What if we told you there was a completely natural supplement that tackles inflammation, boosts antioxidant levels, and can prevent not only heart disease, but also might be able to kill cancer cells too? What if that supplement could also boost your brain power, stave off brain degeneration, and treat depression? Sounds impossible right?
It’s not as impossible as you might think.
Turmeric, and its main active ingredient curcumin, have both long been praised throughout the fitness and nutrition communities for their long-lasting benefits that can naturally improve your physical and mental wellbeing. Scientific studies show time and time again that this mustard spice has the capacity to do great things for the human body.
So, what exactly can a turmeric supplement do for your body and mind? And how exactly does it achieve these lofty goals? Let’s take a look at 6 major benefits that turmeric and curcumin can offer and see why they’ve both earned their places as a staple in our all-new Bedrock Series.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Inflammation is a key function in our body’s immune system but if not managed properly by our bodies, it can lead to health issues that can cause real problems. In fact, it’s thought that chronic inflammation may have a role to play in just about every major medical issue we face as we age.
The good news is, turmeric is widely used around the world, and has been through much of history – particularly in India – as an anti-inflammatory, similar to, and sometimes more powerful than common medicine like aspirin and ibuprofen. Its anti-inflammatory capacities can be found in curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, which directly affects the molecules of inflammation to de-escalate their levels in the body.
The anti-inflammatory aspects of turmeric are also thought to help with other conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis when taken regularly.
Better antioxidant properties
Our bodies strive when we regularly consume antioxidants. The body is under constant attack from oxidative stress. Since electrons like to be in pairs, atoms, called free radicals, scavenge the body to seek out other electrons so they can become a pair. This causes damage to cells, proteins, and DNA.
Free radicals are associated with human disease, including cancer, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and many others. They also may have a link to aging, which has been defined as a gradual accumulation of free-radical damage. Antioxidants are known for their ability to defend our internal systems from what we call free radicals, which are unpaired electrons thought to cause diseases and increase aging. Antioxidants maintain the balance of free radicals in our bodies, reducing the negative impact of these molecules and keeping us safe from their degenerative effects.
It just so happens that curcumin is a bona-fide, highly effective antioxidant that directly takes on free radicals while also boosting your organs’ ability to produce antioxidants of their own.
So, for increasing your body’s antioxidant capacity and potential, and defending against aging and disease, turmeric supplements are an excellent choice.
Improved brain power
There are a number of natural options out there as far as brain supplements go, but turmeric and curcumin can give them all a run for their money. Our brains make use of a hormone called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, (BDNF) which drives growth and pushes the neurons in our heads to connect and evolve. Scientists have found that curcumin can directly increase the levels of this hormone, giving our brain what it needs to continue and develop, even after childhood.
This added brain power is thought to be able to help with brain health issues like dementia and Alzheimer’s while also helping to improve our cognitive abilities.
Possible depression relief
While we’re talking about the effects of curcumin on BDNF levels, we should also mention the boost that this hormone can have on tackling depression.
Experts believe that low levels of BDNF is linked to depression in certain people and since curcumin plays an active role in increasing the hormone in the human brain, there’s a chance that increasing your curcumin levels through turmeric supplements has the potential to help alleviate the effects of depression.
As we mentioned before the curcumin in turmeric is also famed for its anti-inflammatory impact. Since there’s a growing movement in the scientific community linking inflammation with depression, reducing inflammation levels in the immune system is another way that this handy yellow spice can provide relief for those who are depressed.
Potential uses in fighting cancer
Cancer is a frightening prospect for anyone. It’s one of the most prominent, potentially fatal, diseases out there and discovering a cure has had scientists and medical experts hard at work for centuries.
While no real cure has been found as of yet, there are certain things that can influence how cancer grows and develops. Turmeric and curcumin are thought to be one of those things; certain laboratory studies carried out have shown that the spice can, in some cases, reduce and kill cancer cells in the body – in particular with cases of breast cancer, bowel cancer, skin cancer and stomach cancer.
This evidence is not yet clear, and medical institutions continue to monitor and test the effectiveness of turmeric and curcumin as an anti-cancer treatment. To be clear – it is not a cure, nor a sanctioned treatment, so do not use it as a substitute for your regular cancer medical treatment.
Heart Disease Prevention
Heart disease is up there with cancer when it comes to deadly diseases that are frequent killers. It can take many forms but is especially common among those with unhealthy lifestyles and diets.
Endothelial function is the term used to refer to the condition of the membrane that covers the heart. Having a low endothelial function is associated with heart disease brought on by aging, so maintaining the function is a good step towards protecting your heart from potential problems down the line. Certain studies have suggested that turmeric and curcumin ingestion can build up the endothelial function, strengthening the membrane around your heart and possibly preventing age-related heart disease. More studies are required to be sure, but it’s a step in the right direction.
As above, turmeric is not intended to be a replacement treatment for heart disease, and your regular heart disease treatment should not be substituted for turmeric supplements.
At BELDT Labs, we believe that the potent, life-improving impact of regular use of turmeric supplements in your diet makes this humble spice a world-beater, ideal for fighting against a variety of mental and physical ailments our bodies face as we age.
Turmeric is an integral part of our Bedrock Series, a collection of essential supplements that can give you the rock-solid foundation for improved overall health.
