An ancient spice, turmeric (Curcuma longa) is appreciated for its aromatic roots which are dried then reduced to powder. Turmeric is used in many spice blends including curry and gives this fabulous yellow-gold color to your dishes.
But turmeric is also recognized for its therapeutic virtues: In fact, traditional medicines in part of Asia (notably China, India, Thailand) use turmeric ancestrally as a liver stimulant, against gastric acidity and other digestive disorders. In Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric is frequently prescribed to treat inflammatory conditions such as rheumatism, arthritis or tendonitis. For the last 50 years, Western medicine has not been left behind and has taken a very close interest in the beneficial effects of turmeric. Today there are hundreds of studies demonstrating the effectiveness of turmeric, attributing to it all kinds of therapeutic properties. Turmeric is thus consumed both in its natural state (root), as well as dried powder (the most common form) or even ready-made capsules from the pharmacopoeia.
So, today is turmeric the spice with a thousand virtues? Turmeric has become a star thanks to the curcumin it contains. It is a powerful antioxidant and is the subject of numerous studies to treat different pathologies. It seems undeniable that turmeric can prove to be a wonderful friend to your health. Today the World Health Organization attests and recognizes the effectiveness of turmeric on dyspepsia and anti-inflammatory treatments.
Dyspepsia: This is a common condition characterized by difficult digestion. It manifests itself by nausea, bloating, stomach pain, reflux. The pain is most often located in the upper part of the abdomen. Turmeric also has the ability to protect the gastric mucosa by destroying the Helicobacter pylori2 bacteria, the cause of many cases of peptic ulcers.
Anti-inflammatory treatment: two clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of curcumin as having anti-inflammatory properties. These studies validate its action against certain inflammatory pathologies such as tendonitis, rheumatism or arthritis.
Beyond recognition by the WHO, other beneficial effects have been studied: turmeric prevents certain cancers (colorectal, gastrointestinal, lung), it protects the brain from Alzheimer's disease. It would act to reduce depressive symptoms, irritation and sleep disorders, fatigue, concentration. It would reduce cholesterol levels, coughs, asthma, urinary stones.
The studies are adding up, the press is reporting numerous articles and the volume of Google searches on the benefits of turmeric continues to increase: In short, curcumin in turmeric seems to be the miracle spice!
But on January 11, 2017, there was a thunderclap in the world of medical research around turmeric: in fact Kathryn Nelson and her research team questioned the effectiveness of turmeric and its curcumin. Dr. Nelson says the bioavailability of curcumin is extremely low (the amount that makes its way throughout the body is "dismal") and curcumin itself probably doesn't do anything. However, his findings indicate that all compounds in turmeric need to be studied. Indeed, many studies carry out tests only on curcumin associated with oils or other substances. While turmeric should be studied in its entirety. “There are definitely benefits but the studies need to continue,” she says. His study had the merit of somewhat spicing up all these investigations around turmeric!
So, turmeric, miracle spice or not?
Medical research certainly still has a lot of work to do on turmeric and curcumin, in order to study all its facets and determine its preventive and curative actions. In addition, it is always difficult to isolate the benefits of an ingested element when it is often combined with others during a meal. Finally, each metabolism is different, each ability to absorb curcumin and its bioavailability differs depending on each person.
Even if turmeric only turns out to be effective for a few pathologies, and it may not be the miracle cure you hoped for, we are sure and certain that it can work miracles in your kitchen!