What is curcumin and what does it do in turmeric?

Turmeric as a dietary supplement

Turmeric (curcuma) in ground form is becoming increasingly popular as a kitchen spice and is becoming more and more popular in our dishes. The special thing about turmeric, however, is the active ingredient curcumin. This has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.

Turmeric is now considered the most researched spice and, with over 6,000 studies, has numerous positive health effects.

What effect does turmeric have?

• Pain-relieving:
  Curcumin naturally supports the body in relieving pain
• Anti-inflammatory:
  Curcumin regulates the natural response to inflammation and is therefore effective in the prevention of numerous chronic diseases associated with inflammation. These include, for example, multiple sclerosis, certain intestinal diseases, cardiovascular diseases and many more.
• Antioxidant:
  Curcumin improves cellular resistance to oxidative stress and effectively protects against DNA damage. These two factors have been shown to promote the ageing process and toxic stress.
• Cardiovascular system:
  Curcumin supports a healthy cardiovascular system by reducing unhealthy LDL protein.
• Immune system:
  Curcumin strengthens the body's immune system and helps to ward off diseases.
• Joint health:
  Curcumin promotes flexibility and mobility of the joints and reduces inflammation and swelling.
• Intestinal health:
  Curcumin promotes healthy digestion

The effects of curcumin are so convincing that an American pharmaceutical company took this as an opportunity to patent it. This attempt was rejected thanks to strong protests from numerous naturopaths and alternative practitioners. Turmeric has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to cure and treat numerous diseases. 

 

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➤ Turmeric is still the most popular natural dietary supplement on the market today.

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What you should consider when buying turmeric

Before you make a purchase, you should consider the following: The body absorbs curcumin very poorly. In addition, the market is flooded with almost ineffective products. These have a low dosage and are sometimes enriched with harmful additives and unnecessary fillers. In these cases, the body cannot absorb the actually valuable active ingredient and the health-promoting effect does not materialize. It is also advisable to buy turmeric capsules that also contain piperine from black pepper. This is because piperine can increase the absorption of curcumin by 2000%. Curcumin is also fat-soluble. This means that it is beneficial to take turmeric capsules with a high-fat meal.

4 Properties of effective turmeric products

1. maximum dosage

In order to guarantee therapeutic efficacy, a daily dosage of at least 800 mg should be ensured.

2. best possible bioavailability

Only a very high bioavailability guarantees health effects.

3. 100 % pure turmeric

Opt for 100 % natural turmeric from the root with a minimum content of 95 % curcuminoids.

4. 100 % natural

Turmeric capsules should be free from flavorings, colorings and preservatives, as well as additives and fillers.

 

 

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Sources (in English):

Menon, V. P., & Sudheer, A. R. (2007). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin. Advances in experimental medicine and biology, 595, 105–125. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-46401-5_3

Kocaadam, B., & Şanlier, N. (2017). Curcumin, an active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), and its effects on health. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 57(13), 2889–2895. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2015.1077195

Abadi, A. J., Mirzaei, S., Mahabady, M. K., Hashemi, F., Zabolian, A., Hashemi, F., Raee, P., Aghamiri, S., Ashrafizadeh, M., Aref, A. R., Hamblin, M. R., Hushmandi, K., Zarrabi, A., & Sethi, G. (2022). Curcumin and its derivatives in cancer therapy: Potentiating antitumor activity of cisplatin and reducing side effects. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 36(1), 189–213. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7305

A Hamed, O., Mehdawi, N., Abu Taha, A., M Hamed, E., A Al-Nuri, M., & S Hussein, A. (2013). Synthesis and antibacterial activity of novel curcumin derivatives containing heterocyclic moiety. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR, 12(1), 47–56.

Shoba, G., Joy, D., Joseph, T., Majeed, M., Rajendran, R., & Srinivas, P. S. (1998). Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta medica, 64(4), 353–356. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-957450