By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Important Key Benefits Of Turmeric To Know About
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Wellness > Home Health > Important Key Benefits Of Turmeric To Know About
Home HealthWellness

Important Key Benefits Of Turmeric To Know About

James Wilson
James Wilson
Share
7 Min Read
SHARE

 

Contents
  • Turmeric vs. Curcumin
  • Short history of turmeric as a spice
  • Turmeric as a Supplement
  • Increasing Turmeric?s Bioavailability: fermented turmeric, black pepper and the importance of organic
  • Final thoughts: Turmeric as part of healthy lifestyle

For many, turmeric is just a forgotten jar at the back of your spice rack. It occasionally makes an appearance in curries more often than not just to provide a small role. However, this undervalued spice has a long and varied history that hints at some hidden properties.

In fact, turmeric may soon be taken from the spice rack and be placed front and centre with the top of the range of health supplements. Several studies have found that turmeric is a source of major health benefits for your body. If early indications prove correct you will soon be blending it up in smoothies and frothing it up in your golden lattes. Here is why you should make this game changer a key part of your health routine.

Turmeric vs. Curcumin

Turmeric

More Read

start a real food diet
Starting a Real Food Diet: 5 Fantastic Resources for the Beginner Real Foodie
10 Unbelievably Simple and Healthy Hair Growth Hacks
When is it Time to Seek Professional Support for a Relative With Dementia?
Danny DeVito’s Take on Genetically Modified Food
Is Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) safe enough?

comes from the root of the plant Curcuma longa and is often used as a key ingredient in curries. It contains a number of useful plant compounds the most beneficial of which is curcumin. When used as a whole, turmeric has been found to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Curcumin makes up 3% of the total weight of turmeric and has many useful properties of its own including being anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and even anti-tumour. Many studies focus on curcumin?s use in isolation.

While Curcumin occasionally can be more effective used on its own the greater benefits are seen when all the components of turmeric work together as a whole.

Short history of turmeric as a spice

For at least 4500 years turmeric has been used in medicine, religious ceremonies, and cooking. It was used by the Vedic culture in India to flavour dishes over three millennia ago. There are also records of it being used to guard against evil spirits and even to dye the clothes of Buddhist monks.

It soon began to spread throughout the world and by 1200AD it had reached China and Africa. The next mention of its culinary use came in 1747 when its use in an Indian Pickle was published by Hannah Glasse in her cookbook The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy. More recently people became aware of the possible benefits of turmeric when a 2006 study discovered that elderly Singaporeans had less cognitive decline if they ate more curry.

Turmeric as a Supplement

Since 2006 Turmeric and curcumin have been the subject of many studies and there is growing evidence that they will provide many health benefits when used as a supplement:

Anti-inflammatory– Professor Garg of Newcastle University discovered that the curcumin in turmeric is a very powerful anti-inflammatory agent. The reduction of inflammation in the body could significantly reduce the risk of arthritis, Alzheimer?s and heart disease.

Lower Cholesterol– When curcumin was combined with phytosterol, another component of turmeric, it was found to reduce cholesterol levels. The combined power of these two active ingredients gave better results when used together than when studied individually.

Improved cognition – Curcumin supplements also improved the working memory of over 60s in Professor Scholey?s study. He concluded that they significantly improved blood flow to the brain preventing further damage.

Prevent Cancer– Studies have also indicated that curcumin may play a role in preventing cancer. It has been seen to prevent some cancerous development and tumor growth in animals.

Fights Depression– One study showed that when used to combat depression curcumin was comparable to Prozac. Turmeric boosts a range of hormones useful to boost mood including serotonin and dopamine.

Increasing Turmeric?s Bioavailability: fermented turmeric, black pepper and the importance of organic

The amount from each treatment of any supplement that can actually be used by your body is described as bioavailability. Turmeric has many benefits but only a very small amount of each dose actually becomes available for use. In order to increase this amount there are several methods that can be used.

Black Pepper– Piperine is a component of black pepper and when taken with turmeric it can increase bioavailability by 2000%. When curcumin enters the body the liver starts to try and break it down and remove it. Piperine effectively stops this process resulting in better results from the turmeric.

Fermentation– When the fermentation process is applied to turmeric it results in a number of actions that increase the active ingredients and makes the components easier to digest. It can increase the content of curcumin by 11% and also makes it more water soluble.

Both these methods can make a dose of turmeric much more effective but it is also important to be aware of how the turmeric has been produced. Using organic turmeric will reduce the risk of other chemicals being included in the dose and it will give you the full spectrum of benefits from the root.

Final thoughts: Turmeric as part of healthy lifestyle

Effective supplements such as Turmeric root should never be taken in isolation. To get the best results use it as part of a healthy diet, exercise, and relaxation. The great thing about turmeric is that it can make a tasty and colourful addition to many other healthy options. With so many possibilities it is easy to get the most from its flavour and make it a lifestyle rather than just a supplement.

When adding turmeric to your meals the amount shown to be effective in studies is between 80 to 200mg. To get the most from it choose an organic source specially prepared for supplementation and take with every meal. With such potential benefits why not try turmeric today?

TAGGED:Health Benefitssupplementsupplementsturmericturmeric benefits
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By James Wilson
James is a freelance writer and blogger. He loves to write on wellness, tech and E-Health.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

Image
eHealthSocial MediaWellness

Person-Centered HealthCare: David-Michel Davies of Webby Award Fame Talks Public Health

January 25, 2013
bad breath cures
Home Health

Is Bad Breath Ruining Your Self-Confidence? Common Causes and Cures

September 28, 2013

Boomers More Concerned About Health Than Appearance – We’re Not So Vain After All

September 23, 2011
books can cure depression?
SpecialtiesWellness

Can Books Cure Depression? UK Operates Bibliotherapy Program for Mental Illness

December 31, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?