Turmeric Root Powder – Organic

What are Curcuminoids?

A curcuminoid is a small class of secondary metabolites that include curcumin, Demethoxycurcumin, and Bisdemethoxycurcumin, all of which are isolated from Turmeric.

These compounds are phenols and are responsible for turmeric’s yellow color. 

Within the curcuminoid family, curcumin is the primary compound, and the other two curcuminoids are analogs of curcumin. An analog is a compound with a molecular structure that is similar to the primary compound. While Demethoxycurcumin and Bisdemethoxycurcumin are believed to act similarly to curcumin, it is not explicitly known if they act to the same extent.

To simplify this explanation, think of a lock, and each of these three compounds has a key that fits the lock, but only curcumin can open it. It is important to note that all curcumin extracts naturally contain curcumin and both analogs, but the analogs are often not standardized to a specific percentage.

Curcumin: A Healthy Inflammation Response 

Before we discuss turmeric and the curcuminoid’s relationship to inflammation, it is vital to understand what actual anti-inflammatories are and what they do.

Anti-inflammatories only work on one area of the entire inflammatory cascade and often negatively affect the whole cascade. In a nutshell, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories work by reducing prostaglandins, which are chemicals that promote inflammation, pain, and fever.

A group of enzymes produce these prostaglandins called cyclooxygenases, otherwise known as (COX). There are precisely two types of COX enzymes known as COX-1 and COX-2.

Both produce these prostaglandins, which promote pain, fever, and inflammation, but only cox-1 promotes prostaglandins that activate platelets and protect the stomach lining. 

The job of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories is to essentially block the cox enzymes and reduce the production of prostaglandins. For your reference:

1. Aspirin is a COX-1 inhibitor, and
2. The drug Celebrex is a COX-2 inhibitor.

Prednisone (A steroid-based anti-inflammatory) works in a much different way to produce a similar result.  According to the Mayo Clinic, “Corticosteroids mimic the effects of hormones your body produces naturally in your adrenal glands, which sit on top of your kidneys.”

Curcumin is touted as one of the most remarkable compounds for supporting a healthy inflammation response due to its unique mechanisms of action (Modulating Nuclear factor-kappa B). Nuclear factor-kappa B is a protein complex that turns on genes that produce inflammation. Its three main jobs are the transcription of DNA, cytokine production, and cell survival. By modulating its action, this, in turn, prevents the rest of the cascade-like cyclooxygenases (COX 1 and 2), Lipoxygenase (lkb4) enzymes, and inducible nitric oxide synthase from responding in an unhealthy way.

Research has shown that curcumin-free turmeric extracts are as capable of supporting a healthy inflammation response.

The following statement was made in a review discussing the identification and effectiveness of specific compounds found in turmeric,

“Recent research has identified numerous chemical entities from turmeric other than curcumin. It is unclear whether all of the activities ascribed to turmeric are due to curcumin or whether other compounds in turmeric can manifest these activities uniquely, additively, or synergistically with curcumin. However, studies have indicated that turmeric oil, present in turmeric, can enhance the bioavailability of curcumin.” 

Furthermore, specific essential oils in turmeric are necessary to utilize curcumin properly.

Curcumin’s ability to support a healthy inflammation response as one of its key benefits has produced a fallacy that turmeric is an anti-inflammatory. The results of human research, the experience of many top herbalists, and the fact that turmeric has many modes of action (upwards of 300 activities have been ascribed to it) show its ability to possibly be amphoteric (normalizing the function of an organ or system).

Turmeric: A Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) Perspective

Turmeric, known as Jiang Huang in TCM, translates into fragrant gold, has a pungent, bitter flavor, is slightly cooling in nature, and acts upon the heart, liver, lung, and gallbladder channels.

TCM believes that turmeric can invigorate the blood and support healthy circulation, preventing what TCM calls stagnation. Stagnation occurs when Qi and blood fail to move correctly and is one of the most common imbalances in the human body. It is crucial to understand that nothing in TCM is cut and dry. This imbalance is known to cause a broad spectrum of potential symptoms because when stagnation occurs, it creates an environment that allows things to build up in the stagnated area.

This phenomenon can also cause deficiencies due to the lack of Qi and blood flow in other areas. Because turmeric has a cooling and dispersing nature, it is considered an excellent tool for heat stagnation issues like fever, depression, and pain. One of the many reasons for heat stagnation is sympathetic overdrive, which creates too much cortisol and adrenaline.

While turmeric’s cooling nature has been shown to have powerful effects on the inflammation cascade, it also seems to be helpful for those whose issue is caused by cooling-induced heat. This pathology describes inflammation symptoms that worsen in cold weather, like Osteo and Rheumatoid arthritis, versus those that worsen in warm weather. This is why it is essential to distinguish between cool-induced and heat-induced heat and if the individual has a cold or warm constitution.

Because our blood is fluid, it follows the same principles as the viscosity of water. It is more viscous at cooler temperatures and flows slower and less freely. It is less dense at warm temperatures and flows faster and more freely. So, if your body fails to maintain a warm enough body temperature, TCM principles state that your blood begins to congeal and flows less smoothly.  As stated earlier, TCM looks at the individual and their response to many factors, so there is no one simple answer for everyone.

Although TCM principles dictate that turmeric is a cooling herb, it is also considered a warm and spicy herb that warms and invigorates the blood. However, the bitterness of turmeric is believed to drive the effect deeper and has a dredging effect. The Chinese materia medica states that turmeric can disperse clumping in the circulation, powerfully restoring flow and thereby reducing inflammation.

Summary of Important Information

Z Natural Foods hand-picks specific ingredients for our customers based on three concepts to provide the best quality product possible to support optimal well-being.

1. Versatility
2. History of safe and effective usage
3. Strong evidence of positive research outcomes in humans

What are Curcuminoids?

1. A curcuminoid is a small class of secondary metabolites that include curcumin, Demethoxycurcumin, and Bisdemethoxycurcumin, all of which are isolated from Turmeric.
2. These compounds are phenols and are responsible for turmeric’s yellow color.
3. Curcumin is the primary compound in the curcuminoid family, and the other two curcuminoids are analogs of curcumin.
4. An analog is a compound with a molecular structure that is similar to the primary compound.
5. While Demethoxycurcumin and Bisdemethoxycurcumin are believed to act similarly to curcumin, it is not explicitly known if they act to the same extent.
6. To simplify this explanation, think of a lock. Each of these three compounds has a key that fits the lock, but only curcumin can open it.
7. It is important to note that all curcumin extracts naturally contain curcumin and both analogs, but the analogs are often not standardized to a specific percentage.

Curcumin: A Healthy Inflammation Response 

Before we discuss turmeric and the curcuminoid’s relationship to inflammation, it is vital to understand what actual anti-inflammatories are and what they do.

1. Anti-inflammatories only work on one area of the entire inflammatory cascade and often negatively affect the whole cascade.
2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories work by reducing prostaglandins, which are chemicals that promote inflammation, pain, and fever.
3. A group of enzymes produce these prostaglandins called cyclooxygenases, otherwise known as (COX).
4. There are precisely two types of COX enzymes known as COX-1 and COX-2. Both produce these prostaglandins, which promote pain, fever, and inflammation, but only cox-1 promotes prostaglandins that activate platelets and protect the stomach lining.
5. The job of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories is to essentially block the Cox enzymes and reduce the production of prostaglandins.
6. Prednisone (A steroid-based anti-inflammatory) works in a much different way to produce a similar result.
7. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Corticosteroids mimic the effects of hormones your body produces naturally in your adrenal glands, which sit on top of your kidneys.

1. Curcumin is touted as one of the most remarkable compounds for supporting a healthy inflammation response due to its unique mechanisms of action (Modulating Nuclear factor-kappa B).
2. Nuclear factor-kappa B is a protein complex that turns on genes that produce inflammation. Its three main jobs are the transcription of DNA, cytokine production, and cell survival. By modulating its action, this, in turn, prevents the rest of the cascade-like cyclooxygenases (COX 1 and 2), Lipoxygenase (lkb4) enzymes, and inducible nitric oxide synthase from responding in an unhealthy way.