Beyond Brain Health
Chris D. Meletis, ND (with permission from cpmedical.net, access pin: 587556)
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a popular spice that has been used for centuries in Southeastern Asia and India; curcumin, the main constituent of turmeric, is the main flavoring agent in curry dishes. Turmeric and curcumin have been studied extensively for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in a variety of health concerns.
It is important for any natural health-promoting substance to have the ability to transit through the digestive process and arrive intact in clinically meaningful levels in the blood, where the substance carries out its effects in the body. Researchers from UCLA have been able to resolve this challenge by increasing the bioavailability of curcumin in a unique form known as Longvida®. As was mentioned in the November issue of Vitamin Research News, in clinical studies, Longvida shows demonstrably increased levels achieved in the blood stream, and perhaps even more important is the ability of this breakthrough form of curcumin to cross the blood-brain barrier.1 (The blood-brain barrier is composed of a specialized layer of cells that restricts the passage of many substances from the general circulation into the brain. It presents a challenge in the treatment of brain conditions as it limits the ability of many therapeutic agents to enter the brain.)
This ability to optimize the absorption of curcumin is important in that curcumin’s benefits are multifactorial, and it may perhaps be one of the most scientifically researched natural compounds as literally thousands of studies investigating its effects have been carried out. This article will serve as a review of some of curcumin’s most promising qualities,2 several of which will be highlighted below.
