Turmeric can help reduce chronic Inflammation

 Turmeric, specifically its main active ingredient Curcumin is a very strong anti-inflammatory. It has been used in India for centuries as both a spice and a medicinal herb. Recently, medical science is confirming the validity of its use and finds that the anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin easily match the effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs – yet without the risks and side effects.

  The inflammatory process is incredibly important as it helps the body fight foreign pathogens and also has a positive role in repairing physical damage. And while this short-term inflammation is beneficial, it can become a major problem when it becomes chronic and starts to work against the body’s own tissues. It is now believed that long term, low-level systemic inflammation plays a major role in almost every chronic, Western disease. This includes heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s and other degenerative conditions. Therefore, anything that can help fight chronic inflammation is of potential importance in maintaining our health.

 Given that curcumin is such a potent anti-inflammatory, it makes sense that it could help not only with systemic inflammations, but also with the localized chronic inflammation of arthritis. Many studies are showing this to be true. So while you are working toward a better posture to relieve stress on these joints and retard further fractioning, you might think about using Turmeric/Curcumin to ease the discomfort.

 In one study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, curcumin was even more effective than an anti-inflammatory drug. Another   study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2009 compared curcumin with ibuprofen for pain relief in 107 people with knee osteoarthritis. The curcumin eased pain and improved function just as well as the ibuprofen.

Unfortunately, curcumin is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. It helps to consume black pepper with it, which contains piperine, a natural substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2000%. Finding a supplement that has extracted a high percentage of curcumin might be a good addition to the daily diet. Or there is a great recipe for Turmeric Milk which is delicious.

 

Just take 1/2 cup of water and 1/4 cup organic ground turmeric and mix on medium heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring the whole time until it thickens into a thin paste. (I grind a good bit of pepper to mine while mixing) This paste will keep well in the refrigerator for a week or more. Then you can take 1-3 teaspoons of the paste and mix with a cup of Almond milk and drink hot or cold. Yum!