In the growing global market for nutritional supplements, every month seems to bring a new flavor of the month supplement.

Many of these have come and gone, some making a huge impact on individuals’ lives, others discarded as not really effective. Many people swear by nutritional supplements that made a splash years ago but have lost the media hype they once had.

Some supplements have clearer benefits than others and can range from advanced protein powders for building muscle to vitamin E ointments intended to be used on the skin to prevent damage to the body’s largest single organ.

One such supplement that has actually been known for decades, if not centuries, is turmeric and cumin.

Though both these spices have their culinary uses, the real health benefits of both are a part of oriental medicine in many different lands. Traditionally used to treat digestive and liver problems, both spices have their uses in other parts of the body.

This is because both spices contain curcumin, which is found in abundance in raw turmeric and cumin. However, it should be noted here that the spices on a kitchen rack do not provide enough curcumin to make a major impact on a person’s health. A concentrated curcumin supplement provides enough curcumin to have some efect on the human body.

Buyers should be aware however, that any curcumin supplement must contain a compound called bio piper so that the human bloodstream can absorb the curcumin as, without bio piper the blood flow tends to shunt curcumin to the body’s bladder as a waste product.

The two main benefits of curcumin are that it is one of the most effective anti-inflammatory substances on Earth, as well as having some very impressive antioxidant properties, both essential elements of a healthy human body.

The anti-inflammatory effect of this supplement makes an impact on nearly every chronic disease that still plagues the Western World. These properties enable it to help prevent heart diseases when combined with exercise and a decent a diet low on trans fats and unnecessary calories.

Additionally, the anti-inflammatory effect is used for people who have suffered from degeneration of their muscular and skeletal systems. Though truly terrifying degenerative diseases will not benefit too much from these supplements, those afflicted with lesser degenerative conditions of bones and muscles such as ordinary arthritis tend to enjoy highly from regular use of curcumin supplements.

This substance also contains a sizable number of anti-oxidants, which are useful in slowing the aging process. Many older and middle aged people swear by the substance’s ability to keep them feeling vital and healthy as they get older.

Additionally curcumin increases the levels of brain derived neurotropic factor. This is a growth hormone produced by the human neurons that keeps the brain healthy and stable. Many degenerative diseases of the brain, such as Alzheimer’s, could well benefit from these growth hormones as these conditions have been linked to a decreased production of brain derived neurotropic factor hormones.

Clearly, there are many benefits from using turmeric curcumin supplements!