Turmeric is a plant native to Southeast Asia whose orange rhizome has been used for 2000 years as a spice and natural colorant in Eastern countries. In Ayurvedic Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, it has also been used as a medicinal plant because it contains curcuminoids, the polyphenolic compounds responsible for its characteristic color. The most abundant and studied is curcumin. This powerful ingredient has several medicinal properties
.Curcumin has antioxidant properties, and can help maintain liver health, helping to detoxify and eliminate free radicals from the body. It can also prevent the accumulation of fats, facilitating their elimination by the liver
.Curcumin can act to support the proper function of the nervous system. According to some researchers, the low rate of Alzheimers Disease in India could be explained by the high consumption of turmeric
.It has also been used to support inflammatory processes: it relieves joint and muscle pain, as well as digestive problems and intestinal inflammation.
The use of turmeric in the Western diet, and in particular the Mediterranean diet, is scarce. In addition, considering the low absorption and bioavailability of its active ingredients, if you want to enjoy the characteristics of this spice, it may be advisable to consume dietary supplements that ensure a sufficient daily amount at the beginning. Interesting are those that include some type of fat. In the market you can find products with phytosome, phospholipids that surround curcumin and improve its absorption in the
intestinal tract.Turmeric supplements dont usually cause side effects, although some people may experience stomach discomfort, so eating them during meals is advised. Women who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, and people with high blood pressure, gastrointestinal ulcers, and/or gallstones, should consult their doctor before taking a turmeric supplement
.