Turmeric, also known as curcumin, is a yellow-orange powder that comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant. It’s been used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties and it’s often added to curry dishes and other cuisines. In addition to being used in cooking, turmeric is also available as a supplement. But there are many health benefits associated with adding this spice to your diet—and they go far beyond just making your favorite chicken recipe taste better! Here are some of the most important ones:

Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to irritation or injury, in which it sends white blood cells and other immune system components to attack foreign invaders and damaged tissues. Inflammation can occur in all parts of the body, including the brain, heart and joints.

Turmeric contains compounds called curcuminoids that have anti-inflammatory properties, according to Mayo Clinic. One study found that curcuminoids worked as well as ibuprofen in reducing inflammation from knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Turmeric may also help with memory loss.

A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that turmeric extract significantly improved short-term memory in mice. The researchers note that this was likely due to the presence of curcumin, which has been shown to inhibit a protein called acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. In their experiment, mice were given an AChE inhibitor for just one week before being tested for memory enhancement; during this time period, their brain tissue showed reduced levels of AChE activity compared to baseline measurements taken when they were given no treatment at all—and after seven days without any intervention whatsoever!

The researchers were also able to identify two important factors: firstly; how much curcumin was consumed by each mouse during this period affects how well they perform on tests designed to assess their abilities within 24 hours later (this suggests that it’s not necessarily just quantity but rather quality that matters ). One product that we recommend is a USDA Certified Organic Turmeric Supplement by Organixx, a well known name and quality brand used and recommended by medical professionals.

Secondly: long-term supplementation seems like it might be necessary because even though there were measurable differences between those who received daily doses versus those who didn’t receive any treatment whatsoever during testing periods lasting up two weeks post-treatment initiation date – these effects ultimately disappeared after four weeks went by without ingesting any additional compounds containing curcumin.

Turmeric is an all-natural pain reliever that can help reduce joint pain and inflammation. One of the most common health problems associated with aging, arthritis is a painful condition that causes stiffness in joints and can lead to joint damage if left untreated.

To treat arthritis, one study found that turmeric not only reduces pain but also helps slow the progression of osteoarthritis by reducing inflammation and cell damage. Another study found that supplementation with curcumin (a component in turmeric) reduced knee pain in people who suffer from osteoarthritis.

Free radicals are molecules that cause damage to cells, which can lead to serious health problems. Antioxidants, like turmeric, consume free radicals and reduce the risk of disease.

In addition to being an antioxidant, turmeric also has anti-inflammatory properties. This means it can help reduce swelling and pain caused by inflammation. For this reason, it’s often used to treat arthritis and other inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Turmeric may also help prevent heart disease by reducing cholesterol, plaque buildup in arteries and blood pressure. Research has shown that curcumin may lower total cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels, both of which are risk factors for heart disease. Studies have shown that curcumin can lower total cholesterol by 16% to 22% and LDL cholesterol by 18% to 31%. In addition, it appears to have the same effect on triglyceride levels (fatty acids in the blood), with studies showing reductions of up to 30%.

The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric can also help reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis—a condition that causes plaque buildup inside your arteries over time—by slowing down how fast your body makes new blood vessels or removes dead ones. This process is called vascular remodeling, and it occurs as a result of inflammation within blood vessels caused by high levels of oxidized fat particles known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

To find out more about how you can use turmeric for cardiovascular health, check out this article from Natural News: [Link]

Turmeric has been shown to have antidepressant properties. A study from the University of California Los Angeles found that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, may help people with depression. The study was done on mice who were put under chronic stress for 18 days. Afterward, their depressive symptoms were measured using an instrument called the forced swim test (FST). Both acute and long-term administration of curcumin reduced depression-like behavior after being exposed to chronic stress as well as increased brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels. BDNF helps brain cells grow and repair themselves so they are healthy and working properly. It also protects against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease by preventing cell death due to age or disease-related damage (Neuropsychopharmacology 39(9):1864–72).

In another study conducted at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, researchers found that curcumin extract eased depressive symptoms in mice as well as promoted neurogenesis in regions associated with depression disorders such as the hippocampus (the part of your brain responsible for memory) which also plays a role in regulating emotions such as happiness and sadness.

Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties may also help prevent cancer. According to a study published in the journal Oncogene, curcumin (the active compound in turmeric) can reduce inflammation and even kill cancer cells by as much as 50 percent.

Another study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine discovered that consuming turmeric daily reduced inflammation markers by 25 percent among those who took it, compared to those who did not take it.

The third way that turmeric prevents cancer is by preventing the growth of new blood vessels that feed tumors. This is done through its ability to inhibit VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), which is what allows tumorous tissue to grow new blood vessels so it can grow larger.”

Studies show that curcumin can inhibit the formation of beta-amyloid plaques, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. It also may prevent inflammation in the brain and preserve brain cells from dying.

Turmeric is a great spice to incorporate into your diet, and as mentioned above, has many health benefits including helping with inflammation and memory, but talk to your doctor before adding it to your diet to make sure it won’t interact with any medications you’re taking.

Turmeric has been used for centuries and is a great spice to incorporate into your diet, along with having many health benefits including helping with inflammation and memory to name a few, but talk to your doctor before adding it to your diet to make sure it won’t interact with any medications you’re taking.