Curcumin benefits range due to its rightful place as an antioxidant powerhouse! It has been called the anti-Alzheimer’s spice, and it may have the unique ability to reduce inflammation in the body and brain in addition to other benefits. Curcumin is the bioactive part of Turmeric and is concentrated at the stems of the Curcuma Longa plant. You can increase the bioavailability – i.e. the extent a substance or drug becomes completely available to its intended biological destination(s) – of Curcumin by combining it with Piperine (i.e. black pepper extract) and healthy fat such as olive or coconut oil. [1] To make your life easier, we sell combined Curcumin-Piperine capsules that will give you the benefits of both. As we have seen, Curcumin is the bioactive part of Turmeric. The primary chemical component in Turmeric is a group of compounds called curcuminoids – including Curcumin, which is also the best-studied component. Turmeric is one of the most studied herbs in Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Chinese healing. It stands proudly alongside many modern medicines used to treat diseases like depression, Alzheimer’s and stroke. How does Turmeric look in nature? Turmeric is a perennial shrub native to Southern Asia. It is a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). And the Chinese name, jianghuang, literally means “yellow ginger”. Most of the Turmeric we get is grown in India. But Turmeric is also cultivated in China, Taiwan, Japan, Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia and throughout Africa. [1

How does Curcumin feel once you take it?

If you are in perfect physical and mental health, the effects of supplementing with Curcumin may be subtle. Curcumin’s neuroprotective benefits may not be felt if your brain is in perfect working order. But the effects of long-term supplementation will help you ward off diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The most frequent comment about supplementing with Curcumin comes from those dealing with chronic pain. Curcumin benefits include helping relieve the pain of osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. Chronic pain usually results in insomnia or poor sleep quality, loss of memory, depression, and other stress-related symptoms. Adding Curcumin to your nootropic stack can help relieve chronic pain. You’ll sleep better and feel more alert the next day. Additionally, supplementing with Curcumin can improve attention, working memory, and mood. Curcumin is also reported to relieve the symptoms of migraine headaches. [1]

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Eat Your Curry

Curcumin is often used in curry dishes. In 2003, a research team in Singapore conducted a study with 1’010 elderly Asian people aged 60 – 93 years. The scientists found that those who consumed curry “occasionally” and “often or very often” had much higher cognitive performance scores than those who “never or rarely” consumed curry. Therefore, the study authors reported that regular curry consumption was evidence of better cognitive performance. [2]

Curcumin as an anti-depressant

60 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder were chosen to receive either 20 mg of fluoxetine (Prozac), 1,000 mg of Curcumin, or a combination of both daily for 6 weeks. The researchers concluded that Curcumin could be used as an effective and safe treatment for patients with major depression. [2]

Curcumin Reduces Stress

For this study the scientists used rats. They subjected the animals to stress for 20 days. After that, the scientists added Curcumin to the food of the rats and saw an astonishing response: the biological symptoms of the stress were reversed. Giving the rats Curcumin had benefits found to block all these stress-induced physical responses in their brains. [2]

You cannot get the immediate therapeutic and nootropic benefits of Turmeric by simply eating more curry, or by adding turmeric to your food since Turmeric root contains only about 3% Curcumin. The most convenient way to start experiencing the benefits of Turmeric is to get a high-quality, 100% organic Turmeric extract that contains at least 95% curcuminoids. But Curcumin and Turmeric on their own are poorly absorbed by your gut. You must boost the bioavailability and absorption of this potent nootropic to get all the benefits. And the most efficient way to boost bioavailability is to combine Turmeric or Curcumin with Piperine. One study showed combining Curcumin with 20 mg of Piperine increased the bioavailability by 2,000%![1][2] Curcumin is natural and considered non-toxic and safe when taken at recommended doses. Taking large amounts of Curcumin for extended periods can cause stomach upset, and possibly ulcers. If you have gallstones or obstructions to your bile passages you should not supplement with Curcumin. Curcumin may lower blood sugar levels which could be a problem for diabetics. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not supplement with Curcumin.[1]

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Piperine, is extracted from the Piper Nigrum plant that produces white and black pepper. Research has found that Piperine increases the absorption of some supplements that are consumed orally such as Curcumin. Studies have found that the addition of Piperine significantly improves Curcumin’s bioavailability. Some research has found that the increase can be as high as 20-fold. Curcumin complex has many health benefits, including:

• Supporting organ and joint health
• Helping to maintain a healthy cellular function
• Helping with pain management

Curcumin with Piperine reportedly promotes organ health as this combination may allow Curcumin benefits to increase the absorption of glutathione, which is known for its cellular health benefits in the liver. An in-vitro study suggests that this combination of compounds may support cellular health as well. Finally, one study on athletes found that a Curcumin and Piperine supplement significantly supported muscle recovery in athletes after a workout.

[1]  Tomen, David (2020). Secrets of the Optimized Brain: 92 Nootropics to Unlock your True Brain Potential. Nootropics Expert (3rd Edition) [2] Nootropics Expert.com on Turmeric  [3] The Essential Medicinal Chemistry of Curcumin [4]. Curcumin: Biological, Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical, and Analytical Aspects [5] Curcumin: Not So Spicy After All [6] Curcumin, Cardiometabolic Health and Dementia [7] Curcumin as a functional food-derived factor: degradation products, metabolites, bioactivity, and future perspectives [8] Therapeutic roles of curcumin: lessons learned from clinical trials [9] Potential of Curcumin in Skin Disorders [10] Curcumin: therapeutical potential in ophthalmology For additional reliable information consult Examine.com or this Wikipedia Entry. Credit: Nootropics