One of the leading health benefits of curcumin is its antioxidant properties that combat free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that cause damage to the body's tissues when they bump into healthy cells. Curcumin may help fight certain infections, protect the liver from toxins, and reduce inflammation. It may also support healthy cell growth.

What Are The Key Health Benefits of Curcumin?

Curcumin's Natural Anti-Inflammatory Health Benefits

The same molecules found in curcumin inhibit inflammation anywhere within the body, thus acting as pain relieving agents, as well. Research suggests curcumin may improve joint mobility and reduce arthritis-related pain and swelling. This activity is equivalent to the effect of some NSAID drugs. 

Curcumin, Natural Cholesterol Control

Curcumin also lowers the level of harmful, or LDL, cholesterol and increases the level of helpful, or HDL, cholesterol. It increases circulation and blood flow. All of these properties make curcumin a good choice for individuals with compromised circulation, heart disease and high cholesterol.

Brain Health Benefits of Curcumin

Recently, curcumin has been recognized for its anti-amyloid properties. A key feature of Alzheimer's disease is the development of amyloid plaques in the brain. Beta-amyloid is a normally harmless protein which builds up in the brain as we age. Researchers susoect genetic changes affecting certain proteins may contribute to declining neuronal activity in people with Alzheimer's disease. Curcumin's potential effects on these pathways remain under investigation. Curcumin, due to its anti-amyloid properties is showing significant results in terms of treatment for these patients, improving overall memory.

What Should I Look For In A Curcumin Supplement?

You can consume curcumin as turmeric (the spice), an encapsulated herb, dried herb, tincture, or liquid extract. Higher-quality supplements often use standardized extracts. Standardization indicates that manufacturers have measured specific active constituents. Manufacturers include curcumin in pain-relief, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-support formulas. You can also find curcumin in topical creams and gels designed for pain relief.

Enhancing Curcumin's Bioavailability - Meriva and Longvida

Curcumin is a lipophilic or fat-soluble substance. Our ability to effectively absorb curcumin is low. Its ability to reach the bloodstream to have its therapeutic effect has been questioned by those in the health field. Recently, supplement companies have started to change their formulations (liposomal curcumin, curcumin nanoparticles, curcumin phospholipid complexes) all in the name of making the curcumin more readily absorbed, with a significantly higher percentage of curcumin reaching the bloodstream.

Two raw material suppliers to nutritional supplement manufacturers now produce enhanced curcumin extracts bonded to phospholipid complexes, which improve the absorption and activity of Curcumin dramatically, giving better therapeutic results when used in clinical applications such as arthritis, detoxification, and brain health.

Final Cautions & Potential Side Effects

Curcumin contains substances that decrease blood clotting ability therefore those with active bleeding, or individuals who use blood thinners, aspirin or NSAIDs should use caution. For the same reason, stop using curcumin 2 weeks before surgery or dental procedures. Curcumin may alter the effectiveness of some heart and cholesterol medications. Some individuals have found it to irritate the gastrointestinal tract and liver or gallbladder.