“India has the lowest dementia rates in the world; they consume 25 to 50mg of turmeric daily, which prevents inflammation of the brain”. Dr Sunil Pai, MD, in Episode 5 of “The Quest for the Cures ….”
The Impressive Brain Benefits of Curcumin
Studies show that curcumin, a bioactive compound in turmeric, can treat depression, anxiety, brain aging and more. Enhanced curcumin supplements work best. Curcumin is the main bioactive compound in the Indian spice turmeric. It’s responsible for turmeric’s brilliant gold color and most of its impressive health benefits. But curcumin really shines as a brain health enhancer and protector. Curcumin supplements can lift your mood, tame stress and anxiety, and protect your brain against aging and neurodegenerative disease. Here’s why this remarkable compound is nutritional “gold” for your brain, mental health, and general well-being.
The Mental Health Benefits of Curcumin Supplements
Curcumin exhibits a wide array of healthful properties. It is naturally anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-cancer. Curcumin isn’t the only beneficial compound in turmeric, but it is the most promising and widely studied. Here are the notable mental health benefits of curcumin that have been discovered so far.
Curcumin is a Natural Antidepressant
Curcumin shows great potential as a natural antidepressant. In fact, it’s been found to be as effective for depression as the popular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) Prozac. This is great news for the millions who have tried antidepressants without success or for those who’ve experienced unacceptable side effects. Curcumin is believed to work by increasing two key neurotransmitters linked to depression, serotonin and dopamine.
In one study, three groups of patients with depression were given either curcumin, Prozac, or a combination of both. Curcumin was found to be as effective as Prozac, and patients who took both curcumin and Prozac experienced the most relief from their depression. Another way curcumin impacts depression is by reducing brain inflammation. There’s now compelling evidence that depression may be one of the many diseases caused by chronic inflammation. If you experience depression, even major depressive disorder, there is no downside to taking curcumin supplements. Curcumin is safe for most people to take indefinitely. And unlike many other substances, it can safely be combined with antidepressant medications and actually enhances their effectiveness. Curcumin can also be safely combined with other natural remedies for depression such as St. John’s wort and SAM-e.
Curcumin protects Against Brain Aging
Curcumin nourishes and protects the brain in a variety of ways. It’s a potent antioxidant that readily crosses the blood-brain barrier to protect brain cells from free radical damage. It can improve memory and concentration by increasing blood flow to the brain.
One study found that taking curcumin supplements improved blood flow as well as physical exercise did! Impressively, another study found that one dose of curcumin significantly improved attention and working memory in healthy seniors within an hour. Curcumin increases the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that stimulates the creation of new brain cells.
Additionally, it can increase neuroplasticity — your brain’s ability to change and grow throughout your lifetime. New research shows that curcumin increases the bioavailability of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), an omega-3 essential fatty acid that’s a fundamental building block of the brain. Learn more from “DHA Supplements: Why They’re Critical for Your Brain”
DHA deficiency is implicated in mental health and neurological disorders including depression, anxiety, and Alzheimer’s. Curcumin enhances DHA synthesis and elevates its level in the brain. Finally and perhaps most importantly, curcumin is powerfully anti-inflammatory. Chronic inflammation has been called a silent killer that contributes to eight of the top ten leading causes of death. Chronic inflammation of the brain shuts down energy production in brain cells, causing mental fatigue and slowing down the firing of neurons. This in turn can lead to anxiety, depression, brain fog, ADHD, and memory loss, as well as serious neurological diseases such as stroke and Alzheimer’s. Learn more from “Brain Inflammation May Be the Cause of Your Depression”.
Curcumin shows potential for treating Alzheimer’s
One of the most exciting benefits of curcumin is that it may help prevent Alzheimer’s. Populations that consume turmeric as a regular part of their diet have low rates of this disease. A senior in the US, for example, has a 4.4 times higher risk of getting this disease than a senior in India, believed to be due to their use of turmeric in cooking. Preliminary studies show that curcumin breaks up the plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. It also reduces inflammation, oxidative stress, and metal toxicity — all believed to play a role in Alzheimer’s. Curcumin also shows promise for treating Parkinson’s by preventing clumping of a protein found in the first stages of this disease. It is currently being studied as a potential treatment by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Curcumin supplements Relieve Stress and Anxiety
There hasn’t been as much research done on curcumin for stress and anxiety, but here’s what a few studies show. Curcumin, when taken alone or with the herbal antidepressant saffron (Crocus sativus), effectively minimizes both anxiety and depression symptoms in people with major depressive disorder. When curcumin is taken with the herb fenugreek, it reduces stress, anxiety, and fatigue while increasing quality of life in people suffering from extreme occupational stress. Curcumin can alleviate the anxiety experienced by women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The severity of PMS-related emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms was significantly reduced with curcumin supplementation. There are also a few relevant animal studies to consider. Learn more from “25 Proven Natural Remedies for Anxiety Relief”
When curcumin is given to rats under stress, it helps to normalize cortisol balance, adrenal gland function, BDNF levels, and behavior. Dietary deficiency of DHA is linked to several mental health disorders, including anxiety. Curcumin boosts DHA levels in the brain and reduces symptoms of anxiety. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is common anxiety disorder characterized by compulsive behavior. Curcumin supplementation has resulted in significant improvement in the compulsiveness and associated memory loss of OCD.
Peak mental performance
What would your life be like if your thinking were sharper, your attention more focused, and you had mental energy to burn? The right brain supplement can do that. And that means you can go longer, get more done, and achieve your personal goals. We’re very careful about anything we recommend. It must be effective, evidence-based, and safe.
Extracts: MetaBuz Turmeric Chai Tea newsletter ; https://bebrainfit.com/curcumin-supplements/#the-mental-health-benefits-of-curcumin-supplements