Top 10 Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of Turmeric Proven By Science

Top 10 Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of Turmeric Proven By Science

Turmeric has risen in popularity over the past few years, being hailed as nature's miraculous herb. It is reputed to heal conditions ranging from cancer to psoriasis, with its anti-inflammatory properties being particularly potent.

Turmeric stands out for having almost no side effects, which are exceedingly rare when they do occur. This is a stark contrast to other pain relievers such as ibuprofen, which can cause significant stomach bleeding.

Top 10 Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of Turmeric

Here are the top 10 evidence-based health benefits of turmeric

1. Lowered Risk of Heart Disease

Heart Disease

Heart disease, the leading cause of death globally, warrants serious attention. Fortunately, curcumin has the potential to counteract several key factors contributing to heart disease, such as lowering serum cholesterol and enhancing endothelial function (the inner lining of blood vessels).

Endothelial dysfunction is a major cause of heart disease, as your endothelium is no longer able to regulate blood pressure, blood clotting and other factors. Curcumin reduces inflammation and oxidation, and was found in one study to work as well as the drug Atorvastatin.

A recent study discovered that consuming a teaspoon of turmeric daily can diminish the risk of heart attacks as effectively as engaging in three cardiovascular workouts per week, each lasting 60 minutes.

2. Reduced Cancer Risk

Curcumin has long been studied as a natural cancer treatment and preventative. It has been found to affect cancer growth, development and spread at the molecular level.

Even Cancer Research UK made a statement that said:

“A number of laboratory studies on cancer cells have shown that curcumin does have anticancer effects. It seems to be able to kill cancer cells and prevent more from growing. It has the best effects on breast cancer, bowel cancer, stomach cancer and skin cancer cells.”

Studies have shown that curcumin helps contribute to the death of cancerous cells and reduces angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels in tumors) and metastasis (spread of cancer).

'Studies have shown that it can:'

  • contribute to the death of cancerous cells
  • reduce angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels in tumors)
  • reduce metastasis (spread of cancer)


3. Fights Inflammation

Inflammation

A study published in the Oncogene journal conducted tests comparing a broad spectrum of natural anti-inflammatories with standard pharmaceutical pain relievers, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Among the NSAIDs, aspirin and ibuprofen were found to be the least effective. In contrast, curcumin was identified as the world's most potent anti-inflammatory agent.

If you’re not already aware, inflammation is at the root cause of almost every disease we see today. Whether it’s cancer, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, or fibromyalgia – all are associated with inflammation.

The anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric also extend to wound healing, managing sciatic nerve pain , post-operative pain, as well as arthritis and other joint pain.

4. Combats Obesity

Obesity

Curcumin may also help reduce proliferation (growth) of fat cells, based on a study published in the journal Biofactors. The study showed that the anti-inflammatory properties in curcumin were effective at suppressing the inflammatory processes of obesity and its “adverse health effects.”

5. Prevents and Treats Alzheimer’s Disease

'The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric are being explored as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. This is due to curcumin's ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Consequently, curcumin is being investigated for its potential to assist in clearing the amyloid plaques found in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.'

6. Natural Anti-Depressant

Dozens of research trials have shown positive results when it comes to treating depression with curcumin – particularly in laboratory animals. Curcumin affects mental health by interacting with neurotransmitter function through the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

One study on human subjects, published in the journal Phytotherapy Research took 60 volunteers diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and split the group to determine how patients treated by curcumin compared to those treated with Prozac and a combination of the two. They found that curcumin was equally as effective as Prozac in managing depression by the six-week mark. Combining Prozac with curcumin resulted in a slightly higher improvement, but not anything that was considered statistically significant.

The authors made a statement saying, “This study provides first clinical evidence that curcumin may be used as an effective and safe therapy for treatment in patients with mild depression.”

7. Boosts Skin Health

Curcumin boasts remarkable benefits for the skin, particularly when used as a facial mask. A study with 814 participants indicated that a turmeric paste could effectively treat 97 percent of scabies cases within a span of 3 to 15 days. Additionally, turmeric aids in accelerating the healing process of wounds caused by acne, which helps to minimize scarring. It also soothes pores, which can reduce acne, and assists in managing psoriasis outbreaks.

8. May Help Manage Diabetes

In the management of diabetes, curcumin shows some promising results. One study discovered that curcumin is literally 400 times more potent than metformin (a common diabetes drug) in activating the enzyme AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) (24). The study also used a fermented version of curcumin (tetrahydrocurcumin), which activated AMPK up to 100,000 times more than metformin in certain cells.

According to researchers, AMPK is considered to be a “therapeutic target” for type 2 diabetes. By activating this enzyme, curcumin has major potential for developing more effective treatments for reducing insulin resistance and reversing diabetes.

9. Aids in Detoxification

Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant capable of neutralizing free radicals, which are commonly responsible for oxidative damage—a primary mechanism behind aging and chronic diseases. Furthermore, curcumin enhances the activity of the body's own antioxidant enzymes, providing support to an overburdened liver when it operates below optimal levels.

10. Brain Health

Multiple studies have been conducted on the ability of curcumin to help improve brain health. Aside from helping treat and prevent Alzheimer’s disease (discussed above), turmeric has also been studies for its role in improving Parkinson’s disease and stroke damage. Turmeric contains other compounds, like aromatic-turmerone, which has been recently studied over the last few years on its ability to influence neural stem cells (NSC). NSC’s are self-renewing cells that generate neurons and glia of the nervous system of all animals during embryonic development.

One study conducted by German researchers found that when exposed to ar-turmerone, NSCs increased in number by as much as 80%. These are promising results for individuals suffering from neurodegenerative diseases like stroke and Alzheimer’s, as ar-turmerone can help promote brain regeneration.

The Best Way To Consume Turmeric

To maximize the benefits of turmeric, it's advisable to pair it with black pepper and a source of fat such as avocado or coconut oil. The reason behind this is that studies have demonstrated a significant increase in the bioavailability of curcumin, turmeric's active ingredient, by over 2000% when ingested with black pepper. This substantial enhancement is further boosted when curcumin is consumed with healthy fats."

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