Three Powerful Curcumin Benefits that are Life Changing

Turmeric is a well-known yellow spice that’s often used as a cooking agent. You know, to give it a “kick.” Turmeric powder is often added to soups, vegetables, fish, teas, salads, milk, and the list goes on. If you are a turmeric fan, it’s probably because you know how rich in vitamins and minerals it is, however, the active compounds in turmeric known as curcuminoids is the real star of the show. 

 In this blog, we are going to look at curcumin, the primary curcuminoid, and focus on 3 life changing benefits associated with curcumin supplementation. If we were to account for all “curcumin” related benefits, this short blog would end being an eBook.

As we get started, it is important to note that there’s a big difference between raw turmeric powder and curcumin. The curcumin content of turmeric powder is only 3% by weight. So, it’s important to educate yourself on the distinction between the two and not understand that inexpensive turmeric powder is nothing like a standardized concentrated form of curcumin. When considering using turmeric as a supplement, it should be a standardized form of curcumin as per below:

o   Turmeric extract (root) (Curcuma longa) (standardized to contain a minimum of 95% curcuminoids)

Because, nearly all studies use turmeric extracts containing curcumin as opposed to turmeric powder, it makes healthy sense to use curcumin instead of turmeric. Due to the popularity of turmeric, many curcumin-based products are named TURMERIC so make certain to look at the supplement facts and verify that it contains standardized form of curcumin. 

BENEFIT No. 1 

It is widely held that chronic, low-level inflammation plays a major role in nearly every chronic Western disease. So, anything that can help fight chronic inflammation, and help prevent and even treat these diseases, is

welcome. Curcumin possesses strong anti-inflammatory properties capable of reducing chronic inflammation, resulting in the relief of symptoms and in some cases even helping reverse certain conditions.

Depending on the degree of intensity, every exercise session will cause varying degrees of microscopic damage (tearing) to muscle fibers. As a response to the intra-muscular damage, an inflammatory state is experienced resulting in potential extended delays in recovery and muscle soreness. As a proven anti-inflammatory supplement, curcumin is also effective in the management of post exercise-induced inflammation. The result may be faster recovery from exercise and reduced muscle soreness.

A strong word of caution: because curcumin has anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and blood-thinning properties, anyone on blood thinners or anticoagulants should consult their health care provider prior to supplementing with both turmeric and/or curcumin.

BENEFIT No. 2

Because Arthritis Patient Respond Well to Curcumin It is A Desired Supplement Among Those Experiencing Joint Pain

Arthritis usually deals with inflammation in the joints. So, given the fact that curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory, it stands to logic that it can help with many types of arthritis, i.e., osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. 

Several studies, document curcumins role as an effective supplement for those suffering with arthritis. In fact, one study reported that 94% of those taking curcumin and 97% of those taking diclofenac reported at least a 50% improvement with the curcumin group experiencing less side effects. So, curcumin supplementation is regarded as a smart choice and should be considered by anyone being affected by arthritis.

BENEFIT No. 3

Curcumin Use Has Been Shown to Help Lower One’s Risk of Heart Disease

A very important benefit associated with curcumin supplementation is its role in improving endothelium (the lining of blood vessels) function. Endothelial dysfunction can affect the ability of the endothelium to regulate blood pressure and blood clotting. Studies have shown that curcumin favorably affects endothelial function. One study shows it works as well as a common statin drug, and another shows it’s as effective as exercise. 

It seems like everything goes back to curcumins highly effective anti-inflammatory properties and because inflammation is such a strong component of heart disease, it is easy to understand why curcumin supplementation is popular among those concerned about heart health.

Naturally, anyone taking or planning to take curcumin for its role in heart health should first, discuss it with their health care provider.

How Much  Curcumin Should be Taken Daily to Reduce Inflammation

Most experts agree that the magic number ranges between 500mg and 1 daily gram of curcumin is needed to have the desired anti-inflammatory response. Another calculation model is 1.4mg per pound of body weight. Hence, if you weight 140 pounds, based on this model the daily dose would only be 196mg. The consensus seems to point to the higher dose.

The Smüthe Company offers a product called TURMERIC which uses two branded forms of curcumin: C3 Complex® and C3 Reduct® both ingredients provide the highest concentration of curcumin. What’s special about this formula is the inclusion of BioPerine® a branded form of black pepper that has been clinically shown to increase curcumin absorption by 2000%.

There are many quality curcumin supplements on the market, but none provide the uniqueness of TURMERIC which can be added to anything. This product is unflavored, 100% natural, sugar free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and free of artificial flavors, sweeteners, additives, and preservatives. They come in convenient stick packets that can be taken anywhere and because they are unflavored, can be added to any food or drink.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article helps you understand that there’s a big difference between turmeric and curcumin and that there’s a specific concentration of curcumin that is desired. Although the number of benefits go far beyond the scope of this blog, you’re now familiar with three of the primary many benefits of curcumin. Lastly, you have a recommendation for where to start your curcumin question.

Studies & References

Safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin: a component of turmeric (Curcuma longa)
J Altern Complement Med. 2003 Feb;9(1):161-8.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12676044/

A randomized, pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of curcumin in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis
Binu Chandran¹. Ajay Goel 2012 Nov;26(11):1719-25. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4639. Epub 2012 Mar 9.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22407780/

Potential therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic autoimmune and neoplastic diseases
Bharat B Aggarwal ¹, Kuzhuvelil B Harikumar 2009 Jan;41(1):40-59. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2008.06.010. Epub 2008 Jul 9.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18662800/

Influence of curcumin on performance and post-exercise recovery
Campbell MS, Carlini NA, Fleenor BS. DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2020.1754754
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32319320/

Eight Weeks of a High Dose of Curcumin Supplementation May Attenuate Performance Decrements Following Muscle-Damaging Exercise.
Jäger R, Purpura M, Kerksick CM.Nutrients. 2019 Jul 23;11(7):1692. doi: 10.3390/nu11071692.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32319320/