5 Important Benefits of Turmeric Curcumin

Have you ever had a “random” ache or pain—maybe a brief headache or debilitating migraine? What about the common cold? Or maybe you suffer from allergies, asthma, or eczema? Perhaps you are overweight and cannot shed those extra pounds.  

You may be asking yourself what these conditions have in common—and the answer is chronic inflammation. Recent research has showed alarming statistics about the prevalence of certain health conditions that are linking with chronic, low-grade inflammation in the body—and it only seems to be getting worse. 

Turmeric Curcumin Benefits Revealed

1. Powerful Anti-Inflammatory 

Without a doubt, curcumin is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory agents out there. In fact, research shows that it is way more effective at reducing inflammation than aspirin or ibuprofen. This is because curcumin has been shown to inhibit the activity and synthesis of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) and 5-lipooxygenase (5-LOX)—2 enzymes involved in inflammation. In one study, postoperative patients who were given curcumin has less inflammation than patients who were not. Another study on ulcerative colitis patients found curcumin to be an effective and safe treatment, minimizing flare-ups and reducing symptoms. In addition, there are hundreds of studies suggesting the efficacy of curcumin in treating and preventing Alzheimer’s disease. This is just the tip of the iceberg in research and trials which prove the powerful healing benefits of curcumin. There are so many diseases with underlying inflammation which can be improved with the use of curcumin. 

2. Cancer Prevention and Treatment 

Cancer is a big, scary word that nobody wants to face. In the annual report released by the American Cancer Society, an estimated 1,688,780 new cancer cases would be diagnosed and 600,920 deaths would occur in 2017. Almost everyone knows someone who has been diagnosed with cancer. Curcumin has antioxidant properties—meaning, it neutralizes free radicals in the body which alter cell DNA, increasing risk of cancer. Not only is it effective in cancer prevention, but curcumin also has chemopreventive effects on people who already have cancer. Its anti-tumor properties have been observed in cases of colon cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer, among many others. Curcumin can not only prevent and treat cancer, but it can also help with chemotherapy resistance in some cancer patients. Turmeric should never be overlooked as a supplement in cancer prevention and treatment.  

3. Cardiovascular Health 

Curcumin has a direct effect on lowing ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol levels and reducing hypertension (high blood pressure). Turmeric curcumin has antioxidant effects and therefor lowers oxidized LDL levels in the body. High levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis—thickening and hardening of the artery walls which can cause a heart attack or stroke. In addition, the antioxidant properties of curcumin lower hypertension and oxidative stress which are responsible for vascular dysfunction. It is the hope that doctors will begin to turn to effective and natural blood-pressure-reducing and cholesterol-lowering medication—like curcumin—which come with no dangerous side effects, unlike their statin-drug counterparts. 

4. Skin Care 

Turmeric can keep your skin smooth and healthy—preventing breakouts, rashes, and scars. It not only has anti-inflammatory effects on the skin, but its anti-septic properties can keep acne at bay. Skin conditions caused by autoimmune responses including eczema, psoriasis, allergic dermatitis, lupus, and many others can be treated by ingesting turmeric. Other skin conditions like acne and acne scarring can be treated through topical application. Turmeric speeds up healing and gets redness and irritation under control. For uncomfortable skin conditions, try a turmeric face mask and turmeric supplements for smooth and glowing skin. 

5. Cognition and Mental Health 

Some conditions are not visible, yet they can be debilitation and disabling, and cause a lot of stress. Curcumin is proven to boost concentration and memory retention. It prevents oxidative stress in the brain and stimulates neural activity. This is one of the reasons it can prevent diseases like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Another powerful benefit? Curcumin can correct hormonal imbalances that cause depression. It may even be more effective and safer than using anti-depressant drugs like Prozac or Zoloft, which come with dangerous side-effects.