Benefits of Turmeric Supplements to Health
The benefits of turmeric on people’s health were known by ancient civilizations. When you pick up raw Turmeric at the grocery store for the first time you might ask, well what is this thing. Turmeric is a member of the ginger plant family that has been used medicinally for thousands of years. It is originally native to South Asia.
Word gets around and Turmeric is not new to the healthy living scene either. Due to the known medicinal benefits of Turmeric, it is going through a resurgent period and is highly popular in the natural health community. This is because it is seen to be good for inflammation, being marketed as an anti inflammatory food additive or supplement. The root is where the medicinal benefits of Turmeric are.
Actual scientific studies of the benefits of turmeric supplements to health and what it is good for, for example on cancer and ageing, have really just started.
Turmericโs earliest reported medicinal use is thought to have been around 4,500 years ago in ancient civilizations. Some medically known benefits of Turmeric include use for abdominal pain, use of Turmeric to treat inflammatory diseases and to reduce inflammation from sprains. Some cultures even use Turmeric in a paste as a beauty product to beautify their hair.
Here we will cover the medicinal properties and health benefits of Turmeric.
As an Anti-inflammatory Antioxidant
Turmeric has thousands of peer-reviewed studies behind it, while also having the backing of many health practitioners for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.
Turmeric is called the golden spice. This is because of its beautiful golden-yellow colour when the root is powdered. Its colour originates from curcuminoids, the main active compounds, in Turmeric root extract. This is how it appears in turmeric supplements.
There are three main curcuminoids, Curcumin is the main active ingredient.
Curcumin has shown so many health boosting abilities including: anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and protective actions in the body.
Turmeric extract has been shown to help relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis, an inflammatory disease of the joints. Traditionally, Turmeric extract has mainly used to combat joint pains and arthritis.
Benefits of Turmeric Supplements: Clinical Evidence
Here is some clinical study support of the health benefits of Turmeric. A supplemental combination of Turmeric extract at just 175mg was able to significantly reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritic knee pain over 90 days. There are many other studies on turmeric, curcumin and osteoarthritis that come to the same conclusions too.
Its anti-inflammatory action happens through the ability of Turmeric (Curcumin) to actually stop the production of inflammatory cytokines at the DNA level. Turmeric (Curcumin) also has effects on specific cell signalling pathways and making cell parts. This is thought to be why Turmeric helps to reduce inflammation.
One meta-review says Turmeric extract, containing around 1000 mg/day of Curcumin, could be enough to treat arthritis.
Chronic inflammation, from conditions such as arthritis, can lead to the accumulation of free radicals and constant cellular stresses. This signifies the importance of the anti-inflammatory antioxidants, such as those in Turmeric, highlighting their role in inflammatory disease prevention.
Turmeric is relatively cheap to buy. In a world where health care is becoming very expensive, healthy lifestyles and diets are becoming more important to prevent disease. Foods and spices like Turmeric, also in supplement form, are a perfect example of an affordable way to safeguard your health.
Benefits of Turmeric to Health: Turmeric Supplements and Cancer
We’ve alluded to arthritis leading to chronic bodily inflammation and inflammation becoming a repetitive cycle. Excessively heightened levels of inflammation on a regular basis can potentially lead to the development of cancers.
Chronic inflammation is also a massive factor in the further progression of chronic diseases such as arthritis and diabetes.
Turmeric extract contains potent antioxidants, comparable in effect to vitamins C and E. It is being studied in connection to cancer prevention and treatment.
Antioxidants are anti-inflammatory molecules. They neutralise and reduce the stress caused by harmful free radicals within the body. Free radicals take your body’s electrons and damage your cells.
This is the science behind how Turmeric extract is thought to reduce inflammation and potentially reduce or prevent the risk of cancers. This is a great reason to incorporate this anti inflammatory, adaptogenic food into your diet.
Turmericโs antioxidant abilities can reduce the number of cancer causing events in the body. Scientists have worked hard to try to provide evidence that Turmeric extract and Curcumin can be used to treat cancer. Many prominent cancer researchers would say that while it wouldnโt be right to say Turmeric extract could treat cancer yet. Although, it has anti-cancer properties and is worth investigating further.
Curcumin the main active compound in Turmeric has been shown to stop the growth of cancers. This is because of effects on cancer cell growth pathways. One day it could be accepted as a dose dependent anti-cancer drug.
Benefits of Turmeric to Health: Gut Health & Microbiota
The high strength anti-inflammatory properties of Turmeric extract also mean it is able to positively influence gastrointestinal health. Many studies have shown that Curcumin has massive gastro-protective effects.
Itโs antioxidant abilities help reduce oxidative damage to the membranes of the digestive system caused by free radicals.
In one study on mice, Curcumin helped to remove a particularly nasty bacterial infection.
There are many studies showing Curcumin actively encourages a positive environment for good gut microbiota. In some cases stopping growth of bad bacteria.
Your gut bacteria can influence many aspects of your health including your weight, body fat composition and susceptibility to infection. Consuming a healthy diet containing antioxidants, such as those within Turmeric extracts, could help with these health issues.
Diabetes is also a massive health issue globally. Type 2 diabetes is heavily linked to insulin-resistance, where the signalling pathway for sugar metabolism has broken down completely.
Turmeric extract, seems to have insulin sensitising and also glucose stabilising effects. It directly targets insulin-sugar signalling carriers.
Some studies found this taking 300mg/day of Curcumin over 3 months from Turmeric extracts.
Using Curcuminoids for insulin resistance could end up being a breakthrough area.
Benefits of Turmeric: Adaptogenic Qualities
We have covered adaptogens in great length here. However it is worth mentioning how curcuminoids in Turmeric extract are also classed as an adaptogen.
Because of the strong anti-oxidant properties of Curcumin, it exhibits body wide stress reducing qualities. This ability to reduce body stress and help the body cope with stress means Turmeric extracts fall into this category. Turmeric has also been suggested to help maintain healthy adrenals. Healthy adrenals are key to long term stress management.
Benefits of Turmeric: Using Turmeric on the Skin
There is also growing evidence that turmeric can actually help to improve the appearance and function of the skin.
Turmeric extract has a slight effect on gelatinases in the skin, which are very important in maintaining healthy and โyounger lookingโ skin.
Inhibiting gelatinase activity in the skin is linked to protection from wrinkle formation.
A study using a skin cream containing Turmeric extract made skin on the face more elastic, reducing wrinkles.
There is evidence from a number of studies that taking turmeric extract and using it as a skin cream could help significantly to improve certain skin diseases, including acne and dermatitis.
Turmeric extract also has the potential to boost collagen production within cells, which is important for skin health and youthful looking skin.
Along with โwrinklesโ, lack of โskin elasticityโ is one of the four major signs of aging.
Conclusion
Turmeric extract seems to be a wonder food and ancient cultures knew this. It shows a range of potential health benefits from antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cancer prevention abilities to use as an adaptogen and skin healer.
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Turmeric extract are similar to those in Vitamin C.
Turmeric is as adaptable as the health benefits it has, also being one of the cheapest food additives available. There are so many ways to integrate Turmeric extract into your diet. There are also many supplement products available.
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