Health Benefits of Adding Curcumin to Your Nutrition
If you’ve ever had Indian food, I’m sure you are aware of the spice turmeric. It is deep yellow in color and gives some amazing flavor to whatever food it is added to. With that being said, adding complexity to foods isn’t it’s only use. In fact, it has been used for medicinal purposes for years to improve health. Turmeric contains curcumin and it’s for that reason that you might be used to hearing them used interchangeably. What’s so great about this spice and why should you consider adding it to your supplement regimen?
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before starting any exercise program, changing your daily nutrition, or adding any supplements to your regimen.
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What is Curcumin?
Curcumin is a natural compound found in turmeric, a yellow spice commonly used in cooking, especially in Indian cuisine. It is known for its bright yellow color and is the main active ingredient in turmeric.
Curcumin has various health benefits. It is an antioxidant, which means it helps protect cells from damage. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can reduce swelling and pain.
People take curcumin as a supplement to help with conditions like arthritis, heart disease, and even certain cancers. However, curcumin is not easily absorbed by the body. To help with this, it’s often taken with black pepper (such as Bioperine) or in special formulations that improve its absorption.
Can Anyone Take Curcumin?
While many people can take curcumin and benefit from its health properties, it is important to consider certain factors before starting it as a supplement. Here are some points to keep in mind:
- General Safety: Curcumin is generally safe for most people when taken in moderate amounts, such as those found in food or typical supplement doses.
- Potential Side Effects: High doses of curcumin might cause digestive issues, such as stomach upset, nausea, or diarrhea. It can also cause headaches and rashes in some individuals.
- Medication Interactions: Curcumin can interact with certain medications. For instance, it may interfere with blood thinners like warfarin, making them more effective and increasing the risk of bleeding. It can also interact with medications for diabetes, leading to low blood sugar levels, or with drugs that reduce stomach acid.
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their healthcare provider before taking curcumin supplements, as its safety in these groups is not well-studied.
- Gallbladder Issues: Individuals with gallbladder problems or gallstones should avoid curcumin supplements, as it can stimulate bile production, potentially worsening these conditions.
- Iron Absorption: Curcumin may interfere with iron absorption, so people with iron deficiency or anemia should be cautious.
- Surgery: Since curcumin can affect blood clotting, it is advisable to stop taking it at least two weeks before scheduled surgery to reduce the risk of bleeding.
Powerful Antioxidant Properties
By now you should have heard of free radicals and that they are constantly at battle with our bodies every day. It’s the job of antioxidants to go out and destroy free radicals before they can do damage to the cells of our body. When free radicals have a chance to destroy, mutate, or alter our cells (even at the cellular DNA level), it can cause us to get sick including life-threatening diseases such as some forms of cancer.
Many people don’t realize that when we are exercising, we are creating free radical damage. Now, the benefits outweigh the risks, but nonetheless, we need to be aware of this fact so that we can properly combat the battle going on inside of our bodies. So often we neglect to worry about the inside and solely focus on what’s on the outside (our appearance). However, it’s the inside that can cause serious illnesses to take over our cells and for that reason, we need to do everything we can to fight free radical damage.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Curcumin
If you suffer from arthritis or joint pain (regardless if it is acute or chronic), curcumin might be a great supplement for your ailments. Inflammation can not only cause pain that we can physically feel, but it can also work at the cellular level (similar to free radicals) and bring on many different forms of diseases.
Related Article: Bioperine Supplement — A Black Pepper Bioavailability Enhancer
By decreasing inflammation in the body, you can get some relief from the joint pain you might be experiencing as well as better protecting your overall health.
Heart Health Benefits
Again, too many individuals focus on their appearance on the outside when on the inside they could be a ticking time bomb. Cardiac health is something you should be focusing on heavily. Many of us consider cardiovascular activity as helping to improve the health of our heart, which is true, but there’s more that can be done to keep your ticker strong.
Curcumin is potent in that the supplement is able to improve the function of the endothelium of blood vessels. Our endothelium is responsible for promoting normal blood pressure and allowing the arteries to relax – ultimately saving the heart from needing to work harder to push the blood throughout the body. It also helps provide efficient blood flow throughout the body to more effectively transport nutrients.
Why Do You Sometimes See Ginger Added to a Curcumin Supplement?
When you look at the benefits of ginger, they are very similar to that of curcumin. Both have the ability to reduce inflammation as well as contain cancer-fighting properties thanks to their antioxidant content. It only makes sense to combine ingredients that work synergistically to help strengthen and improve health.
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