Why turmeric might be your new best friend

We all long for hat feeling where you jump out of bed and embrace the day.

Your heart might be ready for a racing start, but your mind remembers those aches and pains that linger in the body. So, you get out of bed gingerly, testing the dodgy hip, the tender shoulder and the inflexible ankle along the way.

Share this feeling with your friends, and one of them is sure to ask if you have tried a turmeric supplement. Well, now we have!

K2 recently retired and rediscovered his love of surfing.  He bought a new surfboard and set off to enjoy a few sessions of a sport where he was once very proficient.  He used to be gone for half the day, spending hours enjoying the sea spray and the thrill of a good wave.

Now he’s often back before I’ve finished my leisurely breakfast.  The waves seem to be bigger these days, and the paddle out from the shore more of a battle.

While K2 has regained some of his former prowess, he has also gained a hip that twinges in the morning. Luckily, the turmeric trial arrived just at the right time. He now takes three tablets daily and has noticed an improvement in his ease of movement. That dodgy hip is on notice.

A member of the ginger family, Curcuma longa is a plant with underground roots which can be ground to create a distinctive golden yellow powder. You’ll often find it in the spice rack as it is an essential ingredient in many delicious curries and mustards.  It gives a warm, bitter taste and distinctive yellow colour.

The benefits of turmeric and its essential extract, curcumin, are many.  It’s believed to lower cholesterol and blood sugars, reduce your pain and improve your brain.

Turmeric has anti-inflammatory agents that block the inflammatory response pathway. This is important as research indicates that chronic low-level inflammation may play a role in heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.

The joint pain associated with arthritis can also be eased by curcumin.  They say it works on old dogs too.

Other benefits include a boost to your immune system, and the ability to prevent or slow blood clots and reduce the symptoms of depression.

Studies have also indicated that curcumin can be used as a treatment for high cholesterol in humans. K2 needs to watch his cholesterol levels, so we will check his next blood test results with interest.