Turmeric was used as a dye, and later on, used as medicine.
Turmeric is usually found in Asia, especially in Ayurveda, Siddha medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and Unani. Indians use turmeric as a spice for their food and medicinal herb.
An essential ingredient of turmeric is called curcuminoids, the central active part of which is curcumin. Curcumin is one ingredient in turmeric, a natural gold-yellow color that belongs to a ginger family. It was known and gave an interest in medicine, science, and culinary.
Black pepper contains piperine, a natural substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2,000%. The combination of curcumin and piperine, substantially increasing effectiveness. Curcumin is also fat-soluble.
2. Increases Antioxidant content in the Body
Because of the antioxidant properties of turmeric, it increases more of the existing content of antioxidants.
It involves free radicals that tend to react, such as fatty acids, proteins, or DNA that protects your body from free radicals. Curcumin blocks free radical and stimulates the body's antioxidant defenses.
Antioxidants content of turmeric helps delay aging and fight Age-Related Chronic Diseases.
3. Lower Risk of Brain Diseases (Depression and Alzheimer's)
Curcumin can increase brain levels of a growth hormone called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Additionally fights degenerative processes in the brain.
Common brain disorders decrease levels of hormones when you take curcumin supplements and also make you smarter and improve your memory.
According to the study, curcumin has antidepressant content, which helps reduce shrinking hippocampus and boost the brain neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine
4. Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease
Curcumin plays a beneficial role in heart diseases. It helps the endothelium (lining of blood vessels) to function well. From regulating blood pressure, blood clotting, and other factors.
Heart disease is a very complicated type that needs with various contributions from a Cardio-doctor.
Study shows that curcumin helps to reverse the heart disease process.
5. Prevent or Treat Cancer
Study shows that curcumin helps to prevent or even treat cancer. It also demonstrated that curcumin has anti-cancer effects. It seems to be able to kill cancer cells and prevent more from growing. It has the best results on breast cancer, bowel cancer, stomach cancer, and skin cancer cells.
However, there is no clear to show that turmeric or curcumin can prevent or treat cancer.
This is not an indication to stop your cancer treatment or an alternative treatment, we are just sharing some information that could help you. Always refer to the doctor.
6. Helps Patient with Arthritis
Another 2016 study suggests that curcumin might help prevent a bone breakdown in people with RA. Research shows that curcumin+piperine responds to a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). That 1,000 mg a day of curcumin reduced OA Pain and other inflammation.
Curcumin contains a small percentage of turmeric and can be hard to absorb. Check the standard amount of curcumin when looking for a supplement and choose brands that use phospholipids (Meriva, BCM-95), antioxidants (CircuWin) or nanoparticles (Theracurmin) for better absorption. Philip Barr, MD, head of Duke Integrative Medicine recommends 500 mg of high-quality curcumin twice a day for both OA and RA and only use supplements that have been independently tested by a third party such as ConsumerLab.
7. Help to overcome the resistance to chemotherapy
Ajay Goel and Baylor Scott investigate the potential of curcumin to overcome chemotherapy. The treatment that tested was regarding the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) they used a combination of curcumin and traditional chemotherapy during that time.
It has been widely studying this kind of discoveries, but potentially recognized turmeric and curcumin help to overcome the resistance of chemotherapy.
8. Anti-Inflammatory
A pure Curcumin helps you to fight off a variety of viruses, including herpes and the flu. The strong effectiveness was matching the anti-inflammatory drug without the side effects.
Curcumin blocks NF-kB molecule to the nuclei cells and suppresses the primary role of inflammation.
Precaution
*High doses of turmeric can cause thin blood and upset stomach.
*Turmeric/curcumin strictly prohibited to people taking drugs such as warfarin (Coumadin), about to have surgery, pregnant, and gallbladder disease.