Nowadays, you can find a large number of herbs and spices that come from traditional No.Chinese or Indian medicine and are still very popular today for their positive effects on health. One of them is turmeric, which is often called Indian saffron. However, this substance can also be found in the kitchen, as it is a relatively common spice. In today's article, we'll look at the benefits of turmeric, its effects on health and athletic performanceperformance, but also whether it has any side effects on the functioning of the body.
Turmeric or curcumin? What are they?
Turmeric is obtained from the Curcuma longa tree by processing the swollen rhizome into a powder. It is this powder that is used both for cooking and as a very effective antioxidant. The beneficial effects of turmeric are due to the many substances found in turmeric, the most important being curcumin. This serves as a natural yellow to orange colouring agent, but it is also a polyphenol that has countless health benefits. Since curcumin is responsible for most of the benefits that maketurmeric is used for, you will often find supplements that contain only curcumin extract. This is because it is not naturally found in turmeric in such high quantities that it is not used in theWhen used as it is, all of its beneficial effects are fully apparent. In practice, the two substances are often confused.
As mentioned above, turmeric is an important antioxidant. Substances with this designation can eliminate the harmful effects of so-called free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive metabolites found in the human body that cause oxidative stress. This is the cause of many undesirable processes in the body, including, for example, the acceleration of the aging process, deterioration of skin quality or increased risk of certain diseases. However, sufficient intake of antioxidants can stop or slow down these processes.
What are the health benefits of curcumin?
Like other antioxidants, turmeric has many health benefits. Let's take a look at the most important ones.
Helps normal digestion
One of the benefits of turmeric that is not often talked about is that it helps the digestive system to function properly. This in turn translates positively to a healthy gut microbiome, which is extremely important for overall health.
Contributes to the health of the cardiovascular system
Turmeric is a very valuable aid in the fight against cardiovascular disease. Itshares thisbenefit with many other antioxidants, but the effect of turmeric is certainly not negligible. Protecting the heart from disease is especially important as we ageage, which is why the use of curcumin can be recommended for all age groups.
It may contribute to the treatment of cancer and other diseases
The effect of turmeric on the treatment of cancer and serious inflammatory diseases is currently being extensively researched. Although many studies still need to be carried out before individual conclusions can be reliably confirmed or refuted, this is certainly a good sign.
It alleviates the symptoms of aging
As mentioned above, antioxidants can fight oxidative stress very effectively. As a result, they slow down some of the signs of aging that are caused by free radicals. It should be noted, however, that the use of turmeric will certainly not make you look twenty years younger, but the quality and elasticity of the skin, for example, may improve.
Relieves muscle pain
For strength athletes, another very valuable benefit is that according to some studies, turmeric supplementation can help in reducing muscle pain. This is especially valuable after training and translates into better overall recovery.
We could go on listing the various health benefits for a while.but no doubt you've already got a good idea of the benefits of turmeric. It's certainly not some miracle cure that will magically solve all your problems.but it certainly has a lot to offer and can certainly benefit both athletes and all people who are not involved in sports.
What to watch out for when taking turmeric?
Turmeric is generally considered to be a completely safe substance, yet it should be noted that long-term use of excessiveOf course, as with any other substance, it can cause undesirable health problems. Therefore, do not overuse turmeric and stick to the manufacturer's recommended dosage.
What are the problems if I overuse turmeric? As a rule, there will be nausea or diarrhoea, in extreme cases even liver problems or the risk of ulcers. Again, however, this applies to really excessive and especially long-term use of turmeric.
People suffering from various digestive problems should take extra care with turmeric. This also applies to pregnant and breastfeeding women. Although some studies suggest that turmeric might have beneficial effects on some problems associated with pregnancym, the use of any supplements during pregnancy should be approached with the utmost caution and prior medical advice should be sought.
What products do we recommend?
If you decide that you want to start using turmeric, you first need to choose the ideal product for you. To make the choice a little easier, here are some tips. For example, BrainMax Pure Turmeric Powder, which contains up to half a kilo of turmeric, offers a high-quality and above all pure formula. However, if you prefer supplements in capsule form, we can recommend Revix Turmeric or Swanson Ginger & Turmeric. Both offer great value for money and excellent quality as well. In addition to turmeric, the latter also contains ginger, which works absolutely great together with it. For this reason, we can also highly recommend the Ginger Shot with Turmeric from GymBeam, which, thanks to its form, can wake you up properly in the morning. Whichever product you decide to reach for on the market, remember that the most important thing is the quality of the ingredients and the absence of any unnecessary additives.
Since most of the positive effects of turmeric are due to the substance curcumin, it is alsoit is also advisable to look for products that contain its extract instead of plain turmeric. This way, its content will be higher, which will have a positive effect on the final effect.
How to use turmeric?
Turmeric can be found in both powder form and in the form of vegetable capsules. It is up to you which form you prefer, although it is true that the powder form offers a wider range of uses and is easier to add to meals. When taking it, however, remember that the recommended daily dose is up to 3 mg per kg of weight, according to the World Health Organization. So for an 80 kg person, the upper limit of the recommended daily dose is 240 mg per day.
Conclusion
Turmeric has been a part of traditional Indian medicine for many years and is still very popular today for its health benefits. It is a very powerful antioxidant that offers a wide range of health benefits. The benefits of turmeric on athletic performance and recovery are not negligible. In addition, turmeric is considered to be completely safe for normal use, so there is no reason to worry about its use. Thanks to its beneficial effects on health, turmeric is suitable not only for athletes but also for people who do not play sports at all.
That's all for today. However, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us in the comments below the article.
Why can you trust us?
Sport has been my lifelong passion, I have been close to it since I was a child. For a long time I was primarily involved in athletics, which also eventually led me to the gym. Every good sprinter knows that to get one tenth of a start, he must therefore sacrifice hundreds of hours in training. And it was this toil behind the curtain, which no one sees, that was my greatest passion.
Every kilo in the gym helped me to move a little closer to my goal and I fell in love with the gym very quickly. Even though I don't race anymore, nothing has changed in my relationship with uncompromising training.