A landmark study has revealed the impact that curcumin has on depression. Curcumin is found in the Indian spice turmeric and research has shown it to be as effective as Prozac for treating depressive disorders, without any of the serious side effects. This brings new hope for people who want to find relief for their depressive symptoms.

Depressive disorders are estimated to affect approximately 14.8 million American adults or 6.7% of the population over the age of 18. Individuals in the grips of a depressive disorder may find their jobs, school performances, family relationships and physical health problems are all affected.

The randomized and controlled study of curcumin’s effectiveness found it can inhibit monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that is linked to depression if found in high levels in the brain. See study here for more information.

Curcumin has also been found to raise serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, related to feelings of calmness and wellbeing. This combination is potent as it demonstrates that regular curcumin use can significantly reduce any negative emotional symptoms.

By incorporating curcumin alongside a healthy diet, rest, regular exercise and stress management, it’s possible to find natural relief for depression. One of the major benefits of curcumin is that it has no negative side effects, whereas the same can’t be said for prescription antidepressants. The latter can often cause issues such as sleep disturbances, increased anxiety and serious problems such as schizophrenia.

The study shows the importance of natural alternatives for treating depression and its side effects compared to those associated with prescription drugs. While curcumin can be found naturally in turmeric and various curcumin capsules, it isn’t readily absorbed within the body in this form. When it’s bound to fat, the bioavailability of the curcumin increases up to 40x compared to ordinary curcumin, so this increases its absorption rate. For best results, it’s recommended to take the curcumin capsules 3 times a day on a daily basis.

Find out more about Curcumin here and here.