Turmeric
Turmeric is an incredibly nutritionally beneficial supplement which has widely been used as a spice and medicinal herb throughout India for thousands of years. The key medicinal compounds in turmeric are called curcuminoids, the most important of which is curcumin. Curcumin is an incredibly powerful, natural, anti-inflammatory compound which plays a role in combating almost every chronic Western disease, including cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s. Curcumin has powerful antioxidant effects. It neutralizes free radicals on its own but also stimulates your body's own antioxidant enzymes. Turmeric’s chemical structure neutralizes free radicals in the body. This reduces the effects of oxidative damage, which accelerates aging and degenerative diseases. Curcumin increases the body’s levels of the brain hormone BDNF, increasing the growth of new neurons and fights various degenerative processes in your brain. It delays, and may even reverse, brain diseases and age-related decrease in brain functionality. As a result, turmeric can improve overall longevity and well-being throughout old age. Furthermore, Curcumin reduces the risk of heart disease. It improves the function of the endothelium, which helps blood clotting and regulates blood pressure. Amazingly, Curcumin fights cancer at the molecular level, and can contribute to the death of cancerous cells and reduce angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels in tumors) as well as metastasis (spread of cancer). Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties also make it an effective treatment for arthritis. Studies have even shown turmeric to be an effective aid in treating depression. Turmeric is an incredibly effective supplement, which we at Sloppy Plate recommend to humans just as readily as their dogs.