Turmeric: Nature's Golden Wonder Spice for Wellness and Vitality Pt.1

Turmeric, the cousin of ginger, is quite the herb. Its medicinal values are endless (or nearly so). The part which is most commonly used is the rhizome (the root structure), which eventually is processed into the golden-yellow powder that everyone knows and loves.

One of the active compounds contained within turmeric root is curcumin. Curcumin is believed to be the main reason for all of the health benefits that turmeric brings, from its anti-inflammatory properties, to its growth blocking of abnormal cells (ie. cancer), to depression treating, and more. Curcumin makes up roughly 65-80% of the curcuminoid content in turmeric, and the curcuminoid content itself makes up roughly 5% of turmeric's composition, so not a whole lot. Yet that 80% of that 5% does do quite a lot in health terms of bang for your buck. The majority of curcumin though, gets excreted and metabolized by the body before it reaches the blood stream and organs. So the active amount used by the body is low, but there is a solution to this.

If taking curcumin as a supplement (not whole turmeric root or powdered), add in a bit of black pepper (even as little as 1/20th of a teaspoon). Black pepper contains the compound piperine. Piperine inhibits the liver's ability to make curcumin water soluble (meaning more easily excreted from the body). So with this process temporarily inhibited, a much larger percentage of curcumin is bioavailable for the body and thus blood stream to absorb and use. Another option is to take whole turmeric root or the typical powdered form. The natural oils in the root (and powder) naturally help to increase the curcumin bioavailability when consumed. I personally take 1 tsp of powdered turmeric in 1 cup of water, with a shake or two of black pepper everyday. Works wonders!

In Part 2, I will discuss more about turmeric's role in combating depression, Alzheimer's, cancer prevention and tumour suppression, and body inflammation and pain.

Until then, stay well!