Despite the whole spice, turmeric, being used across Asia for centuries, popularity of turmeric’s active extract, curcumin, is still growing in the West.
Curcumin is the collective name given to the group of curcuminoids within turmeric. Curcumin supplements are now one of the most popular food supplements out there. Below are the top 4 curcumin benefits:
1. Antioxidant
Curcumin is made up of natural curcuminoid polyphenols. As well as being natural antioxidants*, they are also responsible for giving curcumin its bright yellow colour. For this reason they are used as a natural colouring agent in some foods and are given an ‘E number! With curcumin’s significant antioxidant properties*, it may help to maintain the efficacy of the immune system.* There’s also work going on in the area of various allergies, as the supplementation appears to help to maintain resistance to recurring reactions.*
2. Anti-inflammatory
The other main property in which curcumin acts is as a powerful anti-inflammatory.* Curcumin has also been shown to suppress inflammation through many different mechanisms thereby supporting its mechanism of action as a potential anti-inflammatory agent.
3. Joints
Many of our customers start buying Curcumin+ during the winter months when they start to notice joint problems. Curcumin helps maintain the health of joints and bones* it helps protect and support joint comfort and flexibility.* Curcumin is an incredibly popular food supplement for athletes as it is on the ‘allowed list’ and is sometimes used in recovery.
4. Digestive system
There are various clinical trials looking at curcumin supplementation in irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and liver disease. We use curcumin in Happy Tum as it is known to contribute to digestive comfort.* Curcumin also contributes to the stimulation of the production of the digestive body fluids and helps to facilitate fat digestion. It therefore supports normal liver and biliary function.*
Curcumin within turmeric does not absorb well
Not all curcumin supplements get absorbed either! Curcumin+ contains CurcuWIN® – a form of curcumin that is 46 times more absorbable than standard curcumin/turmeric extract.**
* GB ARTICLE 13.1 BOTANICALS ON HOLD LIST.
** JÄGERR ET AL. COMPARATIVE ABSORPTION OF CURCUMIN FORMULATIONS. NUTR.J 2014;13(1):11.