Probably all of us have suffered from digestive problems at some point. Such complaints can have different causes, but they have one thing in common - the symptoms are unpleasant. Flatulence, a feeling of fullness, diarrhea or stomach cramps are just a few examples. In recent years, certain nutritional trends have also led to imbalances in our gastrointestinal tract and with certain practices we can actually destroy the 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 modern and scientific perspectives, Curcuma longa, as it is scientifically called, offers us incredibly valuable health benefits that allow us to care for and cure our intestinal health.

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

How do digestive problems occur 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 body. Digestive disorders can occur for a variety of reasons. An unbalanced diet in particular can lead to problems in the gastrointestinal tract. For example, a diet low in fiber and high in fatty, fried, and highly processed foods is bad for our gut. A lack of fiber can lead to constipation, while fatty and processed foods can slow down our digestion and cause further discomfort such as bloating or heartburn.

Overeating or meals that are too large can also overload the stomach and lead to indigestion. Since our body needs time to digest food properly, meals that are too large 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 abdominal pain, flatulence and diarrhea, although these are not quite as widespread as is often portrayed. If you diagnose yourself as gluten or lactose intolerant, then an unnecessarily adjusted diet can destroy the natural intestinal flora in the long term. For this reason, such a diet should only be followed 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 fear by activating the nervous system and letting it “fire”, which influences digestion by activating it more or even shutting it down under certain circumstances - keyword: fight or flight response.

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

A trend that we have observed more and more in recent years is how some people follow popular nutritional trends and in the long term destroy their intestinal flora. We would therefore like to briefly discuss some of these potentially dangerous trends in more detail.

Popular diet trends that can lead to digestive problems

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

Extreme diets with a very low calorie intake can e.g. B. lead to malnutrition and an inadequate supply of important nutrients. This can slow digestion, cause constipation and affect metabolism.

Low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diets , which dictate greatly reduced intake of carbohydrates and increased intake of fats, can also lead to digestive discomfort. Constipation, bad breath, irregular bowel movements and stomach pain are common problems with such diets because 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 , which emphasize eating raw foods, can lead to bloating and diarrhea. Some foods are more difficult to digest raw due to their lower bioavailability, which is caused by the plant components. Cooking or heating makes many foods easier for us humans to digest. An exclusive raw food diet can put a strain on digestion.

Detox diets or detox diets that involve a strong avoidance of solid food and the consumption of special juices, smoothies or solutions can lead to complaints such as leaky gut syndrome. The sudden withdrawal of food and the unbalanced diet can also lead to fatigue, mood swings, nausea, diarrhea and constipation.

A natural remedy, more precisely a root, can help with 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 from the ginger family. The root that most of us know from curry mixes is originally from South Asia and is mainly grown in India, China and other tropical regions. Known for its bright yellow color, turmeric 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 Asian dishes its characteristic yellow color.

Turmeric contains a number of bioactive compounds, of which curcumin, a so-called curcuminoid, is the best known. Curcumin is responsible for turmeric's bright yellow color and also has a variety of potential 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 has been used for various gastrointestinal complaints, as the root can help relieve digestive problems.

Turmeric is still used today for digestive problems such as gas, bloating, stomach cramps and indigestion. The root stimulates the production of digestive juices and stimulates the gallbladder, which contributes to better digestion of fats. In addition, turmeric can also reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, helping to relieve gastrointestinal inflammation.

Historically, turmeric (Curcuma longa) was used in traditional Indian medicine Ayurveda to treat digestive problems. Ayurveda is a traditional Indian healthcare system that takes a holistic approach to health and well-being. One of the most important Ayurvedic works that mentions the use of curcuma is the “Charaka Samhita”. The Charaka Samhita, written in the 2nd or 3rd century B.C. Written in 200 BC, it is one of the oldest and most comprehensive texts in Ayurveda. It describes the use of turmeric as a component of 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 something like “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 illnesses and treating illnesses.

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 evidence, studies and recommendations. Ayurveda views humans as unique individuals and takes into account the body, mind and soul.

We at BE THE CHANGE also view humans as a holistic, biological system that needs to be cared for. We produce foods, vital substance preparations and sports nutrition that contribute sustainably to 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 active ingredients to be optimally absorbed into the body. Our BE THE CHANGE logo also symbolizes the sustainable, regenerative cycle of our products on human health and that of the environment.

We have also recognized the incredibly valuable abilities and potencies of Curcuma longa and have made these 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 of 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 stronger effects than either substance alone. That's why we combined our Curcuma Longa with selenium.

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

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

COC – Curcuma longa Olibanum, Vitamin C

Our Swiss Essentials® COC drops contribute to the normal function 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, meaning the body can better absorb and utilize vitamin C 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), in turn, 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 for certain health conditions such as inflammation, oxidative stress and immunological disorders.

Sources:

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2. Schaffer M, Schaffer PM, Bar-Sela G. An update on Curcuma as a functional food in the control of cancer and inflammation. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2015 Nov;18(6):605-11. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0000000000000227. PMID: 26418821.
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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.