WHAT ARE THEY?
Turmeric, Indian saffron, yellow ginger, yellow root, or kacha haldi-all names refer to turmeric plants having the scientific name Curcuma longa. Curcumin is the main bioactive compound found in Turmeric.
While a flowering vine-piper nigrum, the family Piperaceae, grows in the hot and humid climate of South India, cultivated for its fruit peppercorn, usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. Many studies have revealed that black pepper can fix physical and mental problems.
ACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN SPICES
Curcumin in Turmeric: Chemically, turmeric possesses three bioactive compounds with health-boosting contents housed within the plant’s root.
These antioxidant compounds are Curcumin (or diferuloylmethane, Demethoxycurcumin, and Bisdemethoxycurcumin.
Piperine in Black pepper:
Piperine is the main component that gives black pepper its spicy taste and pungent smell.
It has antioxidant, antibacterial, and nutrient absorption. Furthermore, it has potent anti-cancer properties that can reduce or destroy cancer cells and positively affect depression and other neurodegenerative diseases.
MAGICAL COMBO OF CURCUMIN & PIPERINE:
Turmeric and black pepper are a perfect combination due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and disease-combating characteristics. The powerful blend of both spices:
- Fights inflammation
- Helps prevent cancer
- Aids digestion
- Minimizes feelings of discomfort in the body10 Science-Backed and Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric & Black Pepper
Together with Piper Nigrum (piperine), turmeric acts as a natural detoxifier that retains the integrity of the Intestinal lining, protects cells against free radicles, stabilizes blood circulation, and supports the overall healthy immune system of your body.
⦁ HELPS LOOSE WEIGHT
Piperine is effective for reducing fat cells and leptin levels in the body. More precisely, piperine can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol concentration.
Being overweight is a significant threat to the health and wellness of your body. Obesity is the mother of all diseases, which increases the risk of multiple diseases, including heart diabetes, arthritis, and hormonal imbalance.
Exercise and a balanced diet are crucial to sheds pounds. However, adding curcumin and piperine significantly decreases body mass index (BMI), weight, waist circumference, and leptin (a hormone produced by fat cells).
⦁ FIGHTS AGAINST INFLAMMATION
It is scientifically proven that piperine can help reduce the amount of pain and arthritis-linked inflammation. Moreover, the curcumin content in turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that may prevent arthritis from forming in the first place. So, combining these two spices could potentially remove risks of arthritis treatment that are as effective as traditional over-the-counter medications.
⦁ PROMOTE LIVER FUNCTIONING
The liver is a chemical hub in your body. It helps filter out all the toxins and harmful chemicals. Turmeric regulates detoxification. It uplifts bile production and decreases cholesterol levels.
Piperine ensures the absorption of nutrients in your body, including your liver. Combining the two supplements help turmeric increase absorption levels while shielding the liver from toxin damage.
⦁ EASY DIGESTIVE ACTIVITY
You can tackle most digestive tract problems with turmeric. It enhances digestion and removes risks of gas, bloating, and heartburn.
Modern and ancient studies suggest using turmeric to help reduce gut spasms and flatulence.
Piperine speeds up the enzyme activity in the gut, which triggers the body to digest easily.
The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric and piperine may aid in reducing gut inflammation, which can help with digestion.
⦁ RELIEVES PAIN & DISCOMFORT
Discomfort, pain, and aches are a result of inflammation that occurs in the body. Curcumin is proven to alleviate pathological pain.
A combination of piperine and curcumin works to alleviate inflammation and help relieve the feeling of discomfort and pain.
⦁ SUPPRESSION OF CANCER CELLS
Research and studies observed that combining turmeric and black pepper extracts can help to protect the body’s tissue and cells from the harmful radiation of cancer treatments. Both compounds can reduce healing time and complication risk related to chemotherapy.
Curcumin and piperine fight against cancer cells. Both supplements can curb the growth of various types of cancer, such as colorectal, breast, prostate, pancreatic, and leukemia.
⦁ PIPERINE ENSURES CURCUMIN ABSORPTION (bioavailability)
Unfortunately, curcumin is notorious for poor absorption into the bloodstream. The curcumin in turmeric is around 3% by weight. Suppose you want to reap benefits from this spice. In that case, you have to consume it with black pepper (piperine) because BioPerine (trademark name of piperine) enhances absorption of curcumin content by up to 2000%.
⦁ TURMERIC CAN TREAT INFLAMMATION & PAIN
Inhibitors in turmeric can prevent such symptoms while remaining highly effective at reducing inflammation and pain. COX-2 inhibitors are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that treat the pain and inflammation of many types of arthritis.
For example, turmeric can help reduce micro-inflammation in the GI (gastrointestinal) tract linked to inflammatory bowel disease. Furthermore, turmeric is beneficial for athletes who are experiencing joint pain as a result of their training routines. Plus, it can help reduce the inflammation related to this pain.
⦁ TURMERIC CAN TREAT ARTHRITIS & KNEE-PAIN
Some kinds of arthritis are the outcome of inflammation, including:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Osteoarthritis (OA)
Research states that turmeric offers several health benefits. Mainly, turmeric contains a compound called curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties that may benefit patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
A hypothesis regarding turmeric’s anti-inflammatory effects is inhibiting pro-inflammatory signals. Turmeric alters pro-inflammatory cytokines and changes NF-κB protein signaling, crucial in regulating immune responses, which fight against inflammation.
Knee pain is common these days. People shift to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or painkillers to reduce knee pain. You may be up to three times more likely to develop gastrointestinal side effects while taking an NSAID. But there are natural alternatives. One of the most effective is turmeric.
⦁ TURMERIC FOR HEART HEALTH
The sole reason behind heart ailments is an accumulation of plaque. Plaque narrows the passage of blood flow to the heart, brain, and other body parts.
Besides regulating blood pressure, turmeric also helps take care of the damage caused by high blood pressure.
LDL (or bad) cholesterol gathers in arteries in the form of plaque in the walls of arteries. Having high blood pressure in this state causes damage to tissues in arteries. Curcumin prevents fat deposits in the arteries.
Curcumin helps in bringing down blood sugar levels and diabetes-linked complications. Increased blood sugar levels in diabetic patients also significantly increase blood pressure; curcumin works well to keep these levels in control.
Acceptable Intake of Curcumin and Black Pepper
WHO wing on food additives determined that curcumin’s dietary intake should be 1.4mg per pound (3mg/kg) per day. For instance, a person weighing about 175lbs (80kg) would need to take 245mg of curcumin daily.
Make sure to use organic turmeric if you want to reap beneficial results.
Remember, dosage may vary depending on the purpose of consumption.
Consuming curcumin with fats ensures better absorption.
You can add turmeric to your diet. For example, you can have a cup of Golden Turmeric Milk before breakfast and bedtime, which will induce sound sleep, aid in breaking down accumulated abdominal fat, and helps in weight loss. Both milk and turmeric are antioxidants in nature, thus strengthening bones. So combined with Turmeric, it provides additional benefits to bone sustainability. Turmeric milk is excellent for awful colds, coughs, stuffy noses, and sore throat (pharyngitis). And if Turmeric Milk is taken daily, it’ll start boosting your immunity.
Follow recipe: Golden Milk Turmeric Tea
Possible Side Effects
High consumption of the above-recommended dosage can:
- Slows Blood Clotting
- Can interact with certain medications and cause excessive bleeding leading to Gastrointestinal problems
- Increases the risks of gallstones and kidney stones
