Turmeric and curcumin may be one of the most effective supplements of all time. Research shows that it has major benefits for your brain and body. Find out more about what specific turmeric formulas are the best for your unique body by visiting Review Critic.
Let’s start off by asking the question – why exactly is turmeric so good for us?
It Has Powerful Medicinal Properties
Turmeric contains compounds with excellent medicinal properties, called curcumin. It contains strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In order to get the full benefits of the curcumin compounds, it’s essential to consume black pepper with it as it contains piperine which not only helps with increased absorption but also increases the bioavailability of the curcumin compounds.
Curcumin Has Natural Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Inflammation is really important as it helps your body to fight any foreign invaders and it also helps to repair damage. Without inflammation, bacteria can easily take over your body and eventually kill you. Even though short-term inflammation is good for you, chronic inflammation is certainly not a good thing. Some scientists even claim that chronic inflammation plays a role in almost every single chronic disease, such as cancer, heart disease and more. Curcumin can, therefore, help to prevent some of these diseases. To read more about the causes and concerns of inflammation, click here.
It Increases The Body’s Antioxidant Capacity
Oxidative damage is one of the main mechanisms behind many diseases as well as aging. It involves free radicals which react with substances such as proteins, DNA and fatty acids. Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals. Curcumin does not only have antioxidant properties but it can also neutralize free radicals because of its chemical structure. It further also boosts the body’s own antioxidant enzymes. Read more about the free radical theory of aging here.
Curcumin Improves Brain Function
One of the main drivers which allow neurons to form new connections is called BDNF (a type of growth hormone). Many brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and depression have been linked to decreased levels of BDNF. Fortunately, curcumin can increase these levels. This might delay or reverse many brain diseases and it can further also help to improve memory.
It Lowers The Risk Of Heart Disease
Curcumin improves the lining of the blood vessels (called the endothelium) and can, therefore, reverse some of the steps in the heart disease process. Curcumin further also reduces oxidation and inflammation (as mentioned above) which plays quite an important role in heart disease.
Turmeric Can Help Prevent Cancer
Turmeric has been found to affect cancer development and growth at a molecular level. It is also said that it may prevent cancer, especially colorectal cancer. The chances are good that it may even someday be used along with conventional cancer treatment.
It May Treat Alzheimer’s Disease
It is quite unfortunate that there are not yet any good treatments for Alzheimer’s disease – as it is the most common brain disease in the world. As oxidative damage and inflammation play a role in this disease, curcumin can definitely be beneficial. Curcumin can also clear the buildup of protein tangles which is a common feature of Alzheimer’s disease.
It Can Help Arthritis Patients
Arthritis involves inflammation of the joints and it, therefore, makes sense that curcumin with its anti-inflammatory compounds can help reduce the symptoms. It has been shown that it can even be, in some cases, more effective than anti-inflammatory drugs.
It Can Treat Depression
Studies show that curcumin is just as effective as antidepressants. As depression has also been linked to reduced levels of BNDF and curcumin can boost these levels, it is quite beneficial in treating depression. It can further also boost dopamine and serotonin levels.
Curcumin May Delay Aging
If curcumin can truly help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, cancer as well as heart disease, it definitely has some obvious benefits in terms of longevity. It has, therefore, become quite a popular anti-aging supplement. When it comes to aging, inflammation and oxidation plays quite a big role and, curcumin would, therefore, reduce many of the symptoms associated with aging.
Remember to find a supplement which includes Bioperine which will enhance the absorption of curcumin by 2000%. Without Bioperine, most of the curcumin will just pass through the digestive tract.