You are probably familiar with turmeric, the spice or curry powder that is found in many Asian dishes and gives them their yellow color.
But turmeric not only tastes good, it also has special antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and contributes to the development of neurons in the brain.
The curcumin it contains is also important for athletes, as it supports the recovery of muscle damage after training. Learn exactly how this works in this article.
Table of contents
1. What is curcumin from turmeric?
Curcumin is the active plant component of turmeric . Strictly speaking, the active ingredient is extracted from the root of the herbaceous turmeric plant.
The root has the sonorous name Curcuma longa L. and is a member of the ginger family , which is native mainly to India and Southeast Asia and looks very similar to the well-known ginger root.
Fresh turmeric root is available in specialty organic or Asian stores, although not always. Therefore, there are several healthy alternatives to the fresh root that are just as effective, or even more so.
Curcumin is the most important ingredient in turmeric, as it possesses the true potency. The powder from the root contains approximately 2-5% curcumin, which is only a very small amount.
Therefore, curcumin is often extracted from the powder and used separately in capsules in supplements and dietary supplements. This makes it easy to increase the curcumin dosage.
The effects of curcumin have long been a component of traditional medicine . Whether used in traditional Chinese or Ayurvedic medicine , the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin have long been known.
Today, it is also used in conventional medicine. Curcumin extract is used particularly against inflammatory diseases and neurodegenerative brain damage .
BRAINEFFECT HACK : For us, turmeric is an important ingredient in our smart MOOD capsules.
2. The effect of curcumin in the body
But how exactly does curcumin achieve its effectiveness? A study by the Department of Biochemistry & Center for Micronutrient Research at Annamalai University in India investigated the therapeutic applications of curcumin.
The researchers discovered that curcuminoids have two main effects: firstly, they are antioxidants and secondly, they have anti-inflammatory properties . [1]
The antioxidant effect of curcumin is primarily due to the fact that it protects your body from within. Not sure what antioxidants do? Antioxidants , found in plant substances such as turmeric, keep your body in balance.
In your body, so-called free radicals are created during various processes, such as energy production. These are essential for killing germs as well as diseased and old cells, thus making room for new ones.
However, the radicals are highly reactive and, if there are too many of them, attack your cells in the body, including your brain. They destroy your cell membranes, and if you have a lot of free radicals in your body, they even attack your DNA.
This causes you to age faster. Aging can actually be observed, for example, in faster aging of the skin. But your body also ages faster internally, and you become more susceptible to disease.
The degradation processes eventually reach the brain, causing concentration difficulties and memory lapses . However, this process only takes on such drastic proportions if you don't supply your body with enough antioxidants, such as curcuminoids.
Antioxidants act as antagonists to free radicals , neutralizing them and ensuring that your body remains healthy and balanced.
Nowadays, however, many people have extremely high levels of free radicals in their bodies due to poor nutrition and excessive stress. This condition is called oxidative stress .
Those suffering from oxidative stress often complain of symptoms such as fatigue or memory loss , and are more likely to suffer from micro-inflammation . This is why consuming antioxidants like curcumin is so important!
Wayne State University in Detroit conducted a study specifically examining the connection between free radicals, neuronal damage in the brain, and curcumin. [2]
The active ingredient in curcumin protects the brain in particular from the effects of oxidative stress and can even have a healing effect on damage that has already occurred.
The active ingredients in turmeric can not only reduce free radicals and thus protect your brain, but also have an anti-inflammatory effect.
The Department of Pharmacy at the University of Tromsø in Norway has now investigated this. [3] Curcumin reduces micro-inflammations in your body caused by oxidative stress.
When the body is no longer busy healing the numerous micro-inflammations , it has more energy available. You'll notice this, for example, in a more stable immune system . In short, curcumin makes your body healthier and stronger.
3. How important is curcumin for athletes
Finally, curcumin has another interesting effect related to the reduction of micro-inflammation. A study from the University of Western Australia in Perth has discovered how athletes can benefit from the active ingredient in curcumin. [4]
Curcumin, in combination with the active ingredient piperine (black pepper) , supports muscle recovery and reduces muscle damage during exercise.
For the study, ten rugby players received either curcumin and piperine or a placebo. The results showed that taking the active ingredients between competitions supported muscle recovery and reduced the loss of strength when hopping on one leg.
This makes curcumin interesting for competitive athletes who want to perform even better during training!
This is what curcumin can do:
- Natural Antioxidants → Neutralizes free radicals
- Reduces oxidative stress → Protects the brain from degradation
- Reduces micro-inflammations
- Supports muscle regeneration
BRAINEFFECT HACK : You too can benefit from the positive effects of curcumin. Without consuming large amounts of turmeric and black pepper. Our MOOD capsules will help you do just that.
4. How do I take curcumin?
The way you should take the active ingredient in turmeric depends primarily on the dosage. You'll definitely achieve the highest dosage if you take the plant substance in capsule form .
Incorporating turmeric into your daily cooking is not only time-consuming, but many people also find the taste, which is often associated with Indian and Asian cuisine, unpleasant.
It is best to use a supplement in capsules that already contains the active ingredients in the correct dosage.
This is where another trick comes into play: the effect of curcumin can be significantly increased when combined with another substance. This substance is called piperine and is found in black pepper . Piperine is added because curcumin alone cannot pass through the stomach.
Only the combination with black pepper increases bioavailability and allows the plant substance to reach its destination and unfold its strengthening effect. So, when purchasing, always make sure that the capsule contains not only curcumin, but also piperine.
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5. Where can I buy curcumin?
One of the main problems with antioxidants is that many people eat poorly and therefore consume insufficient amounts of these strengthening substances. Therefore, many people choose to buy the active ingredients in capsule form as supplements .
Not only does this cover your daily needs, but the supplements also have another advantage: They often consist of combinations of active ingredients that complement each other perfectly and can thus potentiate their effects.
If you decide to buy curcumin, BRAINEFFECT MOOD or CURCUMA CAPSULES might be the right choice for you. In just one capsule of MOOD, you get not only the important combination of curcuminoids and piperine, but also 18 other plant compounds!
Together, they ensure your body is kept in perfect balance, providing you with renewed energy. But this unique combination of active ingredients can do much more.
Vitamin D and L-tryptophan serve the human organism as a basis for the production of the feel-good hormone serotonin .
If you don't believe these numerous plant substances can improve your well-being, give them a try and discover how you'll feel better and more energetic, bit by bit!
6. Conclusion
Curcumin is the component of the turmeric plant responsible for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Curcumin reaches its full potential when combined with piperine from black pepper. However, to consume large amounts of curcumin quickly, you don't need to eat vast quantities of turmeric and black pepper. It's easier to do so by taking high-dose capsules.
7. Sources
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17569207
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17437639
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21642934
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28344463
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