{"id":23146,"date":"2020-04-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/annshippymd.com\/true-power-of-turmeric\/"},"modified":"2024-01-13T08:08:51","modified_gmt":"2024-01-13T16:08:51","slug":"true-power-of-turmeric","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/annshippymd.com\/true-power-of-turmeric\/","title":{"rendered":"True Power of Turmeric"},"content":{"rendered":"

Turmeric<\/strong>,<\/strong> the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>bright<\/span>\u00a0yellow spice with\u00a0<\/span>anti-inflammatory benefits<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>has a long history of being used in Asian cooking, for medicinal purposes, and in religious ceremonies. <\/span><\/p>\n

Its\u00a0<\/span>sunny<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>cheery color has been associated with good health and healing for over 4000 years. <\/span><\/p>\n

In India, for example, wom<\/span>e<\/span>n rubbed it on their skin, dipped their hands in it<\/span>\u00a0at<\/span>\u00a0night<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>and used it to dye a string that they\u00a0<\/span>wore\u00a0<\/span>around their neck on their wedding day<\/span>\u00a0as<\/span>\u00a0a symbol of health and\u00a0<\/span>fertility.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As expressed in a more\u00a0<\/span>modern-day<\/span>\u00a0life, a\u00a0<\/span>New York Times\u00a0<\/span><\/i>reporter, Tejal Rao,\u00a0<\/span>wrote<\/a> about h<\/span>er<\/span>\u00a0life growing up\u00a0<\/span>in Nairobi in a Kenyan-Indian family. <\/span><\/p>\n

In\u00a0<\/span>her<\/span> essay that reads like an ode to turmeric, Rao writes <\/span>that turmeric was ubiquitously used among her family for treating all sorts of ailments, \u201cf<\/span>or a standard runny nose, the dizzy rush of a fever, the ache of moving away from my best friend. Turmeric for a breakout, a particularly tender, slow-to-heal bruise, the anxieties that kept me awake.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ancient cultures may have been\u00a0<\/span>originally\u00a0<\/span>drawn to this\u00a0<\/span>plant<\/span>\u00a0by its color<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 but as they experienced the health benefits, it became a staple in their dishes and in their rituals.<\/span><\/p>\n

What makes this spice so\u00a0<\/span>healthful<\/span>? Well, the benefits of turmeric<\/strong> are now being studied and the research is both reaffirming and illuminating.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I<\/span>n fact,\u00a0<\/span>r<\/span>esearch suggests that curcumin, the active, beneficial component of turmeric, <\/strong>can assist in managing a range of conditions related to inflammation in the body including wound-healing, arthritis, anxiety, and even hyperlipidemia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A review<\/a> of numerous\u00a0<\/span>studies confirm how curcumin\u00a0<\/span>may exert its anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting a number of different molecules that play a role in inflammation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Indian scientists have also studied the cognitive benefits<\/a> <\/span>of turmeric. They found that <\/span>curcumin improved the cognitive functions in patients with\u00a0<\/span>Alzheimer\u2019s<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

One effect is that turmeric decreased the harmful effects of beta-amyloid plaques, in addition to \u201cdelayed degradation of neurons, metal-chelation, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and decreased microglia formation\u201d. The overall memory in patients with Alzheimer\u2019s improved.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Turmeric is\u00a0mostly\u00a0known for\u00a0its<\/strong>\u00a0anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits<\/strong>, but did you know that it’s main compound, curcumin, has also been found to inhibit tumor progression<\/strong>? According to an article published on\u00a0<\/span>Frontiers in Genetics,<\/span><\/a>\u00a0when curcumin interacts with DNA and RNA and proteins, there are potential positive effects on the growth of tumors.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For years,\u00a0scientists have\u00a0<\/a>also\u00a0considered its potential for treating and <\/strong>preventing cancer.<\/strong> One study\u00a0<\/a><\/span>even<\/span>\u00a0found that \u201ccurcumin fulfills the characteristics for an ideal\u00a0<\/span>chemo preventive<\/span>\u00a0agent with its low toxicity, affordability, and easy access<\/span>ibility.\u201d*<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

And, an<\/span>\u00a0article titled<\/span>: <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Curcumin: A Review of Its\u2019 Effects on Human Health<\/span><\/a>\u201d, d<\/span>iscusses the benefits of turmeric (curcumin)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>for<\/span>\u00a0healthy people, and how it plays a\u00a0<\/span>role in\u00a0<\/span>preventative\u00a0<\/span>health.\u00a0<\/span>This study found that the anti-inflammatory benefits of curcumin<\/strong> are systemic, which\u00a0<\/span>means that it influences conditions like metabolic syndrome<\/span>, which includes insulin resistance, hypertension and high cholest<\/span>erol, and obesity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Curcumin\u00a0also\u00a0improves insulin\u00a0sensitivity and<\/strong> can reduce elevated blood pressure<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span>By lowering or preventing c<\/span>hronic inflammation\u00a0<\/span>people may be able to avoid or\u00a0<\/span>reduce\u00a0<\/span>conditions\u00a0<\/span>like insulin sensitivity or elevated blood pressure\u00a0<\/span>that lead to\u00a0<\/span>obesity,\u00a0<\/span>illness,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>disease.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>A recent\u00a0<\/span>article\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>Curcumin as an Alternative Epigenetic Modulator: Mechanism of Action and Potential Effects<\/span><\/b>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>is a fascinating look at\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>role\u00a0<\/span>curcumin plays\u00a0<\/span>in the behavior of genes<\/span>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How is curcumin an\u00a0epigenetic modulator<\/strong>?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

As one of the most powerful\u00a0<\/span>antioxidants, curcumin helps reduce and balance oxidative stress<\/span>. O<\/span>xidative stress<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>caused from the accumulation of free radicals<\/span>, which<\/span>\u00a0is happening\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>body\u00a0<\/span>all the time, but if too many \u201cfree radicals\u201d are bouncing around the molecules become unstable and damaging.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the time, the body takes care of\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>, with antioxidants and enzymes that target and clean up the free <\/span>radicals\u00a0<\/span>–\u00a0<\/span>prevent<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>m<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>causing harm.<\/span>\u00a0But when the body becomes overwhelmed from oxidative stress, or it becomes\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>chronic<\/span>\u00a0state<\/span>, it takes a significant to<\/span>ll<\/span>\u00a0on the body and\u00a0<\/span>can\u00a0<\/span>l<\/span>ead<\/span>\u00a0to a multitude of diseases.\u00a0<\/span>Alzheimer\u2019s<\/span>, cancer,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>cardiovascular disease\u00a0<\/span>are all linked to chronic oxidative stress.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cue\u00a0<\/span>the sunny yellow spice<\/span>\u00a0to the rescue.<\/span>\u00a0In fact, to illustrate its role, think of\u00a0<\/span>curcumin\u00a0<\/span>as an assistant, to the main\u00a0<\/span>performer<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>NRF2. <\/span><\/p>\n

NRF2 is\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>transcription<\/span>\u00a0factor<\/span>\u00a0protein that\u00a0<\/span>resides outside the nucleus of the cell. It is held there<\/span>, blocked\u00a0<\/span>by another protein. In order to be \u201creleased\u201d it needs the assistance of an antioxidant like curcumin. <\/span><\/p>\n

When the curcumin comes into play it binds to the protein that is holding NRF2 back, which then releases the NRF2, allowing the NRF2 to penetrate the nucleus. Once inside, it binds to an area of DNA which kicks off its power, which is\u00a0<\/span>NRF2\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0ability to quickly eliminate oxidative stress.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, c<\/strong><\/span>urcumin harmonizes Nrf2 expression in various\u00a0disorders including\u00a0neurocognitive, diabetes, and renal\u00a0conditions.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Including turmeric<\/span>\u00a0in your diet or as a supplement,<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>a great\u00a0<\/span>way to help balance oxidative stress<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span>Making good, healthy choices\u00a0<\/span>like consuming a variety of\u00a0<\/span>vegetables, fruits, and protein, as well as limiting alcohol\u00a0<\/span>and doing your best to control\u00a0<\/span>stress<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>perhaps\u00a0<\/span>with\u00a0<\/span>sensible<\/span>\u00a0exercise and\u00a0<\/span>meditation<\/span>, can also help\u00a0<\/span>balance your oxidative stress.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another factor to consider<\/span>\u00a0is that\u00a0<\/span>the buildup and burdens of exposures to\u00a0<\/span>e<\/span>nvironmental toxins, heavy metals, chemicals from foods, pesticides and pollutants,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>increase the levels of free radicals<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>contribute to high oxidative stress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Try to\u00a0<\/span>eliminate or limit your exposures,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>your body will not be overwhelmed or as unstable.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some key takeaways\u00a0on oxidative stress:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n