The Beagle welcomes Bev Dunne of Go Vita Batemans Bay and Nourish on North Bev's nutrition column has been enjoyed across the Eurobodalla for many years. Now freely available by mailout subscription it is a pleasure to also be able to bring the weekly column to Beagle readers and to introduce Bev's passion for nutrition to a wider audience.
Above: Bev Dunne and her family of Go Vita Batemans Bay and Nourish on North.
I’m sure many of us have been using Turmeric for a long time in our cooking, being unaware this cooking ingredient could be highly beneficial for our health. Curcumin also known as Turmeric has in recent times captured the attention of Western scientists and herbalists for its medicinal benefits. This herb has been used in India in their traditional Ayuvedic medicine for centuries and of course has been used traditionally as a spice in Indian cooking. The oil in Turmeric is an important anti-inflammatory, however even more potent is the compound in this oil, called Curcumin. As well as the anti-inflammatory properties, Curcumin also contains antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties.
So why would you supplement with Curcumin? Curcumin is often used to relieve joint pain and inflammation related to arthritis. Sufferers of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have shown positive results when using this supplement for pain relief. For some customers Curcumin has given them pain relief within a few hours. Because Curcumin acts as an anti-inflammatory there has also been a noticeable improvement in their joint swelling as well as the inevitable arthritic morning stiffness. In fact Curcumin has become a huge seller in our store for treatment of the pain of arthritis and joint pain. We are constantly receiving positive feedback from customers about this product for pain and inflammation.
When we think of pain and inflammation we don’t automatically think of sinusitis. Interestingly because of these anti-inflammatory properties, Curcumin can effectively reduce swelling in sinus cavities and therefore is a great product for sinus sufferers.
Once again, the anti-inflammatory actions of Curcumin are perfect to treat Inflammatory Bowel Diseases such as Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome which are characterized by symptoms such as pain, cramping and inflammation. Curcumin can also help digest fats by stimulating flow of bile.
When it comes to cardiovascular problems Curcumin may increase circulation by preventing blood platelets from bonding together. This herb may also inhibit the oxidization of cholesterol in the body. Oxidized cholesterol can cause harm to the blood vessels and build up plaque which can then cause a heart attack or stroke. Obviously avoiding new cholesterol oxidization can help to avoid this problem.
When treated with Curcumin it was found patients suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease experienced a substantial improvement in their behavioral symptoms. It is also believed the combination of Vitamin D3 and Curcumin may help to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. People suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease generally suffer from a condition linked to deficient clearance of amyloid-beta in their brains by their innate immune system. Plaques form when these protein pieces known as beta-amyloid clump together. The combination of Vitamin D3 and Curcumin appears to improve the innate immune system of Alzheimer’s patients. Interestingly, India has a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease which may be related to genetics, or maybe their intake of turmeric based curries.
It is also believed Curcumin may have anti-cancer benefits. There has been some suggestion it may destroy certain cancer cells – this could be due to its antioxidant properties or some other anti-cancer action.
When choosing a Curcumin supplement, it is important to look for a capsule which contains black pepper. The addition of black pepper assists in the absorption of the Curcumin. Other herbs which can also be helpful, and are often included with Curcumin are Boswellia and Ginger which are both anti-inflammatory herbs. In health, Bev Dunne Go Vita Batemans Bay
For more information call into see Bev and the team at Go Vita, Your Health Shop in North St, Batemans Bay or phone on 44729737.
This article is provided for information purposes only - all comments and enquiries are to be directed to Go Vita Batemans Bay
