Along with numerous nutrients that have been deemed as required in human nutrition, there are others for which no RDA exists, but that most of us should perhaps be more interested in, given the benefits they offer. In this category, one compound that seems to represent a bit of an unsung hero is curcumin.
Found in turmeric—a common spice of the Middle East—curcumin has a lengthy history in ancient culture, both in culinary and medical circles. The popularity of turmeric has recently increased in America as well, with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimating that approximately 2,400 metric tons of turmeric are imported into the U.S. annually.
Along with this increase in general use, curcumin has stimulated an increase in the clinical research community. Studies thus far suggest the spice derivative possesses potential benefits in regard to inflammation, a primary precursor of diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
These far-reaching benefits are a product of curcumins powerful antioxidant properties. All three of the above ailments are accompanied by inflammation, and according to some research prompted by it. It is in combating this ongoing cellular damage that curcumins value resides. These benefits can include virtually all the body’s tissues, including brain tissue. One particularly exciting application for curcumin is in the support of treatment for both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
In the past, a minor impediment to research was product potency. Most commercial turmeric preparations consist of only two to eight percent active curcumin. Recent innovations in manufacturing technology, however, have produced the next generation of this spice derivative. Known as BCM-95®, it has been shown in several studies to display a bioavailability of over six times that of conventionally prepared curcumin—this translates to a 400 mg dose of BCM-95 delivering the same usable amount of curcumin as 2,700 mg of standard extract.
Although, as mentioned, there is no RDA for curcumin, this same 400 mg dose is around the average recommendation of most experts, with some therapeutic studies using 10 times that amount in certain therapeutic-level applications.
It is important in the pursuit of optimum nutrition to be as comprehensive as possible in our collective research; it is the eventual discovery of compounds such as curcumin that more than compensate for our time and effort. This writing hopefully has delivered some insight into the benefits of one of the slightly lesser-known nutrients, and encouraged additional exploration.
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