Reference Number: 316
Year: 2017
Link: Link to original paper
Health: Inflammation | Metabolic syndrome
Nutrition: Antioxidants | Polyphenols
Inclusions: Turmeric
Summary
Turmeric, a spice that has long been recognized for its medicinal properties, has received interest from both the medical/scientific world and from culinary enthusiasts, as it is the major source of the polyphenol curcumin. It aids in the management of oxidative and inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, anxiety, and hyperlipidemia. It may also help in the management of exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness, thus enhancing recovery and performance in active people. In addition, a relatively low dose of the complex can provide health benefits for people that do not have diagnosed health conditions. Most of these benefits can be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Ingesting curcumin by itself does not lead to the associated health benefits due to its poor bioavailability, which appears to be primarily due to poor absorption, rapid metabolism, and rapid elimination. There are several components that can increase bioavailability. For example, piperine is the major active component of black pepper and, when combined in a complex with curcumin, has been shown to increase bioavailability by 2000%. Curcumin combined with enhancing agents provides multiple health benefits. The purpose of this review is to provide a brief overview of the plethora of research regarding the health benefits of curcumin.
What does this mean for a Baker?
This is a very interesting study which looks at the health benefits of curcumin, which is found in tumeric. This study found that curcumin may help to reduce inflammation that is associated with many different health conditions, and may also be beneficial in those with cancer due to it’s antioxidant activity. Why not try adding more tumeric to your sourdough bakes?