Does turmeric help with inflammation?

Does turmeric help with inflammation of the joints and other organs?

Curcumin helps prevent inflammation; it is one of the chief active ingredients in turmeric. It is the bright yellowy-orange phytonutrient that is found in plants from the ginger family; natural phenols like this are known for numerous benefits and have long been used in herbal medicine. Is this just folklore? Is there any scientific substance behind these claims?

There is research confirming that turmeric helps with the control of blood-sugar, important for all of us but especially for diabetics; for arthritis and other conditions associated with inflammation.

This site is not really about treating specific conditions like osteoarthritis or diabetes with this or that; it rather concerns using small amounts of these important phytochemicals daily in our food. Prevention always was better than a cure and though totally ignored, still is today.

I am a firm believer that we eat food, not so much because of its wonderful flavour but since it is good for us. The powerful theme in today's recipes is that you only have to enjoy those meals that titivate the taste buds; which almost certainly means there is plenty of added sugar and too much salt. And they are made from highly-refined ingredients that slide deliciously down the throat without the need for chewing.

• Whole foods are chewy
  

Who eats chickpeas, dark-green leafy vegetables and pumpkin for their stunning flavour?

Luckily turmeric is one of those spices that will impart an enormously rich-flavour to these rather dull foods; take great pleasure in adding it daily in small amounts to your cooking.

Does turmeric help with inflammation? Yes, it certainly does. That is the underlying cause of the chronic degenerative diseases that kill far more people than viruses and bacteria^[6].

Turmeric and diabetes

Does turmeric help with the inflammation always associated with raised blood-sugar and diabetes in general? The research makes interesting reading.

Scientists reporting in the journal Nutrients^[1] state that curcumin, one of the active ingredients in both turmeric and ginger delays diabetes development, improves the function of beta-cells in the pancreas and prevents their death; three very important concerns. It also makes our tissues more sensitive to the effect of insulin.

That means that even if we are significantly overweight, turmeric will in part ameliorate the noxious effect of raised blood-sugar; it will delay the onset of diabetes and increase the ability of our cells to take up glucose from the plasma.

However let it be plainly said; this does not mean license to consume meals high in refined starches. The Indian community in South Africa enjoys prodigious amounts of turmeric and ginger in its cooking, yet has one of the highest rates of diabetes and the associated heart-disease in the world.

• A healthy diet for prediabetes
• How to test for prediabetes
  

Neither all the green tea in China, nor turmeric in India will save us from the ravages of diabetes if we have an overly-sweet tooth and love white rice.

Does turmeric help with the inflammation of diabetes? Yes, it certainly does; add it to your food daily.

Turmeric and Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is a pernicious illness affecting nearly 2% of older folk, causing tremors and difficulties with both standing and walking; cognitive-defects too.

Along with Alzheimer's disease it belongs to a group of conditions collectively known as neurodegenerative. Does turmeric help?

Specific cells in a nucleus located in the head known as the Substantia Nigra, and in the lining of the colon now being called the "second-brain" are destroyed by certain toxins causing a depletion of dopamine. Medical treatment is directed at replacing this neurotransmitter; in the early stages there is symptomatic relief but long term the relentless progress of the motor and intellectual disability continues.

Scientists reporting in "Curr Pharm Des" state that there are several studies showing that curcumin because of its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, can gain direct access to those cells that synthesise dopamine; and does have neuroprotective properties^[2]. 

The Levodopa in broad beans is also a powerful anti-inflammatory that is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, gaining direct access to the Substantia Nigra nucleus.

The emphasis as always is to protect those cells before they die, not after one has been diagnosed with the disease. The nitrites in processed meat, solvents used in dry-cleaning and certain herbicides have been fingered.

• Risk factors of Parkinson's disease
  

Turmeric and osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis of the knee is the fourth leading cause of disability; the weight-bearing joints are increasingly at risk in an obese population. Hips and feet are thus also highly prone. Does turmeric help?

In the early stages short term use of NSAIDS and other anti-inflammatory drugs is effective in pain control but over longer periods they have serious side effects. There is increasing interest in the use of herbs and spices in the management of wellness; so researchers decided to compare the effectiveness of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric with diclofenac, a commonly prescribed medicine for arthritis of the knee.

In this blinded study 149 patients with no history of stomach-ulcers were divided into two groups, one receiving curcumin and the other diclofenac. After 28 days they found that they both responded equally well in terms of pain and disability^[3].

As you probably know, anti-inflammatory medication often causes stomach ulcers.

Just as important, the curcumin group lost weight; and nearly a quarter of those on NSAIDs required H2-blockers for stomach pain.

The researchers concluded that curcumin has similar efficacy to diclofenac and demonstrated better tolerance among patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

In addition turmeric has at least five other Cox-2 inhibiting compounds over and above curcumin.

As an aside those taking antacids and H2-blockers should scrupulously avoid synthetic folic acid supplements. Get the vitamin rather from your food.

Turmeric and depression

Scientists have done what is known as a meta-analysis of six clinical trials^[5] comparing turmeric with a placebo for depression and anxiety. The results were favourable and they conclude that it is efficacious; but more research with larger samples and covering a longer period is needed.

Turmeric and memory

Researchers have found that piperine in black pepper increases the bioavailability of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric and ginger^[4]. As does enjoying these spices with fats such as those found in avocados, fish and nuts.

It is for this reason that we often use avocado smeared on our toast instead of butter when enjoying Eggs Hilton with a generous sprinkling of black-pepper.

Turmeric has also been shown to increase BDNF levels, a growth-hormone in the brain that stimulates the production of those neurons that improve memory.

It has also been shown to inhibit the formation of beta-amaloid, the plaque that blocks cerebral function in Alzheimer's disease.

Turmeric and obesity

There are two kinds of adipose tissue.

• White adipose tissue (WAT)
• Brown adipose tissue (BAT)

It is white adipose tissue that is associated with many diseases, especially when it accumulates in and around the abdominal organs.

Brown adipose tissue on the other hand has the capacity to generate heat in the body. In the literature it is known as Non-Shivering Thermogenesis (NST). It is the reason why some people just don't seem to feel the cold.

The curcumin in turmeric has the capacity to stimulate what is known as the browning of White Adipose Tissue; the formation of BAT cells in deposits of WAT. It turns bad fat in the abdomen into the healthier type^[7].

Clinically scientists have found that curcumin is better absorbed in the presence of phospholipids, fats found in white beans like soya and favas; and in egg yolks and liver.

Dishes like our Eggs Parkinson's Disease combine these different compounds to help in the browning of white adipose tissue; simple natural ways of promoting weight loss and lessened inflammation.

Turmeric also helps by regulating leptin, the "I'm feeling full" hormone.

Turmeric and dyspepsia

Around 1 in 5 adults suffer from reflux and gastric pain of one sort or another. Researchers compared turmeric with omeprazole^[9] using a strong double-blind trial; the gold standard.

They found turmeric pills almost as effective as omeprazol (4.83 vs 5.46) for pain relief; and the scores for other symptoms found them equally powerful.

The turmeric was safe and well tolerated with none of the serious side effects of the medication^[8]; a proton pump inhibitor.

The amount of turmeric was large;  2 grams of curcumin pills daily.

That is equivalent of 10tsp of the spice per day.

Two approaches to wellness

One is when you become ill to feverishly look for a solution. For dyspepsia that would mean taking medication with serious side effects, a supplement of curcumin or a large amount of fresh turmeric.

The other focuses rather on prevention; small amounts of turmeric with our food daily.

Growing turmeric

This is our first young plant; we look forward to growing turmeric and will keep you updated on progress.

As a general rule I honestly believe that if you can grow it yourself, it will not only save you money but fresh spices and herbs are always better than those which have been dried. Oxygen does the damage.

Alas a severe winter killed the plant and rhizome; or so I thought. To my surprise the turmeric survived the extreme weather, shot up in the spring and now two years later is almost ready to be harvested.

The turmeric rhizomes must first be cleaned thoroughly, broken into small chunks and then frozen for use during the whole year.

Grating the rhizome is better if you have a micro-planer.

Eggs Hilton

The two plants above produced enough turmeric tubers to freeze half for the whole year, the rest being returned to the soil for the next season. A small chunk is grated every morning into our breakfast, known as Eggs Hilton.

Eggs Parkinson's Disease

Turmeric can be used to enrich Eggs Parkinson's Disease; broad beans are the only natural source of L-Dopa. The capsaicin in hot peppers gives the dish additional flavour and further reduces inflammation. Toss in a chicken bone for more taste and to add some gelatine.

• How to plant broad beans
• Capsaicin health benefits
  

Shakshuka

Turmeric can enrich any dish; here it is used it to give yet more flavour to a bean and pepper shakshuka.

• Lima bean shakshuka
  

Enjoy your shakshuka with artisan sourdough bread for the perfect supper; rich in vegetable protein, it's a smorgasbord of anti-inflammatory phytonutrients and a whole grain.

The cancer association recommends a legume and a whole grain at every meal.

Does turmeric help with inflammation?

Does turmeric help with inflammation is a question often asked by those suffering from arthritis, for example in the knee.

• 10 top anti-inflammatory foods
  

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