5 Amazing Health Facts About Curcumin And Turmeric

Highlights

1. Turmeric is a well-known spice with several health benefits.
2. Turmeric has been used as an ancient herbal remedy for the last 6000 years.
3. Health benefits of turmeric is primarily due to curcumin.
4. Curcumin is the main active component of turmeric.
5. Curcumin is known for its antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties.
6. BCM-95 is a patented curcumin formula that contains curcuminoids and essential oil.
7. Curcumin is often taken along will piperine that increases its effect by 200%

Overview

What is curcumin?

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a herb that is well-known for its numerous therapeutic properties. Turmeric has been used as an ancient herbal remedy for the last 6,000 years.

Quick Fact: The primary chemical components in turmeric are a group of compounds called curcuminoids.

Curcuminoids include curcumin, desmethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Other important volatile oils in turmeric include a- and b-turmerone, ar-turmerone, a-curcumen, and zingiberene.

How it works

Curcumin is the main active component in turmeric and also the component with the most health benefits. Scientists attribute much of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of turmeric to curcumin.

Quick Fact: Curcumin is often consumed along with black pepper. The compound piperine in black pepper is known to significantly boost the bioavailability of curcumin.

Benefits

What are the benefits of curcumin?

1. Improves brain health and cognition.
2. Powerful antioxidant.
3. Reduces symptoms of depression.
4. Improves how the body uses glucose.
5. Curcumin is a known stress-buster.
6. Relieves symptoms of migraine.
7. Improves attention and memory.
8. Improves gut health.

Quick Fact: A study conducted on Indian subjects showed that individuals who took curcumin experienced a 63% improvement in symptoms of depression.

How does turmeric improve brain health?

1. Turmeric enhances the production of brain cells.
2. Increases the release of the “feel good” neurotransmitters: dopamine and serotonin.
3. Acts as an antidepressant.

What are the antioxidant effects of turmeric?

Antioxidant effects of curcumin are due to the following:
1. Protects the brain from inflammation.
2. Protects the mitochondria from free radicals.
3. And is a powerful antioxidant and protects the brain from chronic inflammation.

Curcumin reduces stresses

Turmeric is used in traditional Chinese medicine to manage stress and depression-related disorders. Moreover, animal studies have shown that curcumin blocked stress-induced physical responses in the brain.\n

Sources

What are the available forms of turmeric?

Turmeric extract is available as a powder, tablets, capsules, tincture, and tea. Curcumin is a natural chemical that is extracted from turmeric.

BCM95 is a standardized extract of turmeric containing curcumin-essential oil complex of 86% curcuminoids and 7-9% essential oils. This is the only extract that includes turmeric volatile oils which is important for cognitive health.

Dosage

What is the recommended dosage of curcumin?

Turmeric rhizome contains only about 5% curcumin. Hence turmeric supplements are necessary in order to get sufficient amount of curcumin. However, curcumin and turmeric are poorly absorbed by the gut. The most efficient way to boost bioavailability is to combine turmeric or curcumin with piperine.

Quick Fact: Studies have shown that combining curcumin with 20 mg of piperine increases its bioavailability by 200%.

AIWO Recommendation: Curcumin rich (BCM -95 –Bioavailable Turmeric extract with Piperine) 500 mg Capsule- One capsule in the morning and one at night after dinner.

Safety and Side Effects

What are the common side effects?

Taking large amounts of turmeric for extended periods could lead to an upset stomach, and possibly ulcers.

Individuals suffering from gallstones are recommended not to take turmeric supplements. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use turmeric supplements. Turmeric is a also a blood thinner. Patients who are due for a surgery are usually advised to cease taking turmeric supplements 2 weeks before surgery. Turmeric can also strengthen the effects of blood thinning medications.