How can turmeric help maintain digestive health?

 

There is growing evidence that turmeric and curcumin are useful in maintaining healthy digestive and bowel function. Keep reading to find out about IBD, the conventional treatment and the related research on the potential positive effects of turmeric and curcumin on digestive function.

 

What is IBD?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease covers a group of disorders in which the intestine become inflamed – red and swollen. The cause for IBD is unknown but it is known that the body has an immune reaction against its own intestinal tissue.

There are two major types of IBD:

1. Ulcerative Colitis – this condition causes long- lasting inflammation and sores (ulcers) in the innermost lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum.
2. Crohn’s disease – this condition is characterized by inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract, which often spread deep into the affected tissues.

Both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease usually involves abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, fatigue and weight loss.

The Causes of IBD

The exact cause of inflammatory bowel disease remains unknown. Previously, diet and stress were suspected, but now doctors know that these factors may aggravate but don’t cause IBD.

One possible cause is an immune system malfunction. When your immune system tries to fight off an invading virus or bacterium, an abnormal immune response causes the immune system to attack the cells in the digestive tract, too. Heredity also seems to play a role in that IBD is more common in people who have family members with the disease. However, most people with IBD don’t have this family history.

In addition to the overreactive immune response that is involved in both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s, researches have also found that problems in with the smallest blood vessels in the intestines can also cause or exacerbate IBD. These problems are caused by overstimulating the blood vessels, causing them to abnormally grow, meaning their growth becomes unchecked – this is known as angiogenesis and is one of the ways that cancer tumor grows and spread in the body.

Conventional medical treatments for IBD

The main types of medications used to treat IBD in the conventional medicine include medication to reduce inflammation in the GI tract (Aminosalicylates) and drugs to suppress the immune system as Corticosteroids and Immunomodulators. Some of these medication carry the risk of potentially serious side effects.

Turmeric and Curcumin to the Rescue!

Both animal and human clinical studies have shown that curcumin and other compounds in turmeric can safely support healthy digestive function.

Research has also shown that curcumin and other turmeric extracts can assist in promoting healthy inflammatory responses in the body, rather than suppressing the immune system in the entire body.

How does turmeric help support digestive health?

Turmeric and curcumin can potentially help maintain digestive health in a number of important ways:

1. Support the body’s immune system response: In lab and animal studies, curcumin exerted immune-regulating effects. It helps avoid overactive immune function and supports a strong immune system.
2. Maintain healthy blood flow in the intestines: Turmeric compounds can block the over-stimulation and abnormal growth of new blood vessels.
3. Neutralize free radical damage:  Turmeric and curcumin contains many antioxidant compounds that provide antioxidant protection within the GI tract, thus preventing and helping to reverse free radical damage.
4. Assist natural inflammatory response:  When certain genes are triggered, they can produce many inflammatory molecules – including COX-2 enzymes.

 

How can I get good quality of turmeric and curcumin extracts?

Curcumall® is an all-natural liquid herbal supplement of turmeric extract, curcumin and ginger extract. It was developed over the course of seven years by scientists in the health and medical research fields to harness the health-giving properties of curcumin without the problem of stomach upset and with improved absorption.

Typically, curcumin is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream through the digestive tract. Curcumall® is more readily absorbed than most available curcumin products due to its extraction process and liquid form. This technologically advanced formula delivers more curcumin to the blood while optimizing its efficacy.

Most Curcumin products include piperine, an extract of black pepper that is added to enhance the absorption of Curcumin. Turmeric supplements using piperine may cause problems with pharmaceutical medications, and people who take Curcumin supplements containing piperine, have complained about gastrointestinal upset caused by the piperine. Curcumall® doesn’t contain piperine while offering high absorption of Curcumin.

Tip: If you want to use good quality curcumin/ turmeric, use Curcumall.

Curcumall® has no side effects. You can even use it in cooking. Check out our recipes here for an easy way to incorporate curcumin into your menu.

Suggested Curcumall®  Dosage:

Every teaspoon of Curcumall® contains 500 mg of curcumin.

Routine use: twice daily, mix 2 teaspoons of Curcumall® liquid curcumin in a glass of water and drink on an empty stomach (half an hour before a meal, or two hours after a meal).

For extra effect when starting this regimen: three times daily, mix 2 teaspoons of
Curcumall® liquid curcumin in a glass of water and drink on an empty stomach.