Is Turmeric the Natural Remedy of the Century?

The Promise: A Stronger Heart, Sharper Brain, Pain-Free Joints and Youthful Energy—Does It Deliver?

There's a lot of exciting buzz around turmeric these days, and there's plenty of good reason for it. Hidden deep in the plant's bright yellow roots is an extraordinarily powerful compound called curcumin that has the unique ability to block an enzyme that causes inflammation, while combatting free radical damage to highly sensitive vital organs like your brain and heart.[1,2] In fact, curcumin's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits can revolutionize your health from head to toe. Curcumin is so powerful that some are calling it the "natural remedy of the century."[3] If you think that inflammation is something that only happens when you're injured, or is only a minor annoyance—you're making a big mistake. Many experts now believe "silent inflammation" is the root cause of many of the common signs of aging, from diminished brain and heart function to painful joints, low energy levels and more. In short, silent inflammation can make you old before your time. I'm Joshua Corn, Editor-in-Chief of the Live in the Now newsletter, one of the fastest-growing natural health publications in the nation. My passion for natural health drives me to seek the truth about the causes of health problems and to educate people on alternative solutions that are both safe and effective. If you're worried about how well your brain and memory will function as you age... If you want to keep your heart pumping strong... Or if perhaps you're dealing with nagging health problems that no one seems able to solve, please keep reading. I'll explain to you how getting the right daily dose of curcumin, along with other key antioxidants, can help save you from having to deal with serious health issues.

Could This Be the #1 Way to Protect Your Health? I advise my readers on a regular basis that taking steps to control inflammation could be the single most important thing you can do to protect your cognitive and overall health at any age. And there is perhaps no nutrient on earth more effective than curcumin at promoting a healthy inflammatory response in your brain, heart and throughout your entire body. It has been shown in numerous studies to support brain and cardiovascular health, tame joint pain, improve mood balance, boost immune system health, promote detoxification and much more.[4-8] The list of remarkable health benefits just goes on and on. You see, while inflammation itself is normal, it becomes a problem when triggered by something other than injury or pathogenic invaders. These triggers can include food allergens, toxins, stress, lack of sleep or even the use of some pharmaceutical drugs. And since we're exposed to these triggers on a daily basis, the inflammatory response can stay turned on indefinitely, causing significant harm to the body. Fortunately, curcumin can help to neutralize the harmful effects of the free radicals that can cause inflammation. But that's not all it can do! Gold-standard clinical studies have shown that curcumin is perhaps the most effective natural substance on earth at inhibiting COX-2, an enzyme that is responsible for sparking your body's inflammatory response.[1,4] 4 Signs of Systemic Inflammation As scientists begin to understand the body's complex systems better, a clearer picture of how silent inflammation can impact your health is emerging. Here are four of the most common symptoms: 1. Brain Fog: Unfortunately, many people start to believe that scattered thoughts and poor concentration are an inevitable part of aging—but they're not! Silent inflammation is likely the culprit.[9] 2. Memory Impairment: When the brain is inflamed, memory formation and recall both suffer. Research has shown a link between memory impairment and the presence of neurological inflammation.[9] 3. Aches and Pains: Silent inflammation creates heightened pain sensitivity in the body, as well as common everyday aches and pains in joints and muscles. If your body feels sore and stiff, systemic inflammation is likely to blame.[10] 4. Mood Issues: While neurotransmitter imbalances may be the primary cause of mood issues, recent research suggests that these imbalances may be related to inflammation in the brain.[11] If you're experiencing any of these four symptoms, you need to take action immediately to stem the tide of deterioration that ongoing inflammation can cause. While your symptoms may be mere annoyances now, your heart and brain could be at serious risk over time. Fortunately, you can solve this problem naturally, quickly and with no side effects. Let's explore some of the research that shows how... The Right Curcumin Supplement Can Make You Feel Better from Head to Toe I spend a good part of my day reading up on the latest research on nutrition and how it impacts human health. I can tell you firsthand that the scientific data on the benefits of curcumin are simply remarkable. For example: • Inflammation: A recent meta-analysis examined dozens of studies on curcumin's effects on blood levels of CRP, a key marker of inflammation that has been linked to health problems. All of the studies came to the same astonishing conclusion: Curcumin lowers levels of CRP.[12] • Brain: A recent study found that curcumin promotes the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a growth hormone responsible for youthful brain function. According to scientists, higher BDNF levels may hold the key to improved memory and sharper thinking as you age.[13] • Cognitive Decline: Curcumin may help encourage the immune system to dissolve the abnormal proteins that have been implicated in cognitive decline. A landmark clinical trial showed that curcumin has the ability to effectively pass into the brain, bind to this debris and assist the body in their breakdown.[14] • Short-Term Memory: A new Australian study found that daily intake of curcumin produced short-term memory improvement in adults over 60 who were predisposed to memory loss. It worked like a six-hour memory boost![15] • Heart: Research also shows that curcumin helps prevent cholesterol oxidation, which is the real threat behind the arterial clogs and blood vessel damage caused by cholesterol. It may also work to prevent clot formation, lower harmful LDL and increase healthy HDL cholesterol.[16] • Joints: In a landmark 2014 study, curcumin was shown to relieve joint pain as effectively as a popular mainstream approach while reducing stiffness and improving overall joint function—all without side effects.[8] • Mood: Curcumin can even support optimal mood balance. A 2014 study showed that it's as effective as a popular mainstream medicine solution for mood support without the potentially dangerous side effects.[17] • Digestion: Curcumin's anti-inflammatory benefits may aid in promoting healthy digestion. In one study, curcumin was associated with up to a 25% reduction in digestive discomfort, with two-thirds of participants reporting overall improvement in digestive function.[18] So What Can't Curcumin Do? I speak to people all the time who seem to have gotten their inflammation under control, but they are still not feeling their best. Why is this? Well, it's important to understand that your body is an incredibly complex machine. And like any machine, it requires energy—LOTS of it. And can you guess what organs require the greatest amount of your energy? It's your brain and your heart, the optimal functioning of which are critical to aging well and feeling your best. This is where curcumin falls short of being a "perfect" remedy: It doesn't do much to support your body's critical energy-producing processes. And this is where the powerful antioxidant CoQ10 comes in. CoQ10 is found inside the mitochondria of every cell in your body where it plays a critical role in producing energy. As we age, our body's natural ability to produce CoQ10 declines. By age 70, your natural CoQ10 levels may be 50% lower than they were when you were a young adult![19] If you aren't taking a CoQ10 supplement, chances are you are already starting to feel the effects of the slow-down in cellular energy production. Statins and other medications can further accelerate CoQ10 loss.[20] With more severe CoQ10 depletion you might experience crushing fatigue, poor concentration, memory problems, irritability, unexplained aches and pains and a weakened immune system. Even scarier, CoQ10 deficiency can lead to serious cardiovascular issues, according to Mayo Clinic experts.[21] That's not surprising, since CoQ10 is highly concentrated in your heart. Scientists have also discovered that CoQ10 deficiencies are common in people with memory loss and believe a link may exist.[22] When you consider the importance of CoQ10 for every cell in your body and the natural decline in CoQ10 levels as you age—not to mention the accelerated depletion that statins and other medications can cause—taking extra CoQ10 can make a significant difference in staying active and living a long, healthy life. CoQ10 users frequently report noticeable increases in energy, mental clarity, vitality, stamina and joint and muscle function, which makes it a great complement to curcumin. The Problem with Most Curcumin Supplements Virtually everyone can benefit from taking the right curcumin supplement, but there's one big problem: Curcumin is very difficult to absorb, so you have to take enough of it and in the right formulation to get the most benefits. If you don't pick the right supplement, you'll end up wasting your money, not to mention miss out on an opportunity to dramatically improve your health. Here's my quick "cheat sheet" so you know what to look for when shopping: 1. Potency: Look for a turmeric extract standardized to 95% curcuminoids. Some formulas are standardized only to 50%, which is a watered-down level that cheats you of the key curcuminoids shown to have the most effects. 2. Dosage: You need a serving size of at least 1,000 mg daily. Some brands think a mere 50 mg is enough, but you're throwing your money away for such pixie-dust levels. That's only 5% of the levels you need for the optimal brain, cardiovascular and joint benefits you want. 3. Absorption: The best supplements include 20 mg of black pepper extract, which has been shown to increase absorption by up to 2,000%![23] This is an excellent solution to the absorption problems that curcumin is widely known to have.