What Makes Turmeric So Powerful?

There are innumerable health supplements available on the market. From new discoveries to ancient remedies. 

Some pop up and gain traction almost fashionably – before any real scientific backing – later to be proven to be no better for you than a glass of water.

Turmeric is not just one of those trends. This is not a fad. In fact, it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine practices for more than 4000 years.

So let’s look at why this magical ingredient has managed to prove its worth time and time again. 

The many benefits of turmeric

The compounds found in turmeric are called curcuminoids, and the one that does all the work is called curcumin. It’s hailed as a powerful all-rounder supplement due to the sheer quantity of benefits it possesses. Let’s check them out:

Inflammation reducer 

Inflammation is actually crucial to keep you healthy from potentially harmful bacteria and pathogens, but Western culture and lifestyle is often associated with long term low-level inflammation – and this causes common killers such as heart disease and cancer. 

Curcumin has been shown to be as effective as some common NSAIDs in reducing inflammation – it blocks the molecule that causes inflammation response to be triggered in your cells, and is often preferred as it has fewer side effects for long term use than some common NSAIDs.

Powerful antioxidant 

Curcumin neutralises free radicals and boosts the strength of the body’s natural antioxidant enzymes. Free radicals are unstable molecules, and a certain amount do occur in the body. However, lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet and air pollution can increase production. They are a common factor in ageing and have even been linked to causing cancer, so taking turmeric is a double barrier to reducing the effects of them. 

Boosts neurological activity 

Curcumin boosts levels of the BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) growth hormone. This increased level of functionality slows the ageing of the brain, improves memory and can even possibly reverse degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer’s. 

The heart’s best friend 

Curcumin has been found to improve the function of the endothelium (the lining of blood vessels). A healthier endothelium reduces the risk of issues like high blood pressure and blood clots. Combined with the anti-inflammation and antioxidant benefits, you’re going a long way towards prevention of the dreaded heart disease - the world’s number one killer.

Effective against arthritis 

Whether chronic or acute, there are over 100 different types of arthritis. However, whatever type, it’s essentially the inflammation of a joint. It can be caused by those pesky free radicals we talked about earlier. As curcumin is so effective at calming inflammation and neutralizing free radicals, it makes sense that turmeric is hailed as a miracle cure for sufferers. 

Delays ageing effects 

Ageing is accelerated by free radicals, and daily stressors to the skin (think pollution, diet and stress levels). Its antioxidant properties help combat the free radicals from the inside, increasing skin’s moisture retention and smoothing wrinkles. It has also been shown to stimulate skin’s collagen production, which is crucial to have plump, firm, smooth skin. 

The anti-inflammatory effects help soothe redness and irritation in acne, dryness and conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Due to the benefits on the endothelium, circulation is improved and blood flow increased, and this allows more nutrients to be delivered to the skin. 

How many other supplements do you know to be this powerful? From addressing and preventing specific health issues to supporting general all-round health and wellbeing, turmeric isn’t one to be missed.

Get your daily dose with The Turmeric Co.'s convenient shots, each containing 35g of raw turmeric packed full of benefits for mind and body alike. Grab your box now.