Turmeric is a spice commonly used in India and Asian curry dishes and has long been used in those countries for its amazing health benefits. Curcumin is the most powerful active anti-inflammatory compound within turmeric and has shown to be a suppressor of chronic inflammation-related diseases. Many Asian cultures use turmeric in nearly every meal and rave of its anti-aging and medicinal benefits.
6 Benefits of Turmeric/Curcumin:
Curcumin is a natural anti – inflammatory agent. Chronic inflammation is a contributor to many common Western diseases. Curcumin can inhibit many of the molecules that play a role in excessive inflammation. Curcumin has been shown to be as powerful in its effectiveness as some anti-inflammatory drugs.
Curcumin has powerful antioxidant effects. It neutralizes free radicals on its own, then stimulates the body’s own antioxidant fighting enzymes.
Curcumin boosts levels of the brain hormone BDNF, which increases the growth of new neurons and fights various degenerative processes in the brain and may be effective in fighting diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Curcumin has been shown to have beneficial effects on several factors known to play a role in heart disease.
Curcumin affects changes at the molecular level that may help prevent and perhaps even treat cancer. Arthritis is a common disorder characterized by joint inflammation. Several studies show that it can help treat symptoms of arthritis.
Curcumin has been shown to be as effective as prozac in alleviating the symptoms of depression.