Curcumin is a marvellous supplement health-conscious consumers should consider taking for a variety of reasons.
This turmeric polyphenol and common ingredient is overlooked by many, but is enjoying a recent resurgence in popularity.
From reducing inflammation, to helping prevent fat gain, and blocking estrogen, this golden-orange wonder spice can offer up a lot of benefits.
Why You Should Supplement Curcumin
1. Curcumin Can Kill Baby Fat Cells
New research seems to indicate that curcumin forces “baby” fat cells to self-destruct before they become “adult” fat cells, thus preventing the growth of fat tissue [R].
Taiwanese researchers found that the use of curcumin in a high-fat diet at a caloric surplus prevents pre-adipocytes from forming actual adipocytes in a process called apoptosis which essentially slow-cooks the cell, breaking it down.
Phagocytes are then released to clean up the broken down cells.
But this is where things get interesting.
A low dose of supplementation hindered the development of pre-adipocytes, while megadoses caused for the cells to self-terminate through apoptosis.
Although researchers weren’t entirely certain as to why this phenomen took place, they believed it may be due to curcumin’s modulating effects on the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway.
The researchers wrote: “The findings suggest that curcumin supplementation could be an effective strategy for treating or preventing the development of obesity by a curcumin-induced reduction in the number of pre-adipocytes and the fat mass of adipocytes.“
While the research appears to be promising at this stage, we still urge readers to take a tried and tested conventional route when it comes to fat loss through diet and exercise.
If you need help with fat loss, we urge you to check out our fat loss bundle to begin shedding the pounds today.
2. It Can Help Reverse Diabetes
In mice, Curcumin has been shown to combat type I diabetes, adding to the list of many positives it can bring in supplement form [R].
According to a 2009 study [R]:
[Researcher Mohsen] Meydani and colleagues studied mice fed high fat diets for 12 weeks. The high fat diet of one group was supplemented with 500 mg of curcumin/ kg diet; the other group consumed no curcumin. Both groups ate the same amount of food, indicating curcumin did not affect appetite, but mice fed the curcumin supplemented diet did not gain as much weight as mice that were not fed curcumin.
“Curcumin appeared to be responsible for total lower body fat in the group that received supplementation,” said Meydani, who is also a professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts. “In those mice, we observed a suppression of microvessel density in fat tissue, a sign of less blood vessel growth and thus less expansion of fat. We also found lower blood cholesterol levels and fat in the liver of those mice. In general, angiogenesis and an accumulation of lipids in fat cells contribute to fat tissue growth.”
“Weight gain is the result of the growth and expansion of fat tissue, which cannot happen unless new blood vessels form, a process known as angiogenesis.” said senior author Mohsen Meydani, DVM, PhD, director of the Vascular Biology Laboratory at the USDA HNRCA. “Based on our data, curcumin appears to suppress angiogenic activity in the fat tissue of mice fed high fat diets.”
Meydani continued, “It is important to note, we don’t know whether these results can be replicated in humans because, to our knowledge, no studies have been done.”
3. It Reduces Inflammation
This wonder spice is well known to reduce inflammation.
Inflammation — chronic inflammation — has been linked to a host of easily-preventable diseases that shorten lifespans around the world.
Much chronic inflammation is a product of a poor diet model — one that’s high in seed oils, ultra-processed food, and other novel food sources.
Inflammation can also contribute towards other degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
Curcumin supplementation can reduce the risk of such degenerative diseases.
Curcumin is fat-soluble and lacks decent bioavailability.
If you are to supplement it for these ends, please consider using a blend that contains piperine (pepper) as it enhances bioavailability by 2000% and consume it with a meal high in fat.
4. A Painkiller
Due to its ability to reduce inflammation, the use of this supplement can help reduce pain stemming from inflammatory conditions such as Arthritis.
Chronic inflammation can sharply reduce quality of life and leave a patient with debilitating pain.
However, with well-aimed supplementation and changes in diet model, many have managed to live a normal, pain-free life.
5. It Can Increase Your Life Expectancy
Curcumin can indirectly increase your life expectancy by preventing or combating illnesses such as cancer.
Studies have shown that this wonderful powder can prevent metastasis, kill cancerous cells, and suffocate tumors by preventing the proliferation of blood vessels to tumors.
Moreover, it can help improve the function of the lining of your blood vessels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease by helping to control blood pressure and clotting.
Another study found that its supplementation can lower the risk of heart attack in bypass patients by up to 65%.
As this fantastic herb is believed to contain antioxidant properties, you will be able to expel free radicals more efficiently.
Additionally, it has also shown promise as an anti-depressant.
6. Curcumin can Block Estrogen and Raise Testosterone
On a study conducted with cells outside the body, Curcumin was shown to reduce estrogen levels.
Another study on rats found that this marvellous spice can raise testosterone levels.
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