Almost all of us have suffered from digestive problems at some point. Such problems can have different causes, but they all have one thing in common - the symptoms are unpleasant. Bloating, bloating, diarrhea or stomach cramps are just a few examples. In recent years, certain dietary trends have also led to imbalances in our gastrointestinal tract, and with certain practices we can even really damage our intestinal flora in the long term by causing inflammatory processes in the intestines. A natural and traditional remedy for this is turmeric, which was first discovered by Ayurvedic medicine. Even from a modern and scientific point of view, Curcuma longa, as it is scientifically known, offers us incredibly valuable health benefits that allow us to maintain and cure our intestinal health.

In this article, we would like to focus on the yellow root from tropical regions, take a brief excursion into the world of Ayurveda and give examples of high-quality Curcuma longa supplements.

How do digestive problems arise in the body?

Before we take a closer look at Curcuma longa, we would first like to clarify how digestive problems can arise in our bodies. Digestive problems can occur for a variety of reasons. In particular, an unbalanced diet can lead to problems in the gastrointestinal tract. For example, a diet that is low in fiber and high in fatty, fried and highly processed foods is bad for our intestines. A lack of fiber can lead to constipation, while fatty and processed foods can slow down our digestion and cause other problems such as bloating or heartburn.

Overeating or eating meals that are too large can also overload the stomach and lead to digestive problems. Since our body needs time to digest food properly, meals that are too large can lead to digestive problems.

Food intolerances such as lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance or intolerance to fructose or sorbitol can of course also cause digestive problems such as stomach pain, flatulence and diarrhea, although these are not as widespread as is often portrayed. If you diagnose yourself as gluten or lactose intolerant, an unnecessarily modified diet can destroy the natural intestinal flora in the long term. For this reason, you should only follow such a diet if the diagnosis has been made by a doctor. Furthermore, diseases such as gastrointestinal infections, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome or stomach ulcers can understandably lead to chronic digestive problems.

Stress is also a major factor in digestive problems. Our body reacts to stress and anxiety by activating the nervous system and letting it "fire", which affects digestion by activating it more strongly or, in some cases, shutting it down - keyword: fight or flight response.

An unhealthy lifestyle and lack of physical activity can also slow down digestion and lead to problems. Regular physical activity, on the other hand, promotes intestinal movement and contributes to healthy digestion.

A trend that we have seen more and more frequently in recent years is how some people are following popular dietary trends and in the long term destroying their intestinal flora. We would therefore like to briefly discuss some of these potentially dangerous trends.

Popular diet trends that can lead to digestive problems

Some dietary trends can cause digestive problems, especially when practiced to an extreme, for too long, or in an unbalanced manner.

Extreme diets with very low calorie intake, for example, can lead to malnutrition and an insufficient supply of important nutrients. This can slow down digestion, cause constipation and impair metabolism.

Low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diets , which dictate a greatly reduced intake of carbohydrates and an increased intake of fats, can also lead to digestive problems. Constipation, bad breath, irregular bowel movements and stomach pain are common problems with such diets, as it is difficult to consume enough fiber on this form of diet.

Even a gluten-free diet without medical necessity can lead to digestive problems because many gluten-free products contain less fiber. Too little fiber in the diet can promote constipation and impair the digestive process. We would also like to point out at this point that a gluten-free diet is essential for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

Raw food diets that emphasize the consumption of raw foods can lead to bloating and diarrhea. Some foods are harder to digest raw due to their lower bioavailability, which is caused by the plant components. Many foods become easier for us humans to digest when cooked or heated. An exclusively raw food diet can put a strain on the digestive system.

Detox diets that involve a drastic reduction in solid food and the consumption of special juices, smoothies or solutions can lead to problems such as leaky gut syndrome. The sudden food deprivation and the unbalanced diet can also lead to fatigue, mood swings, nausea, diarrhea and constipation.

A natural remedy, more precisely a root, can provide relief from digestive problems – and it has been doing so for many, many centuries.

Curcuma longa — a secret weapon of Ayurveda

Turmeric, scientifically known as Curcuma longa, is a perennial plant in the ginger family. The root, which most of us know from curry mixtures, is originally from South Asia and is mainly grown in India, China and other tropical regions. Turmeric is known for its bright yellow color and is used both as a spice in cooking and in traditional medicine.

The spice turmeric is extracted from the roots of the turmeric plant. The roots are usually dried and then ground into a fine powder. This powder gives many dishes from Asian cuisine their characteristic yellow color.

Turmeric contains a number of bioactive compounds, the best known of which is curcumin, a so-called curcuminoid. Curcumin is responsible for the bright yellow color of turmeric and also has a variety of potentially health-promoting properties. Curcumin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-cancer properties.

In Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has been considered a "digestive spice" for centuries and is used for various gastrointestinal complaints because the root can help relieve digestive problems.

Turmeric is still used today to treat digestive problems such as bloating, bloating, stomach cramps and indigestion. The root stimulates the production of digestive juices and the gallbladder, which helps to better digest fats. In addition, turmeric can also reduce inflammation in the digestive tract and thus help to relieve gastrointestinal inflammation.

Historically, turmeric (Curcuma longa) has been used in traditional Indian medicine Ayurveda to treat digestive problems. Ayurveda is a traditional Indian health system that takes a holistic approach to health and well-being. One of the most important Ayurvedic works that mentions the use of turmeric is the Charaka Samhita. Written in the 2nd or 3rd century BC, the Charaka Samhita is one of the oldest and most comprehensive texts of Ayurveda. It describes the use of turmeric as an ingredient in various medicines and herbal mixtures to treat various diseases and promote health.

Ayurveda – tradition and science come together

The term "Ayurveda" comes from Sanskrit and is made up of the words "Ayus" (life) and "Veda" (knowledge), which means "knowledge of life". Ayurvedic medicine is by no means "hocus pocus", but is based on a healing tradition that is more than 5,000 years old and includes a variety of approaches to maintaining health, preventing illness and treating diseases.

Many principles of Ayurveda, such as the emphasis on a balanced diet, regular physical activity, stress management and the use of certain herbs and plants, are consistent with scientific findings, studies and recommendations. Ayurveda views the human being as a unique individual and takes into account both the body, mind and soul.

We at BE THE CHANGE also see people as holistic, biological systems that need to be cared for. We produce food, nutritional supplements and sports nutrition that contribute to long-term health and well-being and support and simplify daily nutrition. We tailor each product to human biochemistry and keep it highly bioavailable, which enables the body to optimally absorb the active ingredients. Our BE THE CHANGE logo also symbolizes the sustainable regenerative cycle of our products for human health and the health of the environment.

We have also recognized the incredibly valuable abilities and potencies of Curcuma longa and made them available to our customers in sustainable products with bioactive and bioavailable ingredients.

Curcuma Longa & Selenium – A dream team

Our Curcuma Longa from the Swiss Essentials® collection contributes to the normal function of the immune system and counteracts inflammation. The bioavailable drops contain ingredients of 100% natural origin, including the therapeutically used turmeric root and selenium.

BETHECHANGE designs all its products in balance with human biochemistry. There is scientific evidence that curcumin may have synergistic effects with selenium, meaning that the combination of both substances has more powerful effects than either substance alone. That's why we combined our Curcuma Longa with selenium.

One study showed that combining curcumin with selenium had a stronger anti-inflammatory effect than curcumin or selenium alone. It is believed that selenium can enhance the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin.

In addition, another study showed that the combination of curcumin and selenium can have synergistic anti-tumor properties. The combination showed a stronger inhibition of tumor growth than either substance alone.

COC – Curcuma longa Olibanum, Vitamin C

Our Swiss Essentials® COC drops contribute to the normal functioning of the immune system and support the body's own defenses when needed. They also contain ingredients of 100% natural origin, such as Indian frankincense (olibanum), the therapeutically used turmeric root and vitamin C. The drops are highly bioavailable, which guarantees the absorption of these ingredients.

The combination of Curcuma longa (turmeric), olibanum (frankincense) and vitamin C offers synergistic effects that can benefit our body and our health. Each of these substances has individual health benefits, and their combination can provide additional beneficial effects.

Curcuma longa (turmeric) contains curcumin, which is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Curcumin can also increase the bioavailability of vitamin C, which means that the body can absorb and use vitamin C better when combined with curcumin. For this reason, we have enriched our COC with vitamin C. Because: Vitamin C is also an important antioxidant and plays a role in supporting the immune system, collagen production and protecting cells from oxidative stress. It can also improve the absorption of curcumin.

Olibanum (frankincense), on the other hand, has been used in traditional medicine for centuries and also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Studies also suggest that olibanum can enhance the effects of curcumin and provide synergistic effects.

The combination of curcumin, olibanum and vitamin C in our COC may therefore provide benefits in certain health conditions such as inflammation, oxidative stress and immunological disorders.

Sources:

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5. Narges Marefati, Farimah Beheshti, Amin Mokhtari-Zaer, Mohammad Naser Shafei, Hossein Salmani, Hamid Reza Sadeghnia & Mahmoud Hosseini (2022): The effects of Olibanum on oxidative stress indicators, cytokines, brain derived neurotrophic factor and memory in lipopolysaccharide challenged rats, Toxin Reviews, 41:1, 129-142.