding Fenugreek dietary fiber to Tumeric it showed 24.8 TIMES the bioavailability of an equivalent amount of unformulated curcuminoids. In other words, it will stay in your body much longer!  

Who Can Benefit From Turmeric?
  • Those requiring the support of the body’s normal inflammatory response
  • Those requiring joint support
  • Older patients, athletes and those with an active lifestyle wanting to maintain healthy joint mobility
  • Those requiring antioxidant and liver detoxification support. 

Sources: MediHerb, Maxliving.com

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