Menu
James Kearslake
Small business owner,
writer, mental
health advocate
Table of Contents
What is Turmeric
Turmeric is a bright yellow spice that is often used in Indian cuisine.
Also a super-root, it is commonly sold as a supplement in major health stores.
But why is turmeric so good for you?
We delve into the science behind turmeric, and we explain why we think it really is the one supplement you should be taking with breakfast.
The plant that turmeric comes from is a member of the ginger family and is found in tropical climates. The root of the turmeric plant is harvested and dried before it is ground into a powder.
It is known as an adaptogen, meaning it’s a substance that helps the body adapt to stress, anxiety, fatigue or other internal imbalance. An adaptogen has the power to return your body to a state of balance, or homeostasis, protect the body from the negative effects of stress, and promote balance in the brain.
Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?
As an adaptogen, turmeric has a long history of use in traditional medicine. It has long been known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and scientists have found that turmeric can be more effective at reducing inflammation than ibuprofen.
But what causes these anti-inflammatory properties within the human body?
Within turmeric is a group of active compounds known as curcuminoids, within which curcumin is the main compound supporting the many health benefits for the body and brain.
Curcumin
Curcumin is the main active compound in turmeric that has shown to have a number of health benefits.
Here’s five major benefits of consuming turmeric (and thus curcumin) on a daily basis:
1. Anti-inflammatory properties
Turmeric has long been used as a treatment for joint pain and arthritis. A study published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism found that turmeric was more effective at reducing inflammation in the joints than ibuprofen.
Curcuminoids have been shown to be effective at reducing inflammation in the joints, which can help to reduce pain and swelling. They may also help to protect the joints from damage caused by inflammation.
Curcuminoids are effective at reducing inflammation in the body. This is beneficial as inflammation is responsible for many diseases and conditions.
When we use the term anti-inflammatory, we often thing of enflamed muscles or joints due to injury, but inflammation can also happen within our organs, the brain, the skin (to name just a few).
Turmeric therefore acts an overall anti-inflammatory substance, meaning it can be beneficial for people with headaches, skin conditions like eczema or dermatitis, or internal inflammation like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
2. Antioxidant properties
Curcuminoids are also antioxidants, which means they protect the body from free radicals.
Free radicals can damage cells and DNA, leading to disease and are a major cause of cancers.
In a world where we intoxicate our bodies with pollution, man-made chemicals, ingest processed foods and drink alcohol, smoke, and take drugs, our bodies live under a constant attack of free radicals.
Curcuminoids are an important component to help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals.
3. Reduces the risk of cancer
While this point is an extension of the free radicals mentioned above, it’s important to call out the reduced risk of cancer as a standalone benefit.
Cancer remains one of the biggest killers within the UK. And while science continues make ground-breaking advancements in the treatment for cancer, and more people are recovering from cancer than ever before, cancer itself continues to proliferate within our society due to the ways we subject our bodies to unnatural foods and chemicals.
Surely prevention is better than cure?
It’s therefore better to care for our bodies in ways that limits the creation of cancerous cells within our bodies, and ensure we consume foods that support strong immune systems and reduce the risks of cancers and free radicals.
Studies have shown that curcuminoids may reduce the risk of some cancers, including cancer of the breast, prostate, and colon cancers.
4. Reduces the risk of heart disease
Curcumin has also been shown to support endothelial cells that line the heart and blood vessels, improving blood circulation and reducing high blood pressure.
Turmeric also lowers cholesterol levels within the body, preventing the risk of high blood pressure.
5. Improves brain function
Several studies have also shown curcumin has having a direct effect on the brain and cognitive performance.
These include:
6. Reduces inflammation and brain fog
When we’re experiencing headaches/migraines/brain fog there is usually something more going on within our brain.
These internal issues result in an inability to focus, a lack of mental clarity, or lack of productivity.
Turmeric has been shown to lessen the effects of brain fog and other mental deteriorations, and improve cognitive performance and focus within hours of being consumed.
7. Improves Memory
Studies have shown turmeric improves performance with memory based tasks.
8. Improves serotonin receptor uptake
Studies have also shown turmeric can have positive effects on our serotonin receptors, supporting improved mental health, and balanced wellbeing.
The best time to take turmeric
Turmeric is best absorbed with a full meal, and we recommend with breakfast so it’s anti-inflammatory properties can take effect as soon as possible.
If you wake up with aching muscles, joints, or are suffering mental health conditions, it’s better to take anti-inflammatory supplements as soon as you’re able to, so that you continue with your day free of the physical or mental ailments that come with internal inflammation.
Pair it with black pepper for maximum absorption
Studies have shown that the compound piperine within black pepper aids the digestion of curcumin, possibly by up to 2,000%.
To support this, we take turmeric supplements already combined with black pepper, while also adding a little extra pepper into our nutribullets, just to make sure!
Shop small businesses when purchasing
We purchase our turmeric supplements from Turmeric 50, a small online store who are based in Manchester and ran by Andrew Brown.
It’s important to us morally that we support small businesses where we can, and more so during these difficult times.
Why we love Tumeric 50
By day he is a maths teacher at a secondary school supporting children who have been excluded, and by evening a father, husband, and small business owner. Andrew Brown is a real life world hero.
Andrew set up turmeric 50 following his own physical ailments and using turmeric to rid himself of back pain and inflammation.
Recognising the cost of supplements are unsustainable for the average income earner, he decided to create his own tablets for personal consumption.
Sourcing the highest quality ingredients, he was able to create his own product at a lesser cost than major retailers were selling supplements, and at a higher grade quality.
Sharing his product and passion with friends and family, Andrew realised that he could improve the lives of others around him, without having to subscribe to the typical profiteering business model of larger organisations.
Therefore, to us, purchasing from Andrew feels like an investment into a business that is built on heart, hope, and high quality, and leaves us feeling proud we’ve supported someone we admire, while also purchasing a product we know is good for us.
We wouldn’t recommend anyone else.
Shop with Turmeric 50 here
Available on SumUp and Etsy, we’re proud to recommend Turmeric 50, and the owner Andrew Brown, as a supplier of Turmeric to our readers.
Check out the below two offers – available for SumUp or Etsy, depending where you shop:
Sumup:
In the comments section of your order, add JAMESKEARSLAKE10.
Receive additional FREE 14 capsules with your order!
Etsy:
USE CODE: JAMESKEARSLAKE10
Receive 10% OFF your first order.
Did this content help you?
If so, please share it so others can also benefit from it, or other content we share
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
Reddit
Email
LinkedIn
Affiliate Policy
We only ever recommend products we know offer value to our readers and that we use ourselves.
When recommending these products, we often include affiliate links so that we earn a small commission on sales made, at no expense to you as the reader.
Affiliate commissions are similar to an advertising fee which retailers pay to website owners, and is often the only way website owners can earn money through the content they share. Therefore we hope you can support us by always using our affiliate links if you decide to purchase products after reading our content.
Thank you for always sticking by us.
