Why you should take Curcumin!
- , by SANUSq Research team
- 4 min reading time
Turmeric is one of the most studied healing spices on the planet, with over 800 scientifically proven health benefits. Its long use in traditional medicine has made it a quiet challenger to the pharmaceutical industry, with preliminary evidence suggesting that turmeric may be just as effective as 14 chemically synthesized drugs—without the risk of toxicity.
The Limits of the "Magic Bullet" Approach
Over the last decade, a great deal of research has focused on a single element of turmeric: curcumin, which gives the spice its golden colour. As a result, many high-quality products—such as phospholipid-bound curcumin concentrate—have been developed to enhance absorption and effectiveness. However, isolating a singular "magic bullet ingredient" does not deliver the full therapeutic potential turmeric can offer.
In the nutraceutical world, it is commonplace to follow the pharmaceutical sector and aim to single out a particular chemical element from the intricate "forest" of any botanical agent. The idea is to normalize the dose of the claimed "active ingredient" as if it were a pharmaceutical medication. This extraction and isolation process creates proprietary recipes designed to set products apart and capture market share—a value proposition that works in favour of the producer, not the consumer or patient.
The healing power of plants and foods cannot be attributed to a single, "magic bullet" element. On the contrary, a great number of compounds are orchestrated by Nature to give the plant its healing abilities—something that cannot be reduced to any one quantifiable chemical or phytocompound.
What German Research Reveals About Ar-Tumerone
A study published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy indicates that the medicinal properties of turmeric cannot be wholly attributed to curcumin. The study suggested that ar-tumerone, a fat-soluble element found in turmeric, could potentially be beneficial in treating neurological diseases.
German researchers examined the effects of aromatic-turmerone on neural stem cells (NSCs)—the cells responsible for brain repair and self-renewal. In vitro, aromatic-turmerone (CTB) induced neural stem cell proliferation; in vivo, it stimulated NSC proliferation as well.
The research revealed that when neurons were exposed to ar-tumerone, neural stem cells proliferated and produced greater quantities of mature neurons, indicating a genuine healing effect. The same impact was seen in living animals: rats injected with ar-tumerone in their brains showed an upsurge in neural stem cell proliferation and the formation of healthy brain cells.
Getting the Most From Turmeric
We are often asked which type of turmeric or curcumin is best. The research above suggests the whole plant is more likely to include a greater selection of beneficial compounds than curcumin alone. Yet many people focus on the amount of a particular compound in a dose, rather than the quality of the product—whether it is organic, or part of a plant-based food. This overlooks the kind of nutritional "intelligence" the substance carries.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer for ingestion. The right approach depends on the individual and their specific needs. Turmeric can be used to address irritable bowel syndrome or polyps, for example. For someone needing a systemic effect—such as for arthritis or brain cancer—turmeric combined with black pepper (piperine) in a nutritional supplement can overcome the glucuronidation barrier in the liver.
Consuming small amounts in culinary doses, combined with other ingredients that complete the experience on a physical, chemical, and sensory level (and don't forget the pleasure!), is also a great strategy. A study recently showed that culinary doses of rosemary helped with memory, while higher, "heroic" doses had the opposite effect. The goal is to prevent major health issues from arising. Adding turmeric to curries, or blending a pinch into a smoothie, can be an excellent daily supplementation method.
Quality is paramount—and less can be more.
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The health information contained in this article is for educational purposes only. Consult your healthcare professional before making any medical decisions.
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