Turmeric, also known as Curcuma longa, is a flowering plant in the ginger family Zingiberaceae. It is a perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Turmeric contains a chemical called curcumin, which is a bright yellow polyphenol. Curcumin has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is approved as a food additive by the World Health Organization, European Parliament, and United States Food and Drug Administration. Although turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for a long time, there is no high-quality clinical evidence that consuming turmeric or curcumin is effective for treating any disease.
Some of the potential health benefits of turmeric and curcumin include:
- Anti-inflammatory properties: Curcumin is a bioactive substance that can fight inflammation and suppress many molecules known to play major roles in inflammation.
- Antioxidant properties: Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that can fight free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.
- Lowering blood fats: Taking turmeric by mouth seems to lower levels of blood fats called triglycerides.
- Preventing swelling and sores in the mouth: Taking curcumin, a chemical found in turmeric, by mouth, or as a lozenge or mouthwash, seems to prevent swelling and sores in the mouth during radiation treatment for cancer.
- Reducing depression symptoms: Most research shows that taking curcumin, a chemical found in turmeric, by mouth reduces depression symptoms in people already using an antidepressant.
It is important to note that curcumin and other active ingredients in turmeric are not easily absorbed by the body, and the digestive process breaks these beneficial compounds down and eliminates them quickly. Additionally, turmeric or curcumin supplements can interact with certain medications, such as blood thinners and immunosuppressive drugs.
