What Are The Benefits Of Curcumin?

If you’re looking for a supplement that counters inflammation, supports health, and has promising cancer prevention benefits, curcumin is the way to go. Derived from the spice turmeric, curcumin has many proven benefits.

Curcumin has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine due to its benefits for healing wounds, fighting infection, calming the mind, and supporting wellness in the body.

How Does Curcumin Do This?

The bioactive curcuminoids in turmeric have an anti-inflammatory effect, scavenging reactive oxygen species that damage tissue and DNA in the body. This makes curcumin a great supplement for supporting the body’s response to stress. Clinical trials show that curcumin has the following benefits:

1. Promotes joint health by reducing pain during movement (1, 2).
2. Supports brain health, improving mood and reducing symptoms of major depression (3).
3. Slows cognitive decline and reduces the progression of Alzheimer’s (4).
4. Supports digestive health, reducing irritable bowel disease, dyspepsia, and ulcers (4, 5).
5. Improves cancer diagnosis by supporting the body’s immune system (6).
6. Protects metabolic health and reduces fat gain following a successful period of weight loss (7).

Curcumin has antibacterial, anti-tumor, antidepressant, and anti-epileptic activity (8, 9, 10). Curcumin also has benefits for organ function, protecting the adrenals and liver.

Who Should Take Curcumin?

If you are looking to overcome inflammation or high levels of joint pain, you can benefit from curcumin. It may be especially effective at reducing symptoms of arthritis, depression, and GI disorders including IBS.

Curcumin may aid body composition and help prevent fat regain after a successful period of weight loss. It may reduce the risk of cancer and could help with cancer treatment, though cancer patients should always consult with a health care practitioner prior to supplementing.

How To Take It?

In an ideal world, you could regularly cook with turmeric and reap all the benefits. Unfortunately, the curcumin content of turmeric is fairly low, clocking in around 3 percent by weight. Most of the studies showing benefits are using turmeric extracts that contain mostly curcumin, with dosages of at least 1 gram per day. It is impossible to reach these levels from turmeric. Therefore, if you want to reap the full effects, you need to supplement.

The big issue with curcumin is how to make it bioavailable. Curcumin is poorly absorbed in the GI tract. When it is absorbed, it is rapidly metabolized by the body, rendering it unable to exert biological effects. While investigating ways to overcome these challenges, scientists discovered a synergism between the curcuminoids and the essential oils naturally present in turmeric. This discovery resulted in the development of our curcumin supplement, which contains only ingredients that are typically found in the turmeric plant.

Because Curcumin Comlex's bioavailability is maximized by the addition of turmeric essential oils, piperine (a substance found in black pepper) is not needed to enhance bioavailability. This is important because although piperine can improve absorption of curcumin, it can also cross the blood brain barrier, which could put the brain at risk of exposure to toxins or pathogens.

In terms of how much to take, most studies have shown benefits from 500 to 1,000 mg a day. Curcumin is fat soluble and should be taken with a meal that contains fat.

What Supplements Go Well With Curcumin?

Because curcumin is fat soluble, it pairs well with fish oil. Several studies show anti-inflammatory benefits of fish oil with curcumin. The pair have also been shown to protect the brain against cognitive decline and to counter insulin resistance and heart disease factors in diabetics.

Curcumin also pairs well with supplements that support organ function and detoxification. It is synergistic with other anti-inflammatory aids, such as those targeting joints, antioxidant “greens” powders, and liver support supplements (11). One study found that when curcumin was supplemented with silymarin (the bioactive compound in milk thistle) it made colon cancer cells more receptive to the protective action of silymarin (12).

Final Words

Curcumin is your go-to supplement for overcoming inflammatory diseases, including heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. It may also improve immunity, ease depression, counter arthritis, and boost the body’s ability to handle stress The health benefits of curcumin are thought to come from the whole turmeric spice in a formulation that provides turmeric oils as well as the curcumin compounds.