Like many spices, turmeric (Curcuma longa) has a long history of use in traditional medicine. This flavorful spice is cultivated primarily from the rhizome or root of a flowering plant that grows in India and other parts of Southeast Asia, and in addition to giving curry its vibrant yellow color, turmeric is also known for its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Turmeric's main active ingredient - and the one that gives the spice its characteristic yellow color - is curcumin.

 

What is Turmeric and Curcumin？

Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow color. It has been used in India as a spice and medicinal herb for thousands of years. Recently, science has begun to support the traditional claim that turmeric contains compounds with medicinal properties. These compounds are called curcuminoids. The most important one is curcumin. Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.

 

One of turmeric's main claims to fame is that it is often used to fight inflammation, and much of turmeric's anti-inflammatory abilities can be attributed to curcuminoids. In fact, at the correct dose, curcumin may be a more effective anti-inflammatory treatment than common anti-inflammatory medications like Advil (ibuprofen) and aspirin. Since chronic inflammation contributes to many chronic diseases, curcumin may help treat conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and arthritis.