Why Eating Turmeric May Clear Acne along with also Make You Smarter
Turmeric (curcuma longa) is usually a yellow coloured, culinary spice most famous as an ingredient in fine Indian along with also Pakistani curries, yellow mustard, along with also many Persian along with also Thai dishes. The spice comes coming from the turmeric root, which belongs to the same family as ginger.
the idea’s believed of which Indians have been eating turmeric in foods for thousands of years, as the textbooks of Ayurvedic medicine mention the idea all throughout time. For example, evidence shows of which turmeric plants were cultivated by Harappan civilization in 3000 B.C. Analyses of ancient pots discovered near brand-new Delhi have uncovered residue coming from turmeric, garlic along with also ginger of which dates back as early as 2500 BC.
Today, India’s production of turmeric accounts for over 0% of the worldwide total. Approximately 30 varieties have been recognized within the turmeric family, with some well-known varieties in India being ‘Alleppey Finger’, ‘Erode along with also Salem turmeric’, ‘Rajapore’ along with also ‘Sangli turmeric’, along with also ‘Nizamabad Bulb’.
Turmeric is usually used in more than just curry, the idea can also be found in canned beverages, ice-cream, yoghurts, yellow cakes, biscuits, sweets, cake icings, baked products, dairy products, popcorn-colour, cereals, along with also sauces. Turmeric also has special cultural significance; in India, during a wedding ceremony, turmeric paste is usually applied over the bride along with also groom’s bodies, especially the face along with also arms. Turmeric-based pastes are used by many people to beautify along with also enrich skin complexion.
The Indians are in love with turmeric, especially in food…
…along with also there’s one various other fact of which might interest you. While the Indian population is usually often just as overweight along with also diabetic as more developed countries (among the middle classes at least), the rates of many types of cancer are substantially lower.
Prostate cancer is usually 23 times more common in American men than Indian men. Americans get between 10 to 11 times more colorectal cancer, 9 times more endometrial cancer, 8 along with also 14 times the rate of melanoma, 7 to 17 times more lung cancer, 7 to 8 times more bladder cancer, 9 to 12 times more kidney cancer, along with also 5 times more breast cancer.
In a recent study titled “Dietary turmeric potentially reduces the risk of cancer”, scientists concluded of which among various other dietary factors, turmeric was the main saviour in keeping Indians cancer-free. Turmeric has gained a big reputation among women who use its anti-estrogenic properties as an aid to beat breast cancer, while This particular study found of which turmeric effectively destroys lung cancer cells.
Turmeric is usually possibly the healthiest food spice yet discovered on the face of the planet. Furthermore, when consumed, the idea features a staggering variety of benefits against acne.
Turmeric boosts antioxidants thanks to curcumin
Firstly, you need to understand the vast importance of curcumin. Rather than any basic vitamins along with also minerals, almost all the power of turmeric is usually attributed to its vast array of phytonutrients along with also minor plant compounds. The most important sets of compounds are curcuminoids along with also the volatile oil. Volatile oil consists of many aromatic compounds with two, tumerone along with also ar-tumerone, having decent medicinal powers.
Curcuminoids, which are natural antioxidants of which impart the yellow colour to turmeric powder, mainly consist of monodemethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, along with also most importantly, curcumin.
Curcumin is usually the main active medicinal compound of turmeric along with also is usually responsible for the lion’s share of its benefits. Curcumin accounts for 3-6% of turmeric by weight, along with also has been studied far more in recent years than turmeric itself. There’s a booming curcumin supplement industry along with also curcumin may affect up to 700 genes within the Centeng, over a third of of which of vitamin D, which affects up to 2000 genes. Curcumin reportedly exhibits over 150 potentially therapeutic activities.
Curcumin has tons of benefits for acne patients along with also the first is usually in increasing antioxidant supplies, not just by being an antioxidant itself, although by triggering your Centeng to manufacture more glutathione:
- This particular review coming from 2008 analysed whether curcumin could treat glutathione depletion along with also the answer was of which the idea could: “These data suggest of which curcumin has potential therapeutic value for neurodegenerative diseases involving GSH depletion-mediated oxidative stress”. of which’s great news, since acne is usually a disease involving GSH (glutathione) depletion. Apparently, curcumin increased both glutathione levels along with also decreased rates of protein oxidation, suggesting of which curcumin protects against free radicals.
- This particular 1992 study was even more impressive. Scientists fed mice 250mg of curcumin per day for 15 days, along with also at the end of study, glutathione levels within the liver had shot up by 80%.
- This particular 2001 study on rats fed them a supplement of over 0% curcumin along with also observed of which their liver glutathione levels increased by 16% compared to rats who didn’t receive the idea. Furthermore, levels of molondiandehyde within the colon fell by 36%. Malondialdehyde is usually a biomarker used to assess bodily levels of lipid peroxides, the worst type of free radicals for acne patients.
- This particular study found of which when exposing rats to the toxic heavy metal mercury, often found in seafood along with also dental fillings, their levels of glutathione fell. However, supplementation with curcumin was able to prevent This particular decrease. Curcumin also lowered levels of lipid peroxides along with also many various other free radicals. Here, yet another study found of which curcumin stimulated glutathione production within the Centeng.
Getting more glutathione is usually a strategy I recommend for most acne patients, since antioxidants prevent blocked pores along with also inflammation along with also glutathione is usually one of the main antioxidants. Also, a study found of which skin samples coming from acne patients have on average, 20% less glutathione than their clear-skinned counterparts.
Not only do turmeric along with also curcumin increase glutathione, although they deliver a double whammy of acne-fighting power by providing tons of antioxidants themselves. Curcumin has its own antioxidant functioning, along with also turmeric’s overall score on the ORAC scale for measuring antioxidants is usually a massive 127,068. Turmeric contains compounds such as the various other two curcuminoids, tumerone along with also ar-tumerone. The ORAC score is usually huge; a handful of blueberries scores 4669 along with also a plateful of broccoli scores 1510, along with also as you may know coming from “superfood” stories within the media, they’re great sources of antioxidants themselves.
Turmeric itself begins life as a root (see picture above) along with also is usually then boiled for about 30–45 minutes. the idea is usually then dried in hot ovens, after which the turmeric is usually ground into a deep-orange-yellow powder.
Since all the moisture is usually evaporated within the oven along with also the spare plant matter is usually removed during production, turmeric powder is usually an extremely concentrated form of the nutrients originally found within the root. The strong woody flavour of turmeric is usually an indication of the massive antioxidant count since different antioxidant profiles provide the varying flavours in plant foods.
This particular study analysed turmeric itself rather than curcumin; after a high daily intake among of curcumin among 30 volunteers aged 40-0 for 60 days, there was far less oxidation of both HDL along with also LDL cholesterol along with also less lipid peroxidation overall. In layman’s terms, there was less oxidation of fat-based tissues, along with also apparently “the effect was quite striking”, especially in those who had high levels of lipid peroxides in their blood to begin with.
of which’s excellent news for treating acne. Water soluble antioxidants are important, although what we acne-prone people especially need is usually fat soluble ones because the idea is usually oxidative damage to the oil (sebum) on your face of which leads to blocked pores along with also acne. Turmeric seems to preferentially protect against lipid peroxides (fat-based free radicals), again according to This particular study along with also This particular study.
In short, eating turmeric is usually a great way to hoover up free radicals along with also prevent them coming from inflaming your acne along with also blocking your pores.
Turmeric rivals pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drugs
While I believe of which the glutathione-increasing power of turmeric has somehow been criminally overlooked by the health community at large, there’s no doubt of which the idea’s most famous power is usually excellent for acne too. Turmeric, or more specifically, curcumin, has been shown to reduce chronic inflammation as effectively as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSIADs).
You can see This particular in curcumin’s massive ability to treat vanquish arthritis within the elderly. This particular study fed 45 rheumatoid arthritis patients either curcumin (500 mg) or the drug diclofenac sodium (50 mg), or a combination. The scientists said of which “interestingly, the curcumin group showed the highest percentage of improvement in overall Disease Activity Scores along with also these scores were significantly better than the patients within the diclofenac sodium group”. Curcumin also had no side effects.
While arthritis along with also acne manifest themselves very differently, they share an important characteristic: they are mainly caused by a chronically overactive along with also out of control immune system, or chronic inflammation, within the case of arthritis, the inflammatory chemicals are chipping away at bones along with also joints; with acne, they’re bombarding p.acnes bacteria until the surrounding pore swells up.
Tons of studies have confirmed curcumin’s effect to lower inflammation directly. In This particular recent 2014 study, researchers enrolled 117 patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome in an experiment to determine curcumin’s effects on inflammation. Half of the patients took a daily gram of curcumin powder for eight weeks while the various other half received a placebo pill.
At the end of the study, the curcumin group had lower levels of c-reative protein, the main biomarker of chronic inflammation, along with two various other inflammatory biomarkers. The placebo group had increased inflammation after the eight weeks. The scientists also reviewed eight previous studies on curcumin along with also concluded of which curcumin led to reductions in CRP levels.
The overall conclusion? “Short-term supplementation with curcuminoid-piperine combination significantly improves oxidative along with also inflammatory status in patients with MetS. Curcuminoids could be regarded as natural, safe along with also effective CRP-lowering agents.” In various other words, turmeric can lower inflammation excellently.
The specific mechanism is usually very interesting; rather than tackling lone inflammatory chemicals behind acne like interleukin-6 or iL-8, turmeric downregulates the entire inflammatory process at a molecular level by lowering Nf-Kappab activity (study, study). of which’s a master molecule of which controls the production of a vast swathe of different inflammatory chemicals, which doctors themselves frequently target with pharmaceutical drugs.
the idea doesn’t end there for turmeric along with also curcumin; while boosting antioxidants along with also lowering inflammation are the main benefits for acne, turmeric can affect more factors behind acne than nearly any various other food.
This particular study found of which curcumin could inhibit the secretion of cortisol, the main stress hormone in humans which causes acne via digestive problems, delayed wound healing along with also insulin resistance. Turmeric contains decent trace minerals such as 26% of the RDA for manganese, 3% for magnesium, along with also 3% for vitamin C.
This particular study found of which curcumin had potent antidepressant activity; feeding mice curcumin increased levels of the “happiness hormone” serotonin, which should further counteract stress hormones like cortisol. The study on glutathione above also found of which curcumin had a strong defensive effect against the heavy metal mercury, which can cause acne via higher insulin levels along with also inflammation.
An emerging area of interest is usually turmeric’s effect on insulin resistance. One study conducted on prediabetic volunteers (people who are dangerously close to developing T2D within the near future) analysed the effect of curcumin in delaying the development of diabetes. Two random groups of patients of 35 years or older were treated with either curcumin or a placebo. They were asked to consume 6 capsules a day for 9 months along with also various blood statistics such as insulin levels were measured, both before the treatment along with also at intervals of 3, 6 along with also 9 months of the treatment.
The results were outstanding. After nine months, none of those taking curcumin developed diabetes although 16.4% of the placebo group did. The curcumin was 100% effective at preventing Type 2 diabetes.
Those treated with curcumin had greatly improved upon functioning of insulin receptor cells. of which helps acne greatly, because when cell are more receptive to insulin, your Centeng doesn’t need as much to do the same work of storing energy. Your blood levels of insulin can drop, along with also because insulin stimulates your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, your skin gets less oily along with also clears up. Improving insulin sensitivity should be a key goal of all acne patients, along with also various other studies like This particular Japanese study have confirmed turmeric’s power to accomplish of which.
Turmeric also improves brain health
Eating turmeric won’t just give you amazing skin, the idea will enhance various other areas of your health. the idea won’t just prevent diseases, like cancer, turmeric may also supercharge your brainpower along with also mental abilities by increasing neuron generation.
Throughout much of the twentieth century the idea was believed of which once your brain had finished developing by about age 25, your neurons were done multiplying. They could no longer regenerate along with also if you abused them through alcohol or drugs or poor eating, your mind was basically a goner.
However, the idea today turns out of which neurons are changing all throughout adulthood; neurons form brand-new connections along with also in certain areas of the brain, they can also multiply along with also increase in number.
There’s one caveat though; the rate at which they divide along with also multiply is usually influenced by your lifestyle. Sugar, for example, depresses brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNP), the protein responsible for triggering neuron regeneration…
…although turmeric has been shown to increase brain derived neurotrophic factor activity, according to This particular study along with also This particular study. This particular study confirmed of which feeding curcumin to rats increased the multiplication of cells in their hippocampus.
Aspects of brain performance linked to brain derived neurotrophic factor include: memory, intelligence, special awareness, inventiveness, along with also sensorial sharpness.
Curcumin is usually also emerging as a potential preventative weapon against Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is usually very complicated, although the idea often occurs when a protein fragment called amyloid-B accumulates in brain cells, producing oxidative stress along with also inflammation, along with also also forming plaques between neurons within the brain of which disrupt overall brain function.
An amyloid is usually a general term for protein fragments of which the Centeng produces normally, while amyloid-B is usually a specific protein fragment snipped coming from another type of protein called amyloid precursor protein (APP). within the healthy brain, these protein fragments are broken down along with also eliminated with no harm done. although in Alzheimer’s disease, the clearance goes wrong along with also the fragments accumulate. They form hard, insoluble plaques between brain cells of which damage functioning, along with also they only accumulate over time.
In two studies published within the Journal of Biological Chemistry (coming from April 2006 along with also December 2004), researchers discovered of which curcumin could inhibit amyloid-B aggregation along with also dissolve amyloid fibrils more effectively than anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen along with also naproxen. Furthermore, tests on mice revealed of which curcumin had the ability to cross the brain blood barrier along with also work its anti-amyloid magic there.
Once the curcumin bound to amyloid plaques, the amyloid-B protein fragments could no longer clump together, along with also hence, further growth of the plaques was prevented. Hence, curcumin could prevent further worsening of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s such as mental confusion, forgetfulness along with also impaired mental function. One study also found of which curcumin increases the activity of immune system macrophages of which are specifically used to destroy the evil amyloid plaques.
This particular isn’t just a load of test tube gobbledegook either; apparently India has lower levels of Alzheimer’s than the rest of the planet, as well as less cancer. There’s one village in Northern India called Ballabgarh where men live to be in their 60s along with also 70s, yet Alzheimer’s barely exists there.
According to This particular BBC article: “scientists believe recorded rates of the condition in This particular smaller community are lower than anywhere else within the planet”. After testing 5000 villagers, the rates of Alzheimer’s were less than a third of of which within the UK. In my reckoning the idea’s highly likely of which turmeric has something to do with the idea, given the studies above.
Your guide to using turmeric
There’s a massive chance of which adding curcumin to your diet will improve your acne. However, you have to follow these instructions or your attempt will fail miserably.
Curcumin, the main active component of turmeric, is usually very poorly absorbed within the human intestine. the idea simply passes through untouched, without increasing blood levels, along with also is usually rapidly excreted coming from the human Centeng.
of which’s why you should follow another Indian tradition: in India, foods containing turmeric are very commonly combined with generous helping of black pepper. Put simply, black pepper contains a compounds called piperine which massive enhances the absorption along with also power of nutrients.
In a study determining the bioavailability of common curcumin supplements, curcumin given alone to humans translated to blood levels of which were very low or undetectable. However, adding piperine led to a miraculous improvement coming from 0.25 to 1 hour after administration. When taken alongside piperine, the bioavailability of curcumin in humans was increased by 2000%.
of which’s why you should either 1) take a piperine supplement, since the idea enhances the absorption of magnesium, protein, along with also various other antioxidants too, or 2) always eat black pepper with curry. One idea is usually to swallow a few whole peppercorns along with any meal containing turmeric, to enhance absorption. If you want to take Piperine, take the industry standard: Source Naturals Bioperine Black Pepper Fruit Extract. Note of which fat also increases curcumin absorption, so eating the idea with butter is usually smart.
As for the broader turmeric strategy, you can either feast on turmeric containing curries along with also meals, you can take a dedicated curcumin supplement (of which there are today dozens) or you can combine the two.
Combining the two will be most effective, although if you cannot afford the idea, I might advise sticking to the curry. Why? Because turmeric has been featured in Indian medicine for thousands of years, the idea is usually partially responsible for their continued health today, yet the Indians of 2000BC certainly weren’t popping curcumin pills. Curcumin is usually terrific although turmeric contains many various other antioxidants, compounds, vitamins along with also minerals.
Often the idea’s claimed of which concentrations of curcumin in turmeric are insufficient to have any benefit (3-6% by weight). Yet turmeric still demonstrates many of the same benefits, such as lowering lipid peroxides along with also improving brain health, as isolated curcumin in studies. You just absolutely have to combine turmeric with black pepper to raise the absorption, as recommended within the old Ayurvedic School of medicine of India.
If you want to take a curcumin supplement, you should buy one with built in piperine. This particular Turmeric Curcumin C3 with BioPerine Black Pepper Extract fits the bill, along with also the idea also has no inflammatory fillers or binders, or soy. The only filler in This particular supplement is usually the totally safe rice flour, along with also the idea features a higher concentration of curcumin than similarly priced supplements.
There’s only one circumstance in which you should avoid turmeric completely: if you have kidney stones.
Compared to various other foods, turmeric is usually very high in oxalates, organic acids which form crystal compounds with calcium, which build up along with also turn into those dreaded stones. Doctors advise kidney stone patients to avoid oxalates along with also This particular study reveals the dangers of turmeric. Doctors fed patients either cinnamon or turmeric, along with also found of which turmeric led to urine levels of oxalates of which were roughly 5 times higher. They concluded of which: “the consumption of supplemental doses of turmeric, although not cinnamon, can significantly increase urinary oxalate levels, thereby increasing risk of kidney stone formation in susceptible individuals.”
For everyone else though, eating turmeric is usually more likely to turn you into superman than leave in you in agony.
Conclusion
In This particular article I raved about the ability of cinnamon to lower blood sugar along with also insulin levels, along with also deemed the idea to be a top-notch acne-clearing spice. However, turmeric far surpasses the idea, since the idea affects not only insulin, although glutathione, inflammation, possibly cortisol, along with also improves your health so strongly.
Turmeric is usually among the most anti-inflammatory foods of all time. Since chronic inflammation is usually the main cause of acne, there’s no higher recommendation than of which.
NEXT: inflammation along with also its all important link to acne
Thanks for reading!