What Are the 12 Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin?

Turmeric is found in the roots of curcuma longa and curcumin is a component of turmeric. The 12 health benefits of turmeric and curcumin include a reduction in inflammation, arthritis pain, free radicals, and other benefits.

Turmeric is used in many different parts of the world as a part of traditional medicine practices in various cultures. The most active component of turmeric is called curcumin–this is what gives turmeric its unique color and many of its health benefits.

Turmeric is found in the roots of curcuma longa, a member of the ginger family. It’s commonly advised to take 500 milligrams of turmeric two times per day with food, but your correct dosage likely depends on your health history. Speak to your healthcare provider to ensure you don’t overdo it.

Turmeric can be taken as a standalone supplement or as a spice used in meals. Using this spice is a good way to give food flavor without using a lot of salt. You can add turmeric to a wide variety of foods, including:

• Soup
• Eggs
• Smoothies
• Rice
• Roasted vegetables
• Muffins

Curcumin is one of the chemical compounds that give turmeric its nutritional value through its anti-inflammatory properties and its rich supply of antioxidants. 

Curcumin, a turmeric product, is a more powerful supplement than putting pure turmeric in your food. It has been extracted and concentrated from turmeric and has major antioxidant properties.

One of the greatest challenges you may face when taking curcumin is that it's difficult to absorb but metabolizes quickly once ingested. Curcumin works best when taken with healthy fats, like nuts, seeds, oils, or avocado. The curcumin bonds with the fats, slowing metabolization and increasing the time available for absorption. You can get curcumin in the form of:

• Tablets
• Pills
• Energy drinks
• Ointments
• Cosmetics
• Soaps

If you have a chronic condition that causes inflammation, consider taking turmeric or curcumin. For example, curcumin has been known to help keep ulcerative colitis at bay.

Curcumin helps lessen the amounts of some of the molecules that bring on inflammation in your body. If you have inflamed hemorrhoids, for example, you can use a topical cream made with turmeric to reduce symptoms.

A study on adults showed that taking 90 milligrams of curcumin two times a day improves memory performance. It’s possible that a reduction in brain inflammation and increased antioxidant properties slow the rate of impairment in the ability to think and reason.

Turmeric can increase cognitive capacity and concentration and reduce stress and prevent plaque buildup on your neural pathways.

Turmeric has been used historically in Eastern medicines to treat arthritis symptoms. Although curcumin alone won’t relieve pain from arthritis, it’s possible that taking a supplement reduces osteoarthritic pain.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint condition that affects more than 250 million people globally. It has many inflammatory aspects that can be treated, although not cured, via herbal remedies and supplements.

Research shows that due to its richness in antioxidants, turmeric can neutralize free radicals — toxic compounds found in your body. Additionally, other antioxidants may be stimulated by those in turmeric to help combat free radicals and protect your body.

Turmeric is rich in vitamin B6, which contributes to your cardiovascular health. Its presence helps neutralize risk factors for strokes and coronary heart disease.

Turmeric has been known to reduce oxidation and inflammation, both known to contribute to heart disease. Different studies show that taking supplements can reduce high blood pressure, decrease the chance of having a heart attack after undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, and help manage cholesterol levels.

Those with depression lack a particular protein in the brain that aids learning and memory. Curcumin has been proven to increase the production of this protein and possibly reverse negative effects on the brain. This supplement can also increase dopamine and serotonin levels to keep mood and other body functions regulated.

Active compounds in turmeric have been proven to increase liver function by stimulating bile production in the liver and bile excretion in the gallbladder. In fact, turmeric enhances certain antioxidant enzymes to protect the liver and reduce damage to the organ. This supplement can be used alongside medical treatments to treat cirrhosis and fatty liver disease.

Research has been done on mice to prove the positive effects of turmeric in protecting against stomach, colon,  and skin cancer. Additional studies on animals have shown that turmeric and curcumin prevented the growth of tumors. More research must be done to fully understand how this supplement affects humans. Still, it’s possible that curcumin can kill cancer cells and may be incorporated into future treatments.

Turmeric can help reduce body fat, triglycerides, and fasting blood glucose for men that have metabolic syndrome. It also lowers unhealthy cholesterol levels and increases healthy cholesterol levels, something that must be corrected after developing metabolic syndrome.

The curcumin found in turmeric is an excellent anticoagulant that decreases your blood’s ability to clot. The supplement increases  clotting time by preventing blood platelets from clumping together unless they must.

Turmeric can improve your skin’s appearance by:

• Fighting acne by reducing the bacteria that cause pimples and decreasing your skin’s oil production.
• Clearing acne scars.
• Accelerating the healing of cuts or scrapes thanks to antiseptic properties.
• Soothing irritated skin due to its anti-inflammatory effects.
• Fighting signs of aging, including wrinkles and pigmentation, by purging free radicals.

When you take curcumin, the main chemical that causes inflammation in your brain is decreased. For this reason, it’s believed that certain forms of dementia, like Alzheimer’s, might prove to be prevented or reduced by taking supplements. While further testing is necessary, one of the greatest indicators of Alzheimer’s is the clogging of a certain portion of your brain; curcumin appears to clear this area out.

As with any supplement, pay attention to how you feel after you start taking turmeric and curcumin. Get in touch with your healthcare provider to ensure that it won’t interfere with any medications you take or existing conditions you have.