Turmeric and NZ Green Lip Mussel the ultimate combo for good health?
Saskia OstermeierNZ Green Lip mussel and turmeric supplements can have a positive impact promoting good health. Let’s explore some of the reasons to consider supplementing your diet with this ultimate combination.
Green lipped mussels have a wealth of nutrients and potential health benefits. Its chemical composition (including omega 3 fatty acids, protein and carbohydrates) is an ideal source of all the basic nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy and vigorous.
A natural source of vitamin B12, they are also full of iron for overall health and rich in anti-inflammatory compounds.
Turmeric is a good source of fibre, manganese, iron and potassium, vitamin B6, magnesium and vitamin C.
It contains bioactive compounds with powerful medicinal properties called curcuminoids, the most important of which is curcumin.
Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric and has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant. Potential turmeric/curcumin benefits include reduced inflammation, lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, better skin health and relief from joint pain.
Curcumin may also have anti-cancer properties and could help enhance detoxification and prevent blood clots.
Arthritis is a common disorder characterized by joint inflammation. Green lipped mussel and turmeric supplementation may help relieve symptoms of arthritis.
Curcumin is strongly anti-inflammatory and believed to target multiple steps in the inflammatory pathway at the molecular level, blocking certain enzymes and cytokines that lead to inflammation.
Use of turmeric for arthritis alleviates symptoms such as tenderness, swelling and pain in the joints as well as helping to prevent progression of the disease.
Green lipped mussel contains omega-3 fatty acids and unique furan fatty acids. Together, these fatty acids inhibit the production of immune chemicals (leukotrienes) involved in triggering inflammation, and also block key enzymes in a similar way to aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
These actions help to reduce the migration of inflammatory white blood cells into joints, so that pain and swelling improve.
Green lipped mussels also contain a unique and vital group of complex carbohydrates (glycosaminoglycans) that the body uses to build healthy joint cartilage and lubricating fluid. In general, reducing chronic (long-term) inflammation in the body is a positive outcome from regular supplementation of green lipped mussel and turmeric, supporting good health.
A flow-on effect of overall reduction of chronic inflammation in the body is the positive benefits it can have on bone health.
The bones don’t suffer as much stress, and there is a much smaller chance of bone degradation over time. Green lipped mussel contains crucial minerals and organic compounds that lend strength and stability to the bones and teeth structure and helps in supporting the surrounding tissues, keeping you stronger for longer.
Curcumin also protects bone cells, helping to prevent bone loss by balancing the rate of bone formation and bone absorption thereby protecting from loss of bone mass.
For woman approaching menopause, it could help protect against post menopausal bone loss. Some research has shown that curcumin formulations outperform conventional drugs prescribed in osteoarthritis.
Green lipped mussel and turmeric are both a high source of potent antioxidants.
Antioxidants are needed by the body to neutralize free radicals so that they don’t create cell damage. Oxidative damage is believed to be one of the mechanisms behind aging and many diseases.
Curcumin happens to be a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals due to its chemical structure, as well as boost the activity of the body’s own antioxidant enzymes.
Blocking free radicals directly, and then stimulating the body’s own antioxidant mechanisms. The body’s immune system also receives a boost by supplementation of green lipped mussel and turmeric, helping to ward off infections and speed up the healing process.
Green lipped mussels have a natural antibacterial quality, and help stimulate the formation of antibodies in those who regularly consume it. It resists viral and bacterial infections and accelerates the formation of antibodies to help heal wounds faster.
Curcumin is also recognized as a potent modulator of the immune system, and studies have found it to be an extremely promising anti-cancer agent, targeting various pathways associated with cancer progression.
Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action is also found to help protect the digestive tract from bacterial infections.
The benefits of turmeric extend throughout the body, and it has specific actions that support gut and digestive health, and improve your body’s ability to digest fats.
Traditional medicine states that turmeric is a carminative – it helps in relieving bloating discomfort.
Curcumin supports digestion by relaxing the smooth muscles of the digestive tract and gently pushing digested food through the intestines, also discouraging gas and bloating.
It also boosts the secretion of stomach mucous - the primary defence against damage from gastric acid and other irritants. Turmeric is an effective digestive aid supporting stomach health.
Green lipped mussels have also been found to have a gastro-protective effect.
This is particularly beneficial for anyone who takes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which commonly cause damage to the stomach lining when used for prolonged periods.
The addition of green lipped mussel can not only work with NSAIDs to improve treatment, but their anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce gastrointestinal side effects.
Ensuring the proper function of your nerves is another important aspect of good health.
Green lipped mussel can improve nerve cell function - boosting muscle, tissue and bone sensitivity. This can help your body self-regulate itself more efficiently and you can see improvements in your energy levels, mood, dexterity, and metabolism.
Turmeric can be particularly helpful for sciatic pain (inflammation affecting the sciatic nerve), and help relieve swelling and pain associated with sciatica and other types of lower back pain.
Studies have shown that curcumin has similar therapeutic effects to corticosteroids commonly used as analgesics against lower back pain in sciatica.
To relieve neuropathic pain associated with sciatica, patients are commonly prescribed anti-depressants, but chemically produced anti-depressants also produce risks of several side effects.
Turmeric can be helpful in this context too, as it has a potent anti-depressant like activity with no significant side effects. Its ability to increase the levels of serotonin and dopamine (your body’s natural ‘happy’ neurotransmitters), and decrease the levels of monoamine oxidase enzyme (which is involved in removing these neurotransmitters from the brain) make it a potent anti-depressant.
Important to the central nervous system, curcuminoids in turmeric are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Besides curcumin, turmeric has other helpful micronutrients and phytochemical compounds.
Phytochemical is a term that refers to a variety of plant-derived compounds with therapeutic activities.
Some of the nutrients in turmeric are essential for brain health, including keeping memory function and neuron brain cells in good working order. Many of these compounds can also help stop harmful processes in the brain.
Another positive health benefit is improved circulation.
The active ingredients and minerals in green lipped mussel help to strengthen arterial walls, thereby boosting circulation efficiency and the strength of your cardiovascular system.
Regular use of this supplement may help reduce the chance of heart attack and other circulatory problems.
Healthy circulation is produced by strengthening the interior arterial walls and improving blood flow. Turmeric leads to various improvements that could also lower your risk of heart disease, helping to reduce serum cholesterol levels, thereby contributing to a healthy heart.
Curcumin has beneficial effects on several factors known to play a role in heart disease, improving the function of the endothelium (tissue which forms a single layer of cells lining various organs and cavities of the body, especially the blood vessels, heart and lymphatic vessels).
Most of the health benefits related to green lipped mussel seem to be internal, but when it comes to the appearance and good health of your skin, hair and nails the essential nutrients and minerals (including omega-3 fatty acids) can give you a beauty boost.
Zinc (contained in green lipped mussel) can prevent accelerated aging of the skin and speed up the healing process.
It is zinc that empowers skin cells to maintain proper shape, reflected in the appearance of your skin, thus taking green lipped mussel supplement on a daily basis is a great way to make permanent improvements to your appearance (in combination with good food choices and regular exercise).
Turmeric can also be used to optimize the health of your hair, skin and nails. It can protect the skin by improving collagen production while vanquishing free radicals.
And because it works so effectively for healing wounded skin, many of the manifestations of skin disease (dryness, rashes, scaliness, swelling and irritation) are repaired since curcumin helps increase connective tissue formation and promote blood flow.
Turmeric powder can also be used topically applied directly to the face and body, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and rehydrated (but be aware that topical applications of turmeric have a tendency to temporarily dye the skin for some people who use it this way).
Whether you choose to supplement your diet with green lipped mussel, turmeric, or a combination of the two your overall health and well-being can dramatically improve.
People with sensitivity to shellfish who avoid green lipped mussel supplements can alternatively use turmeric for similar results.