Introduction
Turmeric is a flowering plant, Curcuma longa, of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae, the rhizomes of which are used in cooking.The plant is a perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia that requires temperatures between 20 and 30 °C and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive. Plants are gathered each year for their rhizomes, some for propagation in the following season and some for consumption.
Turmeric contains curcuminoids, which are bioactive compounds, and curcumin is one of these curcuminoid compounds. While turmeric contains only 2 – 9% curcuminoids, 75% of these active curcuminoids are curcumin, which is why curcumin is the “star” of turmeric.
Curcumin is a bright yellow chemical produced by plants of the Curcuma longa species. It is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a member of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is sold as a herbal supplement, cosmetics ingredient, food flavouring, and food coloring.
Curcuma longa L., is commonly used as a spice in curries, food additive and also, as a dietary pigment. It has also been used to treat various illnesses in the Indian subcontinent from the ancient times.
In simpler terms, curcumin is inside turmeric, which is inside Curcuma longa root. That's the shortened version of the primary distinction Curcumina longa and Curcumin.
Research suggests that curcumin can help in the management of oxidative
and inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, anxiety, and hyperlipidemia. It may also help in the management of exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness, thus enhancing recovery and subsequent performance in active people.High doses of turmeric and curcumin are not recommended long-term since research confirming their safety is lacking. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has determined 0.1–3 mg/kg of body weight an acceptable daily intake .
Most research says that taking in at least one gram of curcumin per day is necessary for measurable anti-inflammatory effects, Webster says.
Unfortunately, turmeric doesn't offer a quick fix, so you'll need to take it daily to notice results. If you were wondering how long it takes turmeric to work, this can vary from person to person. However, you should usually expect to start noticing improvements in around 4-8 weeks when taken daily.
And a recent analysis of research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food on turmeric extracts concluded that eight to 12 weeks of treatment with standardized turmeric extracts can reduce pain due to arthritis, compared with placebo.
The curcumin will bind to fat and is then more easily absorbed by our gut. Cooking with fats such as coconut oil, or mixing a golden latte or smoothie with full fat dairy, almond or coconut milk will optimise the body's absorption of curcumin.
Most people find success taking turmeric either in the morning to start their day, or at night before bed to combat inflammation from the day's activities. We also recommend that you take turmeric with a meal since curcumin absorption increases when paired with healthy fats.
In India, it was traditionally used for disorders of the skin, upper respiratory tract, joints, and digestive system. Today, turmeric is promoted as a dietary supplement for a variety of conditions, including arthritis, digestive disorders, respiratory infections, allergies, liver disease, depression, and many others.
Turmeric is an ancient spice that many experts consider to be one of the most powerful and effective herbs. Over the centuries and into today, it has been used to prevent and treat many ailments. More than 10,000 published studies discuss the benefits of this spice and its use in healing diseases and illnesses. Many highlight that curcumin, a compound in turmeric, has more effect than some prescription drugs.
Curcumin-95 is a curcuminoid extract standardized to 95% pure curcumin. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and has been traditionally used to treat joint pain and various types of chronic pain, although it has many other benefits.
Curcuminoids are phenolic compounds commonly used as a spice, pigment and additive also utilized as a therapeutic agent used in several foods. Comprehensive research over the last century has revealed several important functions of curcuminoids.
Author: Dr. Bhairavsinh Raol
