What is curcumin?
Curcumin is the active ingredient that found in the roots of the turmeric plant which grows in tropical regions around the world. Turmeric originated from India and South East Asia where it has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It is a very popular herb that has a wide range of effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial affects in the body. These medicinal effects are mainly attributed to the activity of curcumin and two other curcuminoids found in the roots. Curcumin is fat soluble meaning that it can’t dissolve in water and it will be better absorbed by the body when taken with fat. The amount of curcumin present in turmeric is only 3% which is very low and thus from a medical perspective it would be very hard to reach medical effects using turmeric spice in your foods. Consuming turmeric with fat and pepper can dramatically increase its absorption in the body, however to obtain a therapeutic dose of curcumin you would need to take a concentrated extract that contains a significant amount of curcumin.
What are the main health benefits of curcumin?
Anti-inflammatory- one of the most common ailments that curcumin is known for is in the treatment of arthritis which is due to its ability to decrease inflammation. Studies have shown that it is very effective at fighting inflammation as it is able to target multiple steps in the inflammatory process. Some studies have shown that the curcumin is just as effective as some anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals.
Anti-oxidant- by combating highly reactive and damaging free radicals, curcumin can help prevent oxidative damage in the body which is thought to be one of the key mechanisms behind aging and many chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease. While the chemical structure of curcumin itself will act as an antioxidant, curcumin can also boost the body’s own antioxidant system.
Anti-microbial- Studies have shown that curcumin can also fight against some bacteria, viruses, fungal infections and parasites which makes it a good option to boost the immune system especially while travelling or during flu season.
Caution
Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are pregnant; if you are taking antiplatelet medication or blood thinners; if you have gallstones or a bile duct obstruction; if you have stomach ulcers or excessive stomach acid. Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen.
