Why Is Everyone Always Talking About Turmeric?

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Turmeric is a popular spice used in cooking, particularly in Asian cuisines.

It’s known for its distinct yellow colour and is one of the major ingredients in curry powder.

But it’s much more than just a spice that adds colour and flavor to your food.

Turmeric can also provide a wide array of health benefits.

Turmeric has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.

It has a main active ingredient called curcumin, which is thought to have antioxidant, anti inflammatory, and disease fighting properties.

Including turmeric into your nutrition may provide numerous benefits to your overall health.

I’m Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, and I run a naturopathic doctor clinic in Ottawa geared towards helping you optimize your well being naturally.

Today I want to share with you all of the potential health benefits you can get from turmeric.

Let’s explore what turmeric is and how it can benefit your health.

What Is Turmeric?

Turmeric is a spice that originates from a plant found in central Asia.

It’s also known as the golden spice.

This is because of its distinct yellow colour, which it gives to foods like yellow curry powder and mustard.

Aside from its culinary uses, turmeric has also been used for its array of medicinal properties for thousands of years.

Most of turmeric’s physical and mental health benefits actually come from its main active ingredient, curcumin.

Curcumin – The Main Active Ingredient

Curcumin is an active ingredient found in turmeric, but what exactly is it?

It belongs to a set of compounds known as polyphenols, which are found in plant based foods.

Because curcumin is a polyphenol, it has anti inflammatory, disease fighting, and antioxidant properties.

Curcumin is also considered to benefit the development of brain neurons.

It can also help to support your mood and mental health.

While curcumin has many potential health benefits, it’s biggest downfall is that your body can’t easily absorb it.

Keep reading to find out how you can boost your body’s ability to absorb curcumin.

Why Is Turmeric So Good For You?

Turmeric is a highly effective nutritional supplement that can benefit both your body and mind.

You can easily include turmeric in your routine through cooking, or take it as a supplement.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the potential benefits that turmeric has for your physical and mental health.

1. It Has Powerful Anti Inflammatory Properties

Uncontrolled inflammation can lead to numerous health problems.

Curcumin has anti inflammatory properties that can help prevent the development of inflammation and its related health issues.

Incorporating curcumin into your routine can relieve the symptoms of more serious inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Curcumin can potentially be as effective as some anti inflammatory medicines, but without the adverse effects.

It may also help in reducing chronic pain and discomfort.

2. It Can Improve Your Mental Health

Curcumin may be beneficial in helping to improve and maintain your mental health and brain activity.

Your brain contains neurons, which are used to communicate with your body’s nervous system.

BDNF, or brain derived neurotrophic factor, is one of the main engines that helps form new connections between neurons.

It can also help increase their number in parts of your brain.

Curcumin’s ability to boost BDNF levels can help improve your mental performance and your mental health.

It can contribute to improving memory and concentration.

Furthermore, curcumin may be able to boost serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain.

These hormones are associated with increasing feelings of happiness and pleasure.

Of course, this can have an overall positive effect on your mental health and help combat depression.

3. It Helps Manage Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress occurs when your body’s antioxidant levels are low.

This condition can result in free radicals interacting with various substances in your body, like proteins, DNA, and fatty acids.

Free radicals are reactive molecules that can cause oxidative damage and lead to a number of chronic diseases.

Theses diseases can include:

Cancer
Diabetes
Alzheimer’s
Hypertension
Heart disease

RELATED: Eating A Type 1 Diabetes Diet

Due to its powerful antioxidant properties, curcumin can help combat oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals.

Curcumin may also be able to interrupt active free radicals and promote the function of other antioxidants in your body.

Curcumin may be able to prevent damage caused by oxidative stress by protecting your body against free radicals and helping you to maintain your overall well being.

4. It Can Help Manage Depression

Curcumin can also help you in managing mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression.

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by a continuous feeling of sadness or apathy.

It can cause serious symptoms that impact your mood, thoughts, and ability to carry out daily activities.

Depression can occur for long periods of time, or you may experience depression seasonally in colder weather.

Curcumin can help boost BDNF levels, or brain derived neurotrophic factor.

Studies show that a reduction of BDNF is linked to the development of depression.

Other factors that may contribute to depression include inflammation, damage from free radicals, and hypothyroidism.

Curcumin may be able to relieve the effects of these health issues, which can reduce your risk of developing depression.

Turmeric has the additional benefit of being high in omega 3 fatty acids, which are generally considered to be good for cognitive health.

5. It May Help Reduce Your Risk Of Cancer

Curcumin supplements may play a role in reducing your risk of developing some forms of cancer.

Particularly cancers that affect your digestive system, such as colorectal cancer.

There is also preliminary evidence that curcumin may to the death of cancerous cells, help reduce metastasis, the spread of cancer, and help reduce angiogenesis, the growth of blood vessels within tumors.

However, much more research is needed in these areas.

Should You Eat Turmeric?

Turmeric has a strong, pungent taste that not everybody enjoys.

But if you’re a fan of Indian cooking, you’ve already got some great options.

If you include turmeric in your own cooking, it’s a good idea to eat it along with black pepper.

This is because curcumin on its own has poor bioavailability.

This means your body has difficulty actually making use of it.

But there’s a compound in black pepper called piperine, which increases curcumin’s bioavailability by 2000%.

Yes, 2000% – that’s not a typo!

Aside from its ability to boost the absorption of curcumin, piperine also has its own set of health benefits.

It also has anti inflammatory properties, and may help alleviate headaches, nausea, and other symptoms related to digestive issues.

If you don’t enjoy the taste of turmeric, supplements are a good alternative to ensure you’re getting an adequate amount to reap its health benefits.

Make sure to speak with your naturopathic doctor before adding any new supplements to your routine, though.

Can You Take Too Much Turmeric?

Generally speaking, taking turmeric, or curcumin, is considered safe.

Taking it in large doses over a long period of time, however, may cause some people to experience abdominal issues like nausea or diarrhea.

They may also experience headaches and develop skin rashes.

Large doses of turmeric may also have adverse effects when taken alongside certain pharmaceuticals or for people who have certain health conditions.

People with diabetes, iron deficiency, gallbladder or kidney issues, bleeding disorders, or those who are pregnant or nursing, should limit the amount of turmeric they take.

As always, make sure to speak with your naturopathic doctor before taking turmeric or curcumin supplements.