The name curcumin derives from kuṟkumam (Sanskrit: कुर्कुम), which literally means "yellow earth" (Sanskrit kuṟku- "yellow"; mam "earth"). The root word for yellow in Sanskrit is also haldi (Sanskrit: हल्दी) – meaning "turmeric".
Curcumin is a natural compound found in the spice turmeric. This beneficial substance comes with a variety of health benefits that are perfect for any lifestyle. Turmeric contains around 3 percent curcumin. For example, 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder contains about 150 mg of curcumin.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) roots. Picture by: Simon A. Eugster, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Turmeric, which has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, has shown positive effects on many different areas of human health. The use of turmeric as a natural remedy dates back to the ancient Egyptians and Indians. And the best part is that curcumin can be taken in supplement form! Here are various benefits of curcumin for your health.
Section: The Weight Loss Benefits of Curcumin
Section: The Stress Relief Benefits of Curcumin
Section: The Anti-Cancer Benefits of Curcumin
Section: Conclusion
The Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of Curcumin
Inflammation is your body's response to foreign invaders like bacteria or viruses and internal threats like tissue damage or toxins. It's an attempt by your immune system to fight infection and heal injury.
In most cases, acute inflammation — short-term inflammation caused by minor infections or injuries — is beneficial for your health as it helps you heal from illness or injury. But when inflammation becomes chronic due to poor diet or lifestyle habits, it can become harmful and lead to chronic pain and disease.
Curcumin is an all-natural, anti-inflammatory agent that, unlike over-the-counter medications, can help relieve inflammation without the negative side effects. A study reported that curcumin suppressed inflammation by regulating the expression of genes involved in inflammatory processes. curcumin exerts anti-inflammatory and growth inhibitory effects in TNF-alpha-treated HaCaT cells through inhibition of NF-kappaB and MAPK pathways (*1).
The Weight Loss Benefits of Curcumin
One of the most important benefits of curcumin is its ability to help you lose weight. Curcumin can help you lose weight by increasing your metabolism and burning fat for energy.
Curcumin may also work to burn fat by changing the way fat cells grow. According to a study published in the journal Obesity in January 2017, curcumin can influence genes involved in body fat production. In animal studies, curcumin reduced the number of fat cells while encouraging existing cells to shrink.
A study from Tufts University in Boston found that when overweight and obese adults with metabolic syndrome added 500 milligrams of curcumin to their diet each day for nine months, they lost 18 percent more weight than those who did not consume the compound.
The Stress Relief Benefits of Curcumin
There is a lot of research going on in the field of curcumin and its effects on relieving stress.
Curcumin’s antioxidant property helps by reducing oxidative stress in the body, which can be caused by free radicals. These free radicals can damage cells and tissues in our body causing a lot of health issues such as high blood pressure and heart diseases. These factors can cause stress on their own.
Moreover, if we take this into account that the production of cortisol increases when you are under stress, the oxidative stress in your body also increases. So, it’s better to use curcumin as natural medicine for stress and reduce its effects on your body by using curcumin supplementation.
The Digestive Aid Benefits of Curcumin
Curcumin appears to be especially helpful for the digestive system. It's been found to improve inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. In one study, it helped over two-thirds of patients with ulcerative colitis go into remission. It's also been shown to help relieve indigestion and other digestive problems like bloating and gas.
Curcumin's ability to help our digestive system stay healthy may be due to its antioxidant properties, which plays an important role in how our bodies handle food, support digestion, and absorb nutrients.
The Arthritis Pain Relief Benefits of Curcumin
Curcumin is a polyphenol with anti-inflammatory properties that helps to reduce joint inflammation associated with arthritis. It’s also a powerful antioxidant that can protect cells from free radical damage, which may play a role in osteoarthritis (OA) progression.
Curcumin can help to relieve arthritis pain and swelling by lowering histamine levels, inhibiting prostaglandins and leukotrienes, reducing inflammation and fighting free radicals.
It may also be useful in people with rheumatoid arthritis due to its ability to inhibit tissue necrosis factor (TNF).
The Brain Protecting Benefits of Curcumin
Curcumin has extensive antioxidant effects which protect against free radical damage that can cause brain cells to die and age prematurely. Curcumin acts by neutralizing free radicals, as well as stimulating the body’s own antioxidant enzymes.
Studies have also shown a connection between curcumin and improved brain function. These studies indicate that curcumin may be able to help with memory loss and protect against Alzheimer’s Disease
While curcumin can't cure Alzheimer's or dementia, it may be able to help slow down their onset by reducing inflammation in the brain.* One study showed that people who took 90 mg of curcumin twice daily had better memory and attention than those who did not. A separate study found that consuming just 500 mg of curcumin was enough to improve mood and overall mental function in people with mild memory problems.
Curcumin also promote healthy aging by slowing down age-related brain deterioration.
The Depression Preventing Benefits of Curcumin
A study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research found that curcumin may prevent depression. Curcumin works similarly to many anti-depressants by increasing serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain.
Depression affects nearly 17% of Americans at some point during their lifetime, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Many people avoid using anti-depressants because they don’t want to deal with the side effects or become dependent on medication. Curcumin offers an all-natural alternative to pharmaceuticals without risk of dependency or adverse side effects.
Curcumin helps prevent depression by improving neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, as well as by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
Neurogenesis is defined as the growth of new nerve cells in the brain, while neuroplasticity is defined as new connections forming between neurons in the brain. Both neurogenesis and neuroplasticity have been shown to be impaired in depressed individuals. Curcumin has been shown to help improve both these processes, which can help improve symptoms of depression.
The Anti-Cancer Benefits of Curcumin
There have been studies that show that curcumin may have cancer-fighting properties. It’s thought that curcumin can help stop the development of blood vessels in tumors and prevent cancer cells from spreading throughout the body.
Studies also suggest that curcumin may be useful in preventing cancer from occurring in the first place, especially cancers of the digestive system, such as colorectal cancer.
In a study it was reported that curcumin can kill a wide variety of tumor cell types through diverse mechanisms.(*2)
Although curcumin has many benefits for cancer patients, it does not seem to be effective as a standalone treatment for cancer. Therefore, it’s important to talk to your doctor about how curcumin might fit into your treatment plan.
Conclusion
Curcumin has been proven to have some significant health benefits and given its safety and relative low cost compared to other drugs, curcumin is a valid option for adding a little more flavor to your plate. This post will hopefully convince you of the many benefits of curcumin. It’s a very effective supplement and worth trying whether or not you have any particular health issues.
(*1) Cho JW, Lee KS, Kim CW. Curcumin attenuates the expression of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha as well as cyclin E in TNF-alpha-treated HaCaT cells; NF-kappaB and MAPKs as potential upstream targets. Int J Mol Med. 2007 Mar;19(3):469-74. PMID: 17273796.
(*2) Ravindran J, Prasad S, Aggarwal BB. Curcumin and cancer cells: how many ways can curry kill tumor cells selectively?. AAPS J. 2009;11(3):495-510. doi:10.1208/s12248-009-9128-x
WITH THE GOODNESS OF CURCUMIN ALONG WITH OTHER 37 ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
Always consult your Doctor/Dietician before taking any supplements.
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
