Curcumin – what are its uses and health benefits?

Turmeric is a plant that occurs naturally mainly in Africa, Asia and Australia. Its roots are best known as a spice used in Indian cuisine and as a yellow dye in the textile industry. However, it has one extremely valuable ingredient used in medicine – curcumin – famous for its healing and health-promoting properties. It has been used to treat wounds since ancient times and is also used for digestive problems.

Curcumin – uses and properties affecting the body

Curcumin is an ingredient with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is also known for its analgesic effects. It protects the body against many ailments and chronic diseases, including brain, heart and blood pressure disorders. It has a particularly positive effect on the heart, helping to prevent cardiovascular disease and improving overall health, which leads to slower ageing.

It regulates cholesterol levels and has a beneficial effect on the condition of the joints, as well as alleviating existing inflammation. Curcumin is also successfully used in the treatment of depression – it has a positive effect on the action of serotonin, the so-called happiness hormone, which is responsible for emotional balance. Therefore, the most frequently mentioned beneficial properties of curcumin include:

• antidepressant properties – thanks to its positive effect on brain function, curcumin can significantly influence the balance between serotonin and dopamine, among others, which is extremely helpful in combating depression or anxiety.
• antioxidant and antifungal properties – turmeric contains an extremely powerful antioxidant substance that is responsible for fighting free radicals that attack the body's cells, leading to various types of diseases. In addition, curcumin is known for its properties that facilitate digestion and proper metabolism.
• anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties – curcumin is a powerful agent that treats and prevents inflammation in the body. Taking dietary supplements containing curcumin prevents bacteria that can weaken the body from entering it. The anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin provide reliable protection.
• anti-ageing properties – using turmeric extract as a dietary supplement, without the need to apply it to the skin, effectively helps to eliminate wrinkles and improves skin quality – rejuvenating it from within. Dietary supplements with turmeric are very often chosen by women who want to maintain a youthful appearance for many years.
• immunity-boosting properties – using curcumin together with vitamin C can be extremely effective in boosting immunity. This combination of substances provides much greater immunity benefits than regular supplements containing only one ingredient.

Curcumin is mainly used as a preventive rather than a curative agent. It is very often used as a dietary supplement for women due to its ability to improve the appearance and quality of the skin during use, as well as a substance that removes toxins from the body and accelerates metabolism. Research into the beneficial aspects of this chemical compound is still ongoing, although its health-promoting effects have been known for centuries and have been scientifically proven.

Turmeric and curcumin

Turmeric should not be confused with curcumin. The former is a plant from whose root a chemical compound called curcumin is derived. Ground and dried turmeric root is most often used as a spice and colouring agent. By consuming turmeric, we provide our body with all the essential nutrients it contains, including curcumin.

Curcumin as a dietary supplement

Due to its very low absorption rate, in order to enjoy the benefits of curcumin, one would have to eat several kilograms of dried and ground turmeric root, which is neither healthy nor safe. Consuming too much turmeric can inevitably lead to gallbladder problems, which can manifest themselves as severe, sharp abdominal pain. To avoid this, a dietary supplement containing only curcumin, which can be taken in small amounts, has been developed. In addition, this supplement contains several times more curcuminoids, i.e. curcumin, than the ordinary spice. Turmeric is a pungent spice, so eating it in large quantities would not be comfortable for people who do not like spicy additives.

Curcumin - dosage

The dosage of curcumin is extremely simple. When it comes to taking curcumin capsules, the usual regimen is as follows: one capsule three times a day with meals. If you are suffering from arthritis, the daily dose should be increased. Dietary supplements containing curcumin are often taken in combination with coenzyme Q10, which is responsible for reducing the signs of ageing, and glucosamine, which stimulates collagen synthesis.

Can curcumin be dangerous?

Turmeric has relatively strong blood-thinning and anticoagulant properties, so people suffering from blood clotting problems, those before and after surgery, and those struggling with the following conditions should be cautious when taking it:

• type 1 diabetes
• stomach ulcers
• allergies
• increased stomach acidity
• increased intracranial pressure

Curcumin is also not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Turmeric - a miracle of nature

Turmeric, closely related to the equally wonderful plant ginger, has amazing healing properties that were known and used by ancient physicians and Hindu yogis. ‘Golden milk’ was the name given to a drink made from milk and yellow powder, prepared by adepts of a spiritual development system, thanks to which they remained physically active even in very old age. This is undoubtedly due to the beneficial effect of curcumin on the joints, thanks to its anti-degenerative properties. Curcumin has an extremely beneficial effect on digestive problems due to its antifungal properties – it easily fights fungi from the Candida family.

In addition to its many health benefits, the taste of turmeric should not be overlooked. It is a spice that can transform a bland meal into something full of flavour, adding incredible colour, which also makes our food more appealing. In addition, if you want to add a little health to your cooked dinner, it is recommended to cook turmeric for at least seven to eight minutes to release its health-promoting elements, and to make them more easily digestible, black pepper should also be added.

Golden milk - what is it?

Golden milk, although it sounds enigmatic, is nothing more than a mixture containing turmeric paste, milk (usually plant-based), black pepper, almond oil and honey. To further enrich the flavour and health benefits, you can add ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg to the drink. This drink has anti-inflammatory properties, strengthens the body, warms you up, improves your well-being and boosts your immunity. Consuming golden milk during an infection helps to quickly fight off the illness, even without additional medication from the chemist.

Indian cuisine, which is probably best known for its use of turmeric in dishes, has become extremely popular, and as a result, there are many recipes for dishes containing this wonderful root spice, inspired by India, appearing online and in cookbooks.

The anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin

Curcumin is the most powerful natural substance for alleviating the most common ailments. It has a beneficial effect primarily on joint inflammation, degeneration and rheumatic diseases. As a plant extract, curcumin is safe and completely free of side effects.

Inflammation results from various types of injuries, during which bacteria are introduced into the body. Swelling, redness, elevated temperature and pain begin to develop – these are typical symptoms of inflammation – and the body begins to ‘fight the external aggression’. Inflammation can be a one-off occurrence, but it can also develop into a chronic disease when the defence mechanism no longer has a sufficient defensive response.

Inflammation occurs very often when fighting a serious disease, often hindering and sometimes even preventing treatment for a certain period of time. To reduce inflammation, it is necessary to take anti-inflammatory substances. At this point, the therapeutic effect of curcumin should be mentioned – it is an excellent anti-inflammatory drug due to its ability to inhibit the activity of enzymes responsible for the production and maintenance of inflammation.

Turmeric is a salvation in the autumn and winter months

As it gets colder outside, it is important to take care of our immune systems. Turmeric, which is widely available in every shop, is a reliable remedy. It can be found in powder form, as a spice, whole as a root, or processed, for example as a ready-made paste.

In autumn and winter, teas containing not only turmeric but also ginger, cloves and citrus fruits are extremely popular, as they support the body, which is vulnerable to infections during this period.