The food we consume serves as the body’s primary source of energy. Because of this, making sure our digestive system remains healthy is paramount. Eating the right food, ensuring proper hydration, and ingesting the right nutrients is the most effective way of guaranteeing a healthy digestive system. One such nutrient is curcumin (the yellow pigment primarily found in turmeric).

What is curcumin?

If you are a foodie, you would likely know of turmeric as one of the common ingredients used for various cuisines worldwide. Turmeric is a curry spice derived from the root of the tropical Curcuma longa Linn plant. It is part of the ginger family. Turmeric’s hidden nutrient benefits lie in its primary active ingredient, curcumin.

What are the benefits of consuming turmeric?

The following are some of the benefits of turmeric for digestion:

Turmeric helps prevent inflammation

Poor dietary choices may cause the growth of harmful bacteria in your digestive system. Allowing the bacteria to thrive in your body triggers the natural inflammatory response of the immune system. Leaving the bacteria unchecked can cause these inflammations to get out of control. The inflammation can then attack healthy cells and organs, leading to potentially serious ailments or diseases.

The key benefit of turmeric is its inflammatory-reducing properties. Several studies look at the effectiveness of curcumin for digestion, as well as for helping control inflammation in internal organs. It can relieve chronic conditions where inflammation affects tissues in your body. In one study of patients with ulcerative colitis, those who took 2 grams of curcumin a day and prescription medication were more likely to stay in remission than those who took medicine alone.

Turmeric supports digestive health

In 1999, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended curcumin to treat acid reflux, flatulence, and functional dyspepsia, as used in Ayurvedic medicine, a testament to the benefits of curcumin for our digestive systems.

Another clinical study involving 207 irritable bowel syndrome patients showed improvement in their symptoms after the researchers had them take turmeric tablets.

What is the digestive system?

The human body is home to several specific yet interconnected systems that keep a person alive. The particular sub-system in the body that is essential in providing the body with the energy and nutrients it needs to function is the digestive system. The digestive system breaks down the food we eat and allows the body to absorb the nutrients. Proteins break into amino acids, fats break into fatty acids and glycerol, and carbohydrates break into simple sugars.

The digestive system is long. Like, really long! If it were outside the body it could be stretched around five metres long. Starting with food and ending as waste, the system turns our food into fuel to power us through life. This is also called the gastrointestinal tract and is the path food takes as it gets broken down into absorbable nutrients. It is also home to solid organs, the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.

Taking care of your gut

The gut (or gastrointestinal tract) is a part of the digestive system, home to millions of good and bad bacteria that need nurturing to stay healthy. Here are a few tips for making sure your gut remains healthy:

Include fermented foods into your diet

Fermented foods like kefir, yogurt, sauerkraut and kimchi help strengthen your gut microbiome or the bacteria that live inside your digestive tract. Making sure your gut microbiome has plenty of good bacteria is key to keeping your digestive system healthy and avoiding other health conditions, including obesity and neurodegenerative problems.

Eat plenty of fibre

Foods that are high in dietary fibre can help you improve your gut health. High-fibre foods help you normalise bowel movements by making stools easier to pass. They also help you avoid irritable bowel syndrome and inflammation of the intestine. High-fibre foods include barley, nuts, fruits, and beans.

Curcumin supplements for digestion

Try Vitable Australia’s curcumin for premium quality vitamin supplements to support digestion and gastrointestinal health. Vitable produces an extract from turmeric roots using gentle solvents. The extraction is made to ensure that the supplement resembles the composition of natural turmeric root.

More importantly, Vitable’s curcumin contains Piper nigrum (black pepper) for enhanced absorption of curcumin by the body. The piperine found in black pepper, to be exact, is found to enhance curcumin absorption, making it more readily available to be used by your body.

Other supplements to assist digestion

While you may have every intention of eating the proper nutrients through your diet, often, it is not possible. Life gets in the way, and our good intentions can go out the window; this is where supplementing can help. Supplements can aid you in achieving your daily requirements. Consider probiotics, zinc, and curcumin to support gut health.

Support gastrointestinal health today with Vitable Australia’s curcumin supplements. We also offer a vitamin subscription box where you can create tailor-made vitamin packs. Better yet, you don’t need to lift a finger; we will deliver the personalised vitamin packs straight to your door.

Click here to take our quiz and let us help you find the right vitamins for your health goals, lifestyle and diet. It’s time to feel good like you should!

Find out more about how other vitamins can help with digestion below:

Zinc | Probiotics SB | Daily Probiotics | Curcumin

*Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional. Vitamin and/or mineral supplements should not replace a balanced diet.