How useful is turmeric? The doctor named 3 healing properties of the spice

Curcuma has been used in India for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb. Recently, science has begun to confirm the content of compounds with medicinal properties in the product – curcuminoids. The most important of these is curcumin.

General practitioner, ex-director of the Hillel Foundation in Saratov

Many high quality studies show that turmeric is very beneficial for the body and brain. It is a yellow-colored spice found, for example, in curries. Many of these benefits are due to its main active ingredient, curcumin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

So what can turmeric do for sports enthusiasts? What are some of the product’s scientifically proven health benefits?

Promotes the production of antioxidants

Oxidative processes in the body are considered one of the mechanisms of aging and many diseases. It involves free radicals. They are able to react with important organic substances such as fatty acids, proteins or DNA and damage them.

The main reason antioxidants are so beneficial: they protect the body from free radicals. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals due to its chemical structure.

Reduces inflammation in the joints

Arthritis is a common problem in Western countries. There are several different types of the ailment, most of which involve inflammation of the joints.

Given that curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory compound, it makes sense that it could help with arthritis. In fact, several studies show that there is a connection.

In a study by scientists from India, conducted with the participation of a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the effect of curcumin was comparable to taking anti-inflammatory drugs.

Reducing muscle pain after exercise

An intense workout can lead to muscle overload, in which case turmeric comes to the rescue. It reduces muscle damage, thereby reducing the chances of inflammation in your muscles.

200 mg of turmeric in an athlete’s diet not only reduces the intensity of pain after exercise, but also prevents muscle tissue damage. These findings are reflected in the reduction of creatine kinase levels, a marker of muscle damage.

Curcuma and its most active compound, curcumin, have many scientifically proven health benefits. Currently, the use of the spice for therapeutic purposes is limited due to the lack of bioavailability of curcumin. Therefore, we look forward to more research on the health benefits of turmeric.