Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin

1. Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Turmeric and curcumin have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which can be helpful in reducing inflammation throughout the body. Curcumin can be a more effective anti-inflammatory treatment than any other medicine at right dose. Curcumin helps in reducing inflammation in the body by inhibiting the production of inflammatory molecules. This may be especially beneficial for people suffering from arthritis and asthma.

2. Anti- Oxidant property

 Oxidants are free radicals, which are highly reactive molecules with unpaired electrons. These cause oxidative stress, believed to be the reason behind ageing and many heart diseases.  Curcumin is a strong anti-oxidant which neutralize these free radicals and counter their effect. Curcumin also protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Turmeric and curcumin are found to have a stronger anti-oxidant effect than Vitamin C and Vitamin E. 

3. Preventing Diabetes

According to many studies, curcumin may help in preventing diabetes and associated disorders like diabetic nephropathy (also called diabetic kidney disease). Continuous intake of turmeric may lead to a significant decrease in blood sugar levels, and an increase in plasma insulin which helps in fighting Type 2 diabetes. Not only this, turmeric may also reduce the risk associated with diabetes, such as heart disease and kidney damage.

4. Cancer Prevention

 Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth. Research has suggested that turmeric has anti-carcinogenic properties and is effective in stopping the tumor cells from growing. Also, the curcumin in turmeric contributes to the death of cancer cells and reduce metastasis (growth of cancer).  Studies have found that turmeric may help to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer including breast, colon and prostate cancer.

5. Cardiovascular Health

Heart disease is a leading cause of deaths worldwide. Turmeric helps to lower the risk of heart diseases by reducing cholesterol levels and improving blood vessel function. It may even help to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Curcumin does this by improving the function of endothelium ( inner lining of blood vessels). Studies have found that people taking curcumin have a 65% decreased risk of experiencing a heart attack. 

6.  Role in Depression Treatment

Depression is associated with lower levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is a protein found in the brain and spinal cord that keeps the nerve cells healthy) and turmeric is able to boost levels of BDNF. Curcumin is effective as an anti-depressant and has shown some promise in treating depression. Curcumin also boosts brain neurotransmitters and has a positive effect on cognitive function, including brain and memory function.

7. Arthritis Treatment

Curcumin shows promise in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by joint inflammation that commonly affects the joints but may spread to other areas as well. Curcumin is found to treat arthritis better than many inflammatory drugs. 

8. Improve Skin Health

Turmeric, as many of us are aware, is a key ingredient of cosmetic products like soaps, face wash, scrubs, etc. The anti-oxidant and anti-microbial properties of turmeric are helpful in improving the appearance of skin and reducing the signs of aging. It is also found effective in treating a variety of skin conditions including acne, dermatitis, and psoriasis (a skin disease marked by red itchy patches). 

Not only turmeric has numerous health benefits, but its culinary uses are also impressive.

Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin: Turmeric, a plant of the ginger family and made from the roots of the Curcuma longa plant, is a native plant of Southeast Asia and grown primarily in India. Curcumin is the key component of turmeric which gives turmeric its yellow color. Turmeric has been in use since ancient times as a part of traditional Indian medicine in Ayurveda. Today, turmeric is promoted as a dietary supplement for a variety of conditions, including arthritis, digestive disorders, etc. Curcumin, the major component of turmeric, is a strong anti-oxidant and is responsible for majority of turmeric’s potential benefits. It may be noted that Turmeric and Curcumin are often used interchangeably because the primary constituent affecting turmeric’s properties is curcumin and hence it is rightly called the “star of turmeric”.