Supplement Review: One Supplement to rule them all! One Blog to find them! One Supplement to bring them all! And in the Darkness Bind them! Curcumin the Supplement that rules them all!

A Look at the Positive Effects and Health Benefits of Curcumin

Kenneth Rybicki MD, PhD

With the increased attention on antioxidants, its important to know what nutrients are antioxidants, and information about them. One such nutrient is Curcumin. Curcumin is a natural extract from the spice Turmeric. Turmeric is derived from the plant Curcuma Longa, a member of the ginger family.

Curcumin has been used for many centuries in India and Asia because of its numerous potential benefits. Curcumin is an important ingredient in curry powder, which is a blend of several spices. Curry’s distinctive yellow color is due to its content of Curcumin. Curcumin has been used since ancient times to treat disorders from arthritis and digestive problems, to urinary complaints. It was also used to treat “low energy” and a variety of skin and wound conditions.

There are thousands of research papers written on the potential medical benefit of Curcumin. These studies have shown that Curcumin may have the following properties: Antioxidant Anti-Inflammatory Antiviral Anti-Bacteria Anti-fungal Anti-Cancer

Some researchers believe that Curcumin may be helpful in treating Alzheimer’s disease, Diabetes, allergies, and arthritis. However, scientists have not found conclusive evidence that shows that Curcumin can cure or prevent these diseases. Some research has been promising, but no definitive conclusion has been made as of now.

Curcumin is a known antioxidant which inherently has many health benefits This is due to the ability of antioxidants to neutralize and counteract free radicals. Free radicals are chemicals produced by the body during normal functions and by external factors such as pollution. Free radicals can cause many problems in the body including inflammation and swelling and possibly promoting cancer growth. Curcumin, due to its antioxidant activity, may prevent some of these serious health problems.

Curcumin has been studied extensively regarding its role in preventing and treating cancer. Curcumin may help prevent and treat cancer by several mechanisms. First, it may help block certain dangerous chemicals’ cancer causing effects. Also, Curcumin may block the growth of cancer cells. Additionally, Curcumin may stop the growth of blood vessels into tumors which in turn prevents the tumors from growing.

Angiogenesis is the scientific term meaning the process which a tumor uses to promote blood vessels growing into a tumor. This allows the tumor or cancer to spread. Curcumin has been found to block this blood vessel formation in two ways. It can block the blood vessel formation directly or indirectly by affecting the enzymes used in the blood vessel formation process.

It is also believed that Curcumin can cause cancer cells to “self-destruct” and can also prevent cancer cells from multiplying. Under normal circumstances, the body attempts to rid itself of abnormal cells such as cancer cells through a process known as “apoptosis”. In many cases, cancer cells can attempt to prevent apoptosis. Curcumin overrides the cancer cells and causes them to “self-destruct.”

Additionally, Curcumin may help prevent Alzheimers disease. Alzheimer’s disease is due, in part, to the accumulation of amyloid, a protein, in the brain. Research studies have shown that Curcumin directly decreases amyloid accumulation. Curcumin also helps with arthritis by reducing the COX-2 enzyme in the body. By inhibiting this enzyme Curcumin decreases the pain and swelling of arthritis.

It is difficult to obtain enough Curcumin to realize these health benefits through normal diet alone. Many of the studies have been based on people who receive Curcumin through a nutritional supplement. Nutritional supplements can provide a significant amount of Curcumin that most people cannot receive from their normal eating. However, it is important not to take too much of antioxidants such as Curcumin. Studies have shown that large amounts may have adverse health effects. Therefore, it is important to take nutritional supplements that have sensible amounts of antioxidants, including Curcumin.

The full effects of Curcumin are not yet fully understood. In regions like India and Asia it was believed that Curcumin cured a variety of ailments. Today, the most promising health benefits of Curcumin are attributed to its ability to defend against free radicals and slow or prevent oxidative stress. Although research is ongoing, and the results are not conclusive, there are many possible Curcumin benefits, and it has tremendous potential for health improvement.
-neovitin.com

Curamed 750

Curamed Powerful Antioxidant – Healthy Inflammation Response* Equivalent to 7,500 mg of Curcumin 95% 1000% Greater Absorption Dietary Supplement Recommendations: 1 to 2 softgels daily. This proprietary complex provides enhanced Bio-availability and sustained retention time in the body, using patent-pending technology. ? Clinically studied ? Most Bio-available curcumin product ? High antioxidant ORAC value – 159,277** ? Healthy inflammation response A patent-pending method using small particle size, turmeric essential oils, and phospholipids ensures that CuraProTM delivers a curcumin that is up to 10 times more Bio-available than cucumin 95%, and 6.3 times more Bio-available than curcumin with lecithin and piperine, as well has having an 8-12 hour retention time in the body. The result is a high-potency formula providing superior support for the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response, a healthy immune and cardiovascular system, and resistance to free radical activity.* SUPPLEMENT FACTS Serving Size: 1 Softgel Servings Per Container: 30, 60 or 120 Amount/Serving Daily Value Proprietary Complex 750 mg ** Curcumin CRX 791 (BCM-95®)

Clinically studied powerful antioxidant (High ORAC value > 13,000)Healthy inflammation response powerful immune enhancer CuraMed is produced with a unique and patented process that delivers a curcumin which is 8X more bio-available than curcumin 95% and 7X more bio-available than curcumin combined with piperine
-Amazon.com

I am taking this amazing stuff. I hope it does everything it says it does. If it does, the entire world should be taking it!

May 18th 2013
My knees do not hurt, is it because of continued use of this product? I don’t think so…

If you have knee pain or back pain is it an alternative to NSAIDs ABSOLUTELY NOT! The only thing that stops my knees from hurting is Naproxen, even Advil doesn’t work.

I believe I had the wrong office chair, and that was contributing to the pain, since changing it has gone away.

Does this product help a little? Yes I think so, since taking it my post surgery shoulder has stopped hurting, butt knees are a lost cause!

A couple days ago I pulled a back muscle on my rt side that allows you to twist at the waist and it hurts bad, has this helped? Not at all! My electro stim machine (ISmart 2) reviewed here on this site, has helped a lot! Along with naproxen!

Will I stop taking this product? No probably not, considering there is a family history of Cancer and if this has a chance of helping fight that, it’s worth it’s weight in gold! If its just a placebo effect… So be it as long as it works lol