There is an extract of a common spice that has super healing power which could be called the “cure-all of the 21st century” says Dr Jan McBarron, MD, ND. It might even prevent heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, joint pain and more. Sound too good to be true? Well there is scientific evidence to prove it. If you eat curry you are familiar with turmeric which has the compound curcumin in it that gives it the golden color. Maybe you even take a turmeric supplement. I am just learning that there is a difference between turmeric and curcumin. There is very little curcumin in the spice turmeric. And that is the powerful part. You would need to eat a lot of it to get the therapeutic level to work on disease. Most common cheap turmeric supplements only contain 2-5% curcumin. Look for levels closer to 150mg or higher. Curcumin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. We have many environmental factors that contribute the oxidative stress in our bodies. Polluted water and air, plastics and other toxic materials we drink out of or eat, processed foods, smoking, and other lifestyle choices that don’t help, and actually cause more oxidative damage to our cells. These oxygen molecules are free radicals which cause inflammation which lead to arthritis, joint pain and other chronic pain. We don’t want cells that have oxidative damage to reproduce and keep making more malignant cells, we want strong healthy cells! That’s where the curcumin comes in. It is the most powerful antioxidant, if you can absorb it. This will depend on the person, but it’s best absorbed when taken with fat and black pepper. Curcumin is helpful for inflammation, but you might not realize it is also helpful for depression. Research has recently found that gut health is connected to neurological health, as it is many other health conditions. In several studies it was found to boost mood by increasing levels of neurotransmitters. It also helps in the formation of new brain cells. This is called neurogenesis. It creates a healthy balance of the numerous neurotransmitters needed for a healthy brain, better memory and a positive mood. Curcumin’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics are also very important in improving brain function and mood enhancement. Because of all these reasons and more, curcumin is one of the top 5 things in my daily health routine.