As a nutrition coach, personal trainer, and all-around health and wellness obsessive, curcumin is probably the supplement I’ve recommended to friends, family, colleagues, and clients more than any other. I’ve been taking curcumin, a natural anti-inflammatory found in turmeric, daily for over three years, and it’s just as important to me as a daily multivitamin. For people who train five to six times a week and run the majority of their time, curcumin can help support joint health, reduce muscle soreness, and aid recovery. If I don’t drink for a few days, my knees will start to hurt. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, so I think it can help with intestinal issues.
I have recommended it for conditions such as back and shoulder pain, leg swelling, colds, bruises, and more generally as a preventative measure against the inevitable inflammation that comes with aging. the study Research on curcumin shows that its antioxidant properties not only reduce acne and support the healthy aging process, but also alleviate inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and eye diseases. It can help blood vessel function and brain health while tackling diabetes, cognitive decline, mood swings, and depression. clinical trial It has been shown to be involved in the death of cancer cells and is being promoted as a comprehensive cancer treatment.
So what is curcumin?
If this list of benefits sounds familiar, it’s because curcumin provides the same benefits as its better-known host spice, turmeric. “Curcumin is an active ingredient found in turmeric, and curcuminoids are anti-inflammatory compounds,” explains the sports nutritionist. ben coover. This is the bright orange/yellow compound found in turmeric root and is the most effective part. Extracting turmeric for use in supplements removes turmeric that provides few health benefits.
“Research shows that 1,500 milligrams of active curcumin per day is required to improve joint pain, osteoarthritis, and depression,” Coover added. “So if you’re taking 1,500 milligrams of turmeric, it’s very unlikely that you’ll get anywhere near the dose recommended by the study. Turmeric still contains curcumin, so you need to take a lot.” In fact, turmeric only contains 2 to 6 percent curcumin.
Despite this, turmeric still attracts headlines, primarily due to marketing, the ease of access to the spice itself, and the fact that it can be produced much cheaper for supplement companies than using expensive extraction processes. great supplementsfound early on. “Curcumin is a premium product. You can buy turmeric for about $12, but we spend that just to make the product.” Despite the cost and risk, Coover decided to take curcumin early on. and use curcumin daily to aid recovery from exercise and an inflamed elbow joint. he also added curcumin It was proposed by this brand about 4 years ago. “The data on curcumin is too strong to ignore, and the number of people currently suffering from joint-based conditions and the prevalence of depression, which are two of the main things curcumin can help with, has pushed us into the field. ”, he explains.
