Turmeric, healing roots with traditions millennia old
Turmeric, the yellow healing spice, has been utilized in Ayurvedic Medicine traditionally in India for several thousand years. Not only is it a principal ingredient in curry dishes, but it has well documented anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Its traditional medicinal applications pertain to neurological, digestive, autoimmune and pulmonary conditions, arthritis, skin disorders, aches and wounds and much more.1
Curcumin is what makes turmeric a potent anti-inflammatory
The turmeric root, Curcuma longa, has hundreds of phytocompounds. However, it is the primary polyphenol known as curcumin that gives the spice its golden color and has been the focus of much clinical research in recent decades.
While its health applications in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia have spanned more than a millennia, turmeric has been a popular health fad item in western culture for not much more than the last two decades. Turmeric has extensive health properties, applicable to a wide array of issues and conditions. Of note, the majority of its health properties are due to the different ways it exerts anti-inflammatory effects.
Have a read below about some of turmeric’s significant health promoting effects.
Health Properties of turmeric - curcumin
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory effects outshine common medications
The journal Oncogene in 2004 published a study demonstrating that curcumin along with resveratrol is an effective alternative to the drugs aspirin, ibuprofen, sulindac, phenylbutazone, naproxen, indomethacin, diclofenac, dexamethasone, celecoxib, and tamoxifen in both anti-inflammatory effects and anti-tumor proliferation.2
Turmeric's role in brain support and neurological repair
Neurogenesis is the natural physiological process of brain cell renewal, the birth of new brain cells. The future of effective treatment and management for neurodegenerative diseases including dementia is highly dependent on research in the field of neurogenesis.
A 2014 study demonstrated that neural stem cells exposed to a fat-soluble component of turmeric (Ar-turmerone) increased growth in both number and differentiation into various neuronal cells.3 Of note is that the study performed both in vitro and in vivo analysis.
The neurogenic property observed in turmeric, among other properties, is why turmeric is a must have in the Empowered Brain Program clinical nutrition protocols. For more on neurogenesis, please read our article Neurogenesis Explained: How to Support Brain Regeneration & Cognitive Function.
Turmeric and Alzheimer’s disease
Amyloid-beta plaques in the brain are a hallmark sign of Alzheimer's disease. While we now know that amyloid-beta plaques are not the cause per se, they do play a critical role in in causing neuronal death advancing the disease.
A 2006 study found that curcuminoids present in turmeric enhance and modulate the immune system’s response for clearing amyloid-beta plaques found in Alzheimer’s.4
Natural intervention strategies for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative conditions involving amyloid-beta plaques may benefit, according to the abovementioned study, from daily turmeric consumption. Our Empowered Brain Program utilizes turmeric with Benfotiamine, a synthetic form of Vitamin B1, together with other natural neuroprotective herbs as a natural intervention for dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Turmeric reduces cholesterol levels
Cholesterol is a vital nutrient-material from which cell membranes, various hormones and Vitamin D are made. In many pathological processes, however, cholesterol accumulates in the arteries causing cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis.
Turmeric may help reduce arterial cholesterol by reducing systemic and local inflammation while simultaneously increasing cellular repair. A 2008 study showed a curcuminoid preparation performed favorably in reducing and modulating the underlying pathology of atherosclerosis. In fact, the effects of the curcuminoid preparation performed at levels comparable to Lipitor/Atorvastatin, the standard cholesterol reducing medications.5
Turmeric as a natural anti-depressant
Turmeric demonstrates considerable anti-depressant qualities and compares favorably to Prozac and other similar medications for treating Major Depressive Disorder. This all because of its capacity to increase the mood and motivation neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain. Importantly, it does not have any undesirable side effects.6,7
Turmeric lowers blood glucose in Diabetes
One 2009 study results concluded that curcumin performed favorably in increasing cellular glucose uptake.8 A different 2012 study demonstrated that it is effective in preventing type-2 diabetes in pre-diabetic patients.9
Turmeric has anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties
Curcumin mediates anti pre-cancer activities by increasing levels of vitamins C and E, and preventing lipid peroxidation and DNA damage.10,11,12
Daily health support with turmeric
One can support general health by including turmeric in a variety of dishes or drinks every day. Certain health concerns including gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s, Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Gastritis, would benefit from consuming the whole powder material. In this manner, turmeric can be used strategically to diffusely coat the gastrointestinal lining. Other conditions such as neurological issues, arthritis or autoimmunity would benefit more directly from a concentrated highly bio-available form of curcumin.
How to make turmeric more bio-available
Curcumin is not well absorbed orally. However taking it with equal amounts of bromelain (pineapple) or in a lipid base such as coconut oil may enhance its absorption. Black pepper also enhances curcumin bioavailability.
Add turmeric to any dish if cooking with oil. Likewise, start the day with a glass of hot water (boiled with turmeric), a squeeze of fresh lemon and a pinch of cayenne pepper. This is one easy way to hydrate the body and reduce inflammation at the start of the day.
Recipe ideas for how to use turmeric at home
- Add dry or freshly grated turmeric to baked vegetables, soups or any other cooked dish.
- Eat more curries!
- Fresh juices – raw beetroot, carrot, apple, ginger and turmeric root
- Carrot Ginger Turmeric Orange Juice – simple as it sounds, great juice to supercharge your energy levels
- Baked Cauliflower – with ginger, turmeric, cumin and sesame seeds, serve alongside quinoa.
- Golden Tea – boil equal amounts of ginger, turmeric (about a finger size each) along with Ceylon cinnamon and cloves. Drink it hot to maximize the bioavailable curcuminoids.
Disclaimer. The information represented in this article is meant to provide concepts from evidence based research. It is not intended to treat or diagnose any health condition. For appropriate treatment methods please contact your healthcare provider
- Aggarwal BB, Sundaram C, Malani N, Ichikawa H (2007). “Curcumin: the Indian solid gold.” Adv Exp Med Biol 595 (1): 1–75.
- Takada Y, et al. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents differ in their ability to suppress NF-kappaB activation, inhibition of expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and cyclin D1, and abrogation of tumor cell proliferation. 2004 Dec 9;23(57):9247-58.
- J Hucklenbroich, R Klein, B Neumaier, R Graf, Gereon R Fink, M Schroeter, M Adele Rueger. Aromatic-turmerone induces neural stem cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Stem Cell Research & Therapy 2014, 5(4): 100.
- Zhang L, et al. Curcuminoids enhance amyloid-beta uptake by macrophages of Alzheimer’s disease patients. J Alzheimers Dis. 2006 Sep;10(1):1-7.
- Usharani P, et al. Effect of NCB-02, atorvastatin and placebo on endothelial function, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, 8-week study. Drugs R D. 2008;9(4):243-50.
- Sanmukhani J. et al. Evaluation of antidepressant like activity of curcumin and its combination with fluoxetine and imipramine: an acute and chronic study. Acta Pol Pharm. 2011 Sep-Oct;68(5):769-75
- Sanmukhani J, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Phytother Res. 2013 Jul 6. Epub 2013 Jul 6.
- Kim T, et al. Curcumin activates AMPK and suppresses gluconeogenic gene expression in hepatoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2009 Oct 16;388(2):377-82. Epub 2009 Aug 8
- Chuengsamarn S, et al. Curcumin extract for prevention of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2012 Nov; 35(11):2121-7. Epub 2012 Jul 6.
- Rai B, Kaur J, Jacobs R, Singh J. Possible action mechanism for curcumin in pre-cancerous lesions based on serum and salivary markers of oxidative stress. J Oral Sci. 2010;52(2):251-6.
- Karmakar S, et al. Curcumin activated both receptor-mediated and mitochondria-mediated proteolytic pathways for apoptosis in human glioblastoma T98G cells. Neurosci Lett. 2006 Oct 16;407(1):53-8. Epub 2006 Sep 1
- Cheng A L, et al. Phase I clinical trial of curcumin, a chemopreventive agent, in patients with high-risk or pre-malignant lesions. Anticancer Res. 2001 Jul-Aug;21(4B):2895-900.
