Turmeric for Weight Loss – Can Curcumin Really Help You Shed Those Unwanted Pounds?
How much do you know about curcumin? It’s one of the key ingredients in turmeric, and it’s been getting some attention lately as a possible weight loss supplement. Some studies have suggested that curcumin could help people shed pounds, but more research is needed before any definitive conclusions can be drawn on this topic. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at turmeric, curcumin, and their potential effect on your waistline.
Introduction
Curcumin benefits are many and varied. One of the most popular curcumin benefits is weight loss. This is because curcumin helps to suppress your appetite, and it also has a positive impact on fat metabolism. Research suggests that taking turmeric may lead to greater weight loss than being on a diet without it. That’s because the compound curcumin can help your body break down fat cells more easily.
What Is Turmeric?
Turmeric is the orange-yellow spice that gives curry its distinctive flavor. The spice has a long history of use in Eastern cooking, including as a primary ingredient in many Indian curries. In addition to adding flavor and color to food, turmeric is also used in Ayurvedic medicine as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever.
How Does Curcumin Work?
The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which contains a whole range of potential health benefits. Curcumin benefits include: helping to regulate your blood sugar levels, reducing inflammation and pain, improving mood and sleep quality, stimulating the immune system and even potentially protecting against cancer.
Clinical Studies on Curcumin and Weight Loss
There are several clinical studies that have looked at the use of curcumin for weight loss and shed some light on how it may help with weight management. In one study, participants were given curcumin or a placebo along with their usual diet. All participants maintained their regular activity level and didn’t change what they ate. After 8 weeks, those who received the curcumin had reduced abdominal fat by 5.2% while those who took a placebo only had a 2% reduction in abdominal fat.
The Bottom Line
Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, may have benefits to help with weight loss. Research suggests that it increases fat burning, suppresses hunger and reduces body fat. Other studies have found that supplementing with curcumin can lead to improved cholesterol levels and blood pressure control. The majority of the research is done on animals and needs to be replicated in humans before any conclusions can be drawn about its efficacy as a weight loss aid.