Can Turmeric Help With Anxiety And Depression?

Did you know that curcumin, a bioactive ingredient in turmeric, is a Natural Anti-depressant and has soothing effects on depression and anxiety? A random belief that modern settings are causing an epidemic of depression and anxiety. It is precisely accurate. Everyone knows turmeric is a permanent staple ingredient in Indian kitchens and ancient Ayurveda. Also, curcumin in turmeric has been widely inspected for its potential concessions on human health and well-being, including its use as an anti-depressant. Because modern populations are increasingly overfed, malnourished, sedentary, sunlight-deficient, sleep-deprived, and socially isolated, these differences in lifestyle contribute to poor physical and mental health and affect the incidence and cure of depression. This article will cover the science behind curcumin’s anti-depressant properties and discuss how it could be used to treat depression and anxiety disorders for the sake of the public.

Turmeric for Depression

If you often suffer from depression and anxiety, it is not a big deal. Instead, you must know that nature has blessed you with a natural anti-depressant readily available in kitchen cabins. What you have to do is to read the article till the end to make sure that you are taking this super soothing ingredient in your diet correctly the way you should!

Curcumin is a chemical compound found in curcuma longa roots. It can fight depressive manifestations. Because curcumin is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, that can also boost the levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine in your brain. Serotonin is directly linked with your happiness, focus, and peacefulness. At the same time, dopamine is connected with rewards and inspiration. This means that these two happy hormones positively affect your mood and prevent the growth of anxiety disorders, which often cater to depression. Dopamine and serotonin also benefit involvement in some mental health ailments, including depression and mood conditions.

RELATED EVIDENCE:

With progressively growing evidence, curcumin is a promising alternative for addressing depression and anxiety. In recent decades, curcumin has enticed researchers and revealed a wide range of properties relevant to depression pathophysiology. In several breakdowns, curcumin has shown the power to balance out:

• Neurotransmitters
• Inflammatory pathways 
• Excitotoxicity
• Neuroplasticity
• Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal disturbances
• Insulin resistance
• Oxidative and nitrosative stress
• The endocannabinoid system

All the mentioned above contribute to feelings of despair, sadness, depression, and anxiety. To date, several clinical trials have been published and recommend using curcumin in treating depression and anxiety.

Turmeric Curcumin for Anxiety

Curcumin in turmeric owns an anti-depressant action that discharges serotonin and dopamine, which has a flattering effect on treating depression and anxiety. Curcumin enhances the level of neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), that reduce the symptoms of both mild and moderate anxiety. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric helps reduce your body’s stress response. Less cortisol and adrenaline coursing through your system make it easier to relax and feel calmer. In addition, it can also help patients suffering from severe forms of chronic mental diseases such as Alzheimer’s (dementia) or Parkinson’s.

Turmeric for Bipolar Disorder

For those who have bipolar disorder and are looking for natural solutions to help knock down their symptoms, look no further than turmeric. Turmeric’s active compound, curcumin — which gives turmeric its bright color — effectively treats depression and anxiety symptoms.

How does it work?

Curcumin works on the neurotransmitters (two of the happy hormones of your brain) serotonin and dopamine, which can play a role in mood disorders, i.e., depression and anxiety. By balancing these chemicals, you’ll experience more stable moods overall. In addition to this mechanism of action that helps regulate moods, curcumin also contains anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation throughout the body (which may be why taking turmeric is often recommended for people who suffer from chronic pain).

Turmeric Curcumin for PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder)

If you have PTSD, it’s essential to know that curcumin can be an effective treatment. As we’ve seen, curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory, which stamps that it can help with sleep and anxiety. In fact, in one study of patients recovering from heart attacks (clogged arteries) or bypass surgery (both conditions which induce post-traumatic stress), those who took 2 grams of curcumin per day for three months showed significant improvements in their scores on a psychological health questionnaire compared to those who took a placebo pill. This suggests that turmeric may be valuable in helping people recover from traumatic events like war or natural disasters.

Turmeric for Sleep

Inflammation can cause sleep problems by increasing your body temperature and the production of cortisol (the stress hormone). Curcumin helps reduce inflammation which in turn helps you get better sleep. Because curcumin, in turmeric, is a natural anti-inflammatory. However, you may need more curcumin as it can interfere with your body’s absorption of iron. It may also increase oxidative damage to cells when taken at high doses. Recent studies have shown that curcumin in turmeric can actually regularize levels of stress hormones in people with no sleep owing to depression, anxiety, and Major depressive disorder (MDD).

If you want to try taking turmeric for sleep, here are some tested dosages:

• 250 mg once per day or 500 mg twice per day for up to 3 months
• 500 mg twice per day for five weeks
• 400 mg thrice a day for a week

Safety & Dosage

There is no recommended dosage for curcumin. However, you can take a minimum of 500 mg daily to experience this supplement’s benefits. This is equivalent to about two teaspoons of organic turmeric powder or one teaspoon of powdered turmeric root. While taking more than 2g per day (2g = 4 teaspoons) may be beneficial in some cases; otherwise, it can cause side effects like nausea and bloating. Health practitioners suggest combining curcumin and black pepper for the best results because black pepper enhances its absorption in your body. About 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper (20 mg of piperine) should be enough. Always observe the dosage info on supplement labels.

The best way to Use Turmeric for Depression & Anxiety

Ensure you get enough turmeric in your diet by eating food that contains turmeric or trying some anti-inflammatory turmeric recipes. Fortunately, there are many great recipes out there that include this spice as an ingredient—from curries to soups! If you don’t want to cook up any dishes yourself but still want a good dose of turmeric daily, try adding ground turmeric powder into smoothies or yogurt!

You can also see the following alternative to ensure turmeric curcumin in your diet:

• Turmeric Tea in the morning
• Turmeric Rice in the lunch
• Turmeric Milk before bedtime
• Turmeric Supplements ( Capsules or Gummies)

The Essence of the Above Discussion

Hence, curcumin in turmeric is a potent natural anti-depressant. It’s also one of the best ways to treat depression, anxiety, and even bipolar disorder. The research on curcumin is so convincing that the FDA has even approved it as a safe and effective treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), depression, and anxiety. All these benefits mean that turmeric positively impacts mood, sleep quality, cognitive function, and more. Still, no severe side effects are associated with taking turmeric in moderate doses. It’s important to note that you should always check with your doctor before trying any new supplement or herb.

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REFERENCES

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