Summer is here, and that means outdoor adventures are just around the corner. But for those with chronic pain, digestive problems, or other inflammation-related health concerns, a trip to the amusement park or the beach may seem out of reach.
If you struggle with health problems related to inflammation, such as chronic pain, no doubt someone has suggested you try turmeric. Long prized by the ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese medical traditions, this bright orange spice packs a powerful health punch.
Yoga gurus, western doctors, and scientific researchers alike seem to be raving about turmeric’s benefits. But what is behind the turmeric trend? What makes turmeric so special, and how can you benefit from its star chemical compound, curcumin?
With so much buzz and so many choices, it can get confusing! Can curcumin help you feel your best this summer? We looked beyond the hype to learn the truth about this superpowered spice.
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric is an earthy, bitter root prized for its flavor, color, and health benefits.
Its use in medicine and healing dates back thousands of years. Ayurvedic practitioners swear by turmeric, and its many benefits are now being confirmed in scientific studies.
The turmeric plant is a flowering perennial native to India and Indonesia. It is a member of the ginger family. Easily recognizable because of its vibrant orange color, turmeric helps give curry powder its distinctive zing. This useful plant can flavor food, dye fabrics, and calm a sour stomach.
But that’s just the beginning of what this powerhouse plant can do! Modern science has confirmed that turmeric may reduce inflammation, improve gut health, boost immune function, and more.
What makes turmeric so powerful? Scientists have now isolated the compound that gives turmeric its array of healing qualities: curcumin.
What is Curcumin?
While turmeric on its own can give your health a boost, its main component, curcumin, is the real star of the show. Curcumin, a bright yellow nutritional compound, is what gives turmeric its punch. Curcumin is responsible for both the distinctive color and bioactive properties of turmeric.
The curcumin compound has now been isolated by scientists, enabling us to reap the full benefits of this medicinal plant. When taken regularly in an absorbable form, curcumin can boost overall health and assist the body in fighting disease.
While the benefits of curcumin are still being studied, it is believed to boost health and well-being in a few different ways. Curcumin may –
- Fight inflammation
- Improve gut health
- Increase memory function
- Strengthen the immune system
- Prevent cell damage caused by free radicals
Curcumin is a highly beneficial compound. However, it needs a helping hand with being absorbed in the body. Studies have shown that curcumin’s effectiveness relies on this absorption. It is very important to choose an easily absorbable form of curcumin in order to get the full benefit of this colorful compound.
What are the Benefits of Curcumin?
Recently there has been a lot of buzz about curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties, but that is just one of curcumin’s outstanding benefits. Curcumin may boost immune function, improve gut health and memory, and fight free radicals. Evidence suggests that curcumin can play a role in fighting or treating many conditions, including –
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Arthritis
- Ulcerative colitis
- Depression and anxiety
- Pain
With so many potential benefits, adding curcumin to your routine is a no-brainer. Let’s take a closer look at this compound’s superpowers.
Anti-Inflammatory
Nothing can ruin your summer vacation quite like pain. Conditions such as arthritis or painful injuries can keep you on the couch and out of the sun. If you’re feeling sore, achy, and sluggish, inflammation might be contributing.
Inflammation is believed to play a role in health problems, such as –
- Arthritis
- Alzheimer’s
- Endometriosis
- Ulcerative colitis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Diabetes
- Depression
Systemic inflammation, often caused by stress, can contribute to a whole host of health concerns and leave you with no energy. In addition, inflammation may cause or worsen some diseases and impact system-wide wellness. In short, everyone can benefit from reducing inflammation!
Evidence shows that curcumin is a powerful natural anti-inflammatory. Curcumin has been scientifically proven to help reduce inflammation, ease painful symptoms, and improve overall well-being. By reducing inflammation, a regular curcumin supplement can help you feel your best this summer.
Support Gut Health
Stomach problems such as indigestion, pain, bloating, nausea, and bathroom issues can take you out of the game. Those who suffer from food sensitivities or chronic conditions such as Irritable Bowel Disease may find themselves on the sidelines of summer fun.
One piece of the digestive puzzle is the gut microbiome. As with inflammation, our gut microbiota is linked to our general health and wellness. A growing body of evidence suggests that our gut flora has a huge impact on our overall health.
While curcumin has been known to ease digestive problems for thousands of years, its effect on the gut microbiome is only now being understood. Curcumin appears to help balance gut flora, allowing the good bacteria to thrive and improving digestion and general health. And that gets you off the couch and back out in the sun!
Improve Memory
Summer parties, picnics, and concerts are a blast, but you have to remember they are coming up! Whether it is the normal cognitive decline of aging or a health condition affecting memory, forgetfulness is no fun.
But there is good news! Studies have now confirmed what Ayurveda has always known: there is a clear correlation between curcumin and improved working memory. It has even shown to improve memory function in Alzheimer’s patients, although more research is needed.
Poor working memory can leave you feeling foggy. If you have noticed a decline in your memory function, starting a high-quality curcumin supplement could give you a boost!
Immune System Booster
These days, maintaining a strong, healthy immune system is more important than ever. We have all had enough of staying home sick! One way to make sure you don’t miss out on this summer’s fun is to strengthen your immune system with curcumin.
A weakened immune system means more illnesses and longer recovery times. Boosting your immune system can help you fight disease and feel your best. There is evidence that curcumin can act as an immune system modulator. This can strengthen the body’s immune response and help protect against some diseases.
If your immune system has been weakened by stress or illness, or if you find yourself catching every bug and not bouncing back, curcumin could help boost your immune function and get you back to the beach.
Antioxidant
Everyone can benefit from a good antioxidant! As we digest our food and move through the world, some of our cells naturally produce free radicals. Free radicals are our cells’ waste products. When free radicals build up, they can contribute to inflammation and all the problems that go with it.
Free radicals have been linked to diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer. We can defend against free radicals by introducing antioxidants.
Antioxidants are substances that fight the damage caused by free radicals. Curcumin has been shown to be a potent antioxidant. This means it can help prevent and repair the cell damage free radicals can cause, supporting overall health.
If you’re looking for more antioxidants to benefit your skin this summer, check out our post, “Naturally Boost Your Skin’s Antioxidants This Summer.”
Risks of Curcumin
Curcumin is generally recognized as safe and virtually risk-free. Be careful with the dietary turmeric–too much can cause diarrhea or other stomach issues. Always check with your doctor before beginning a new supplement, especially if you are pregnant or nursing.
Curcumin’s low-risk profile makes it an easy choice for those who wish to boost their overall well-being.
Is Curcumin For You?
With a myriad of scientifically proven health benefits and more potential powers being studied, most people could benefit from adding curcumin to their routine. If you suffer from inflammation-related health conditions or are simply not feeling your best, curcumin could be a game-changer.
Curcumin may be particularly beneficial for those who are looking to –
- Reduce inflammation
- Support gut health
- Improve memory
- Boost immune function
- Fight free radicals
With no known risks and a host of potential benefits, curcumin should have a place in every supplement routine.
How to Benefit From Curcumin
With all the evidence backing it, adding curcumin to your health regimen is an obvious choice. But what is the best way to get curcumin into your system? Unfortunately, curcumin is not easily absorbed by the body.
These days curcumin-rich foods and supplements are readily available. However, simply consuming turmeric or taking a supplement is not enough to give you the full benefits of this wondrous compound. If the curcumin is not absorbed into the body, it will simply be discarded as waste.
It is very important to give your curcumin absorption a boost. Choosing a high-quality supplement will ensure you are reaping curcumin’s maximum benefit.
Diet
Many people choose to eat a diet rich in turmeric. The turmeric craze of recent years means you can find ample recipes using the spice online, featuring everything from turmeric scrambled eggs to turmeric smoothies.
While this is a healthy and flavorful choice, the body will only absorb small amounts of curcumin this way. Curcumin is fat-soluble, so always include a fat in your recipe to increase absorption. Remember, any curcumin not absorbed will be discarded as waste.
It is difficult to get the full benefits of curcumin from diet alone. But we still recommend incorporating curry into your summer picnic menu!
Supplements
When it comes to curcumin, there really is nothing like a good supplement. Now that scientists have isolated this powerful compound, getting it efficiently is easier than ever. But just like with dietary curcumin, getting the body to absorb curcumin supplements can be a challenge.
The turmeric trend of the last few years has given us dozens of curcumin supplements. With an array of brands and formulations to choose from, it can be hard to pick!
Remember to choose a high-quality supplement and always take it with something fatty to increase absorption. Some brands have more absorbable formulations than others, so do your research.
Curcleve
If you are looking for a highly absorbable, top-quality curcumin supplement, Curcleve is a great choice. It’s scientifically formulated for maximum absorbability and potency. Ginger and Astragin (an absorbable blend of ginseng and astragalus) round out this powerhouse supplement.
Curcleve is made with Longvida Optimized Curcumin, a patented form of curcumin designed for maximum absorption. One daily dose stays in your system for 24 hours, giving you round-the-clock anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting benefits.
Curcleve is all-natural, and since it is formulated for potency and absorption, you know you are getting the most out of your supplement. With the added power of ginger, ginseng, and astragalus, Curcleve is a healthful heavy-hitter.
Can Tumeric and Curcumin Be Your Saving Grace?
The turmeric craze is not just hype. There is real science backing the benefits of this bright orange spice. Turmeric’s star chemical compound, curcumin, can help to reduce inflammation, boost gut health, help with memory loss, strengthen the immune system, and act as a potent antioxidant. What a powerful plant!
Since curcumin is not easily absorbed into the body, it is most beneficial to take a high-quality curcumin supplement formulated for maximum absorption. Make sure you are combining your curcumin with fatty food to increase absorption so you can get the maximum benefit of this super-powered compound.
All the excitement of summer can be not-so-exciting if you are not feeling your best. Pain, digestive issues, memory problems, or a weak immune system can take you away from the things you want to do. Taken regularly, a good absorbable curcumin supplement can help keep you in the game this summer. Give it a try!
