If you have always thought that turmeric and curcumin are the same thing or remained confused on the subject of what curcumin is, then here is something to enlighten you. They are not the same, and to get all the benefits of curcumin or turmeric, one has to understand their difference.
Turmeric and Curcumin: Difference
Turmeric is the commonly used term for the famous Indian spice and the plant- Curcuma Longa. It is a widely used plant in most cosmetic and medicine industries, apart from being the primary spice used for seasoning the majority of Indian dishes. Turmeric offers a wide variety of health benefits attributed to the active compounds found in this spice.
The main active compound in turmeric is curcumin, which gives turmeric its distinct color, flavor, and medicinal properties. Curcumin makes 2-8% of turmeric and is known for its antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. To sum up, curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric, and on the other side, turmeric is a plant containing curcumin.
Turmeric and Curcumin: Benefits in common
Since curcumin is an active phytochemical compound in turmeric, it is obvious that they both offer some shared health benefits. Both turmeric and curcumin have several medicinal properties and provide immense health benefits, most of which are backed by science and research. Curcumin, when used as a supplement in the form of curcumin tablets, amplifies the benefits it has to offer.
Strong antifungal and antibacterial properties
Taking turmeric or curcumin supplements offers your body the ability to fight against different bacteria or fungi. They work to prevent and reduce the growth of such disease-causing bacteria and fungus by breaking them down into smaller pieces and even eliminating them when these herbs are used in conjunction with proper medication.
Powerful anti-inflammatory properties
Turmeric and curcumin are considered plants with strong anti-inflammatory properties and are used to treat a range of skin conditions and body aches. Curcumin in turmeric works by reducing the activities of white blood cells, which are the main cause of inflammation. Curcumin capsules have proven to reduce even chronic inflammation, especially the ones caused by severe health conditions such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s, cancer, etc.
Effective antioxidant properties
Oxygen is essential for survival, but oxygen in excess amounts causes oxidative stress in the body and leads to many problems. Oxidation can affect the blood vessels and different organs and give rise to chronic diseases.
Curcumin supplements have strong antioxidant properties that help strengthen your immunity system and fight various infections and diseases. The antioxidant properties of the curcumin compound aid in reducing oxidative stress and fighting free radicals that help prevent different diseases from emerging. Turmeric is one of the best Ayurveda herbs that has been used for ages to complement the treatment of cancer, thyroid, and a lot of severe diseases.
Reduces the risk of cancer
Although more research is still required to confirm the effectiveness of turmeric and curcumin in fighting cancer, it has been proved that both curcumin and turmeric have anti-cancer properties. They help in reducing the activities of cancerous cells, decrease their growth, prevent them from spreading, and also help in shrinking tumors. Various studies show that the benefits of curcumin include preventing different types of cancer, such as liver cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, and more. The strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of curcumin also help protect against neurogenerative diseases.
Decreases the risk of obesity
Turmeric and curcumin aid in regulating fat metabolism by preventing fat accumulation in the body, which is the main reason that leads to weight gain or obesity. It also hinders the growth of adipose tissue by encouraging the white adipose tissue to change its color to brown and, thus, promotes fat burn. Consumption of curcumin increases insulin sensitivity, which also promotes weight loss. Turmeric and curcumin help accelerate the process of weight loss when taken along with a weight-reducing diet.
Curcumin: Benefits not in common with turmeric
As stated earlier, curcumin is the main phytochemical compound in turmeric responsible for turmeric taste, aroma, and flavor. With such strong qualities of curcumin, it is possible for it to have its own sets of benefits that are not attributed to turmeric. Curcumin tablets can alone be taken in the form of a supplement to have its benefits magnified instead of experiencing a small facet of its effectiveness in the form of turmeric. Here is what curcumin has to offer as a supplement.
- Turmeric and curcumin are both proven to reduce the glucose and blood sugar levels in the body, but according to some studies, curcumin is more effective in reducing blood sugar levels when taken alone as a supplement.
- Curcumin is more efficacious in lowering the activities of cells responsible for inflammation. Consumption of it significantly reduces the risk of bone diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis, as compared to turmeric.
- The anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin have proven to be effective in the treatment of type-2 diabetes. Curcumin aids in reducing the production of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 6, which are the main contributors to the emergence of type-2 diabetes.
- It is also a better treatment for Alzheimer’s due to its efficacy in mitigating inflammation in both body and brain, and thus, is the best supplement to be combined with the medical treatment for Alzheimer’s.
Which one to take?
The health benefits of turmeric have been known to all for centuries, but the fact that the majority of its benefits come from the presence of the active compound in it called curcumin. Since curcumin contains all the benefits that one can get from turmeric and offers even more, thus, it is evident that curcumin supplements are more effective as a remedy or supplement to treat diseases and improve health.
Moreover, turmeric, according to some research, has poor absorbability, which means even if you use it, there is no guarantee that you will get all the benefits since it won’t get efficiently absorbed by the body. On the other hand, curcumin has high absorption levels when taken in the form of a supplement.
Conclusion
Arriving at conclusion, the intake of curcumin means that you are absorbing the benefits of turmeric and the unique added benefits of curcumin alone as a supplement. To get the most out of curcumin, you have to make sure that you use it in its purest form and quality.
Rasayanam Curcumin+ is the supplement to go for to experience the benefits of curcumin in its purest and refined form. This is one of the sought-after.
Turmeric is the commonly used term for the famous Indian spice and the plant- Curcuma Longa. It is a widely used plant in most cosmetic and medicine industries, apart from being the primary spice used for seasoning the majority of Indian dishes. Turmeric offers a wide variety of health benefits attributed to the active compounds found in this spice.
The main active compound in turmeric is curcumin, which gives turmeric its distinct color, flavor, and medicinal properties. Curcumin makes 2-8% of turmeric and is known for its antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. To sum up, curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric, and on the other side, turmeric is a plant itself containing curcumin.
