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| Curcumin |
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Review
Summary |
 High cholesterol levels and heart disease are intertwined in many of our minds – and rightfully so. In fact, it is reported that heart disease and stroke account for nearly 40% of all deaths in the U.S. Cholesterol is actually a healthy element when found in the body in small amounts, but when it is too plentiful, it gets deposited in the arteries, where it begins to constrict and narrow them, making heart attack and stroke far more likely.
Some of us already know we have high cholesterol, while others may only suspect that this is the case based on our daily diet. Many people have started investigating and using holistic products and single elements to try to get their levels back in check. Curcumin, the main component of the spice, Turmeric, has been promoted as a cholesterol-lowering agent. In fact, it is used in many supplements with other extracts, such as Plant Sterols, as well as being used on its own. Let’s take a look at Curcumin to see what it is, and what its health benefits may be.
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| Ingredient at a Glance |
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Curcumin is the reason why the India spice, Turmeric, is yellow. Turmeric has been used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine to address a variety of ailments and issues. It is commonly found in India as an antiseptic for cuts, burns and bruises, as well as an antibacterial agent. However, it is Curcumin that has gained the most attention in terms of augmenting health.
Curcumin has actually been shown to have certain anti-tumor, antioxidant, antiarthritic, anti-amyloid and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used to increase memory, immunity and to ease herpes. In fact, a recent study at Michigan State University showed that low concentrations of Curcumin interfered with Herpes simplex virus-1. It has also shown to have a potentiality for addressing malaria and cardiovascular issues, as well as providing a preventative measure for cervical cancer.
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| Ingredient in Focus |
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A wide variety of studies have been conducted to investigate its possible benefit in reducing cholesterol levels. Curcumin, or by proxy, Turmeric root, is a member of the Ginger family. It has been suggested by some scientists to be able to attach to cholesterol, thereby preventing it from passing from the bowels to the rest of the body. It is not the only element with this ability.
In fact, Plant Sterols have been shown to have a similar mechanism of action, but it actually mimics cholesterol, so that it gets absorbed instead of the cholesterol. Cholesterol then gets flushed out of the body. Curcumin is theorized to enable the liver to eliminate excess cholesterol. The liver actually creates cholesterol, because it is needed by the body to function optimally.
As a side note, Curcumin is also thought to be a blood thinner, which may prevent blood clots from forming in the arteries, and lowers your risk of having a heart attack. However, we believe that more research needs to be conducted on this element’s potential ability to augment cardiovascular health.
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| Lifestyle |
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Many individuals who swear by Curcumin’s ability to lower cholesterol point to a study conducted at the Amala Cancer Research Centre, in Amala Nagar, Trichur, in which they showed a “significant decrease in the level of serum lipid peroxides (33%), increase in HDL Cholesterol (29%), and a decrease in total serum cholesterol (11.63%)”. However, what they fail to mention is that very little Curcumin is absorbed when it is ingested, which may seriously impact its results.
In one study, people who ate 2 grams of Curcumin per day showed very low serum levels, because much of it was excreted. For this reason, it needs to be used with a co-supplementation, such as piperine; although this element has been shown to have an effect on drug metabolism, so it is often suggested that it be used cautiously when taking other medications.
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| Positives |
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• May lower cholesterol levels
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| Negatives |
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• Not easily absorbed by the body
• Other elements, such as Plant Sterols, may be more efficient
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| Final Thoughts |
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The fact that the absorption rate of Curcumin is compromised means that people who are interested in using this extract should seek out extracts that have added elements that may boost its absorption rate, which is actually not that easy to do. For this reason, we often suggest considering other extracts that are more readily absorbed, such as Plant Sterols, when looking for natural elements that will lower cholesterol levels.
That said, holistic formulas come in all shapes and sizes, but we always suggest seeking out those that come with a comprehensive, no-questions-asked money-back guarantee, created by developers who have a reputation for providing quality customer care.
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| Our
Editors Top Choice: |
Week
of: Tue Sep 07th, 2010 |
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CholesterClear®:
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