Bone & Joint Health

Belly Fat and Vitamin D Levels Linked

Thanks to increased research attention in recent years, we are beginning to form a better understanding of how vitamin D — an essential nutrient long associated with bone health — impacts not only our musculoskeletal system but also other critical aspects of our health. Naturally produced by our skin when exposed to sunlight, vitamin D is also present in food sources like cod liver oil, beef liver, eggs, certain oily fish such as mackerel, herring, tuna and in fortified products such as milk and cereal. Certain supplements also provide vitamin D. Vitamin D is vital to our body’s ability to absorb calcium and also directly impacts blood pressure levels, brain function, lung function, immunity and even mood regulation.

Vitamin D Deficiency: A Widely Overlooked Epidemic

By the Institute of Medicine’s standards, over a quarter of the U.S. suffers from either low or inadequate levels of vitamin D. What’s more, many experts believe that recommended levels of vitamin D should be two to three times higher than those recommended by the IOM — which would make more than 95 percent of the U.S. population either deficient or at risk of deficiency. Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and multiple sclerosis. Previous research has suggested that there may exist a link between vitamin D deficiency and obesity.

A global epidemic, obesity contributes to the death of some 2.8 million people worldwide each year. In the United States alone, more than 78 million adults are considered obese. That means that over one-third of adults in the United States are at risk for easily preventable but potentially life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer. A proven link between obesity and vitamin D levels could very well have wide-reaching implications for a vast majority of the population.

Researchers Discover Significant Link Between Belly Fat and Vitamin D

A group of researchers from the Netherland’s VU University Medical Center and Leiden University Medical Center sought to better understand the link between obesity and vitamin D levels by observing the types and locations of fat that were associated.

Led by Rachida Rafiq, the team examined data from the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity study, focusing specifically on the adipose (fat) tissues of participants in relation to their vitamin D levels. In particular, the researchers examined the participants’ total body fat, subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (belly fat), visceral adipose tissue (fat surrounding the organs) as well as their hepatic (liver) fats. The data were adjusted accordingly for potentially influential variables such as alcohol levels, chronic disease and physical activity and the results then examined.

The researchers found that in women, both total body fat and belly fat were linked with lower vitamin D levels, with the abdominal fat having a significantly greater impact. In men, abdominal fat and liver fat were found to hold higher associations with lower vitamin D levels. In every single case, however, it was obvious that the higher the amount of abdominal fat, the less vitamin D was detected, suggesting that those with larger bellies are more likely to experience a vitamin D deficiency and are therefore also at a greater risk of health complications that accompany lowered vitamin D levels.

According to Rafiq, “Although we did not measure vitamin D deficiency in our study, the strong relationship between increasing amounts of abdominal fat and lower levels of vitamin D suggests that individuals with larger waistlines are at a greater risk of developing deficiency, and should consider having their vitamin D levels checked.”

Understanding the Link Between Vitamin D Levels and Fat Tissue

While the direction or cause of this association is not yet understood, these findings provide a point of focus for future studies. The team hopes to further investigate the association between belly fat and vitamin D so they may shed more light on whether exactly a lack of vitamin D predisposes individuals to gain weight or if increased fat causes a decrease in vitamin D levels.

“Due to the observational nature of this study, we cannot draw a conclusion on the direction or cause of the association between obesity and vitamin D levels. However, this strong association may point to a possible role for vitamin D in abdominal fat storage and function,” Rafiq said.

Osteoporosis in Men: A Serious Yet Often Overlooked Disease

Nov 01 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Osteoporosis is a disease where the density of your bones falls to a critical point where they are so weak that even mild physical impact can fracture them. Some people do not experience any symptoms of osteoporosis until they break a bone in a situation that would not have harmed them when they were younger. Osteoporosis is considered an age-related disease; osteoporosis is most common in women over the age of 50 and men over the age of 60.

Osteoporosis: Not Just a “Woman’s Disease”

It’s a fact that osteoporosis is much more common in women. This is true for several biological reasons. The sudden drop in estrogen levels that women experience during menopause causes their bone mass to rapidly deplete. Women also have smaller bones than men to begin with, so when bone mineral density starts to drop with age, women’s bones reach that critical weakness point much more quickly.

Unfortunately, because osteoporosis is far more prevalent in women, it is often considered somewhat of a “woman’s disease,” leaving osteoporosis in men under-recognized and under-treated. Indeed, one to two million men in the United States alone have osteoporosis, with an additional eight to 13 million men suffering from low bone mass that could lead to osteoporosis in the future. Approximately 13 percent of American men over the age of 50 will suffer at least one osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. Though this rate is not as high as that of women, men are twice as likely to die after an osteoporosis-related hip fracture than women are. Therefore, awareness of male osteoporosis is an important public health concern.

What Causes Osteoporosis in Men?

Of course, aging is the primary cause of osteoporosis. However, there are many other medical and lifestyle risk factors that can make you more likely to suffer from osteoporosis as a man. There are also some medical problems and other factors that can actually be the cause of your osteoporosis, rather than aging. The most common causes and risk factors for this disease in men include:

age-related testosterone deficiency
androgen deprivation therapy
corticosteroid use
excessive alcohol use
low body weight
low calcium levels
low vitamin D levels
physical inactivity
previous bone fractures
small body frame
spinal cord injury
tobacco use

One of the strongest risk factors for osteoporosis is heredity. If your father had low bone mineral density or osteoporosis, you are four times as likely to also eventually develop it. If both your mother and your father had it, you are almost eight times as likely to develop it with age.

There are also several less-common risk factors and causes of osteoporosis in males:

anti-epileptic drugs
chronic kidney disease
chronic liver disease
Cushing syndrome
eating disorders
HIV
hypercalciuria
hyperparathyroidism
malabsorption (e.g. that caused by celiac disease)
mastocytosis
multiple myeloma
organ transplantation
osteogenesis imperfecta
rheumatoid arthritis
Type 1 or 2 diabetes

Treatment and Prevention

Osteoporosis can be prevented by making efforts to preserve your bone mineral density as you get older. It is especially helpful to achieve optimum bone strength before the age of 30, if possible.

Proper calcium and vitamin D intake are crucial for healthy bones. Men older than 50 years of age should get at least 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily. As for vitamin D, men over the age of 50 should get at least 400 IU daily, and men over the age of 70 need 600 IU. However, experts recommend that for the purposes of preventing osteoporosis, you should consume at least 800 IU of vitamin D daily. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D has been proven to reduce the risk of fractures by 12 percent.

Other nutrients that can help reduce your risk of osteoporosis are magnesium and vitamin K. Arguably, it is a good idea to take a daily supplement that contains all of these nutrients. However, even if you take a supplement you should also eat a diet designed for bone health. Important foods to eat include fortified dairy, all manner of vegetables, egg yolk, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fatty fish and mushrooms. Getting plenty of fiber is also important, as research shows that dietary fiber can help increase calcium absorption. This is likely because fiber causes food to be digested more slowly, giving your body more time to absorb the calcium.

To improve bone strength, you must also adjust your lifestyle if necessary. Abstain from tobacco, limit alcohol to two drinks per day, and engage in weight-bearing exercises at least twice a week.

All men over the age of 70 should receive regular osteoporosis tests, just to make sure. If you have any of the risk factors or medical problems described earlier, routine testing should start at the age of 50.

They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. However, for men who have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis, medical intervention is in order. A class of medication known as bisphosphonates is the principal treatment; these can be administered orally or intravenously. Furthermore, any medical conditions that could be causing or contributing to a man’s low bone mass should be addressed. For example, a man who has developed osteoporosis due to sex hormone deficiency should investigate the possibility of testosterone therapy.

Biology Behind Osteoporosis Revealed in New Study

Sep 29 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

A new study published in the journal PNAS has uncovered the biology behind age-related bone loss. Researchers from Zhejiang University in China and the University of Alabama in Birmingham found that a protein known as Cbf-beta is essential at controlling the rate at which new bone cells replace old, dying cells.

Understanding Age-Related Bone Loss

Age-related bone loss is a progressive and serious disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone mass or produces too little new bone. This causes the bones to become weak and likely to break in a fall. In very serious cases, even minor bumps or sneezing can cause a fracture. Healthy bone resembles a honeycomb under a microscope. By comparison, bones that have lost mass have large spaces and holes.

This disease is serious and potentially life-threatening. Fractures from bone loss are most likely to occur in the wrist, spine or hip, but they can happen anywhere. Bone loss can limit mobility and the complications can be life-threatening to older adults. 20 percent of seniors who break a hip bone die within a year from the corrective surgery or fracture.

Age-related bone loss affects about 54 million people in the United States. It’s estimated that one in two women and one in four men over the age of 50 will suffer a bone fracture at some point due to bone loss. Women are four times more likely to develop bone loss as their bones are naturally thinner and they have a longer lifespan. Menopause, which stops estrogen production that helps use calcium, also plays a big role.

Risk factors for age-related bone loss include:

Age. Bone density peaks around 30. After that, bone mass begins to decline. This makes it more important to exercise and get enough vitamin D and calcium to maintain bone mass.
Family history.
Gender. Women are far more likely to develop bone loss.
Body weight and bone structure. Women who are thin and petite are more likely to lose bone mass than women with a larger frame.
Ethnicity. Asian and Caucasian women have a higher risk of bone loss than other ethnic groups.
Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Certain medications like steroids.
Smoking.
Heavy drinking.

The Mechanism Behind Osteoporosis Revealed

Previous research has found that progenitor cells, or immature cells in the body, remain in reserve until receiving genetic instructions from transcription factors to become a new type of cell. When it comes to bone tissue, progenitor cells become bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Depending on the genetic instructions, mesenchymal stem cells may mature into cartilage-producing cells (chondrocytes), bone-producing cells (osteoblasts) or fat cells (adipocytes).

In the recent study, after investigating transcription factors that control how progenitor cells mature, the researchers found that a protein called Cbf-beta was necessary to switch between bone-producing cells and fat cells. Until this study, it was unknown what controlled how progenitor cells matured to maintain the balance of bone formation.

This study involved engineering three groups of mice by deleting the Cbf-beta protein at different stages of progenitor cell maturation. All three groups of mice developed severe bone loss and accumulated fat in the bone marrow, much like the age-related bone loss in humans. This also led to increased levels of fat cell genes in progenitor cells and bone cells in the skulls of the mice without Cbf-beta.

After further research, the teams found that Cbf-beta works by activating a signal in a cell that blocks expression of the gene that causes progenitor cells to turn into fat cells. The researchers hope that this discovery will eventually lead to new ways to treat bone loss.

How to Guard Against Bone Loss

While bone loss begins to occur gradually as we age, there are many ways to protect healthy bone production. Staying active is one of the most important ways to protect your bones. The Cleveland Clinic recommends a specific exercise regimen for people with bone loss who have not suffered a fracture. This includes cardiovascular workouts and strengthening exercises.

Eating a healthy diet high in nutrients necessary to build bone and supplementing as necessary can ensure your body has what it needs to form new bone cells. The following are the most important nutrients for healthy bones.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is produced by the body after exposure to sunlight, but it can be found in some foods. Vitamin D deficiency is common in the United States and elsewhere. Vitamin D supplementation is often recommended to achieve recommended daily levels.

Calcium

Calcium is necessary for healthy growth and development of bones. Good calcium intake is also essential to achieve peak bone mass and it can modify the rate of bone loss as we age. Unfortunately, many adults in the United States fail to achieve the recommended daily calcium intake.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K has recently been found to play an important role in bone metabolism and bone health. Blood levels of vitamin K have even been found to be an indicator of hip fractures.

Phytoestrogens

Estrogen deficiency is one of the biggest contributing factors to the high rate of bone loss in post-menopausal women. This is why estrogen replacement therapy is still the only proven way to prevent and help reverse bone loss. Phytoestrogens may be a safer alternative. Also known as dietary estrogen, phytoestrogens are compounds that naturally occur in plant foods and structurally resemble natural estrogen.

MSM

Methylsulfonylmethane or MSM is a sulfur-containing compound that’s found in grains, vegetables and fruits. This antioxidant is believed to reduce swelling and oxidative damage, especially after strenuous activities like exercising. One study conducted at the Department of Orthopedics at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center in Israel found that patients who used MSM for 12 weeks reported an improvement in osteoarthritic symptoms.

Magnesium

While magnesium does not directly help bone growth, it is necessary to absorb calcium and MSM. Magnesium is necessary to convert vitamin D into its active form so it can activate calcium absorption.

Supplementing these important nutrients or a high-quality formula that provides two or more of these ingredients can help protect bone health as you age.

New Research Highlights the Importance of Getting Enough Vitamin D During Pregnancy

Aug 07 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Recommendations for vitamin intake during pregnancy are constantly being modified to reflect new research. Most people are aware of the importance of taking in enough folic acid and other B vitamins during their child-bearing years. A new study on taking vitamin D during pregnancy suggests that this vitamin also may be crucial to developing children, especially in the areas of social development and motor skills.

The Effects of Vitamin D During Pregnancy

It is well known that it is important to get a wide range of vitamins as part of your prenatal care while pregnant or planning a pregnancy. However, not all vitamins are created equal. Some vitamins, such as folic acid, are more important during pregnancy because we know that a deficiency can cause very serious and specific problems.

Vitamin D is perhaps best known for its effects on mood and on bone growth. Unsurprisingly, it has been linked to fetal bone growth as well. Pregnant women are routinely told to get enough of this vitamin to ensure that their fetus can develop healthy bones. Vitamin D also helps to keep an expecting mother’s bones strong at a time when their body is facing a range of new demands. However, this may not be the only role of this nutrient in growth and development. New research on vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy suggests that a deficiency of this vitamin may have very serious effects on the developing fetus in the areas of social and motor development, effects that can last a lifetime.

Vitamin D and Social Development

Researchers looked at a group of pregnant women who had low vitamin D levels as well as those who had normal amounts of this vitamin while expecting. They assessed the health of the children resulting from these pregnancies and found surprising results. Children who were born to mothers who had a vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy scored lower on both social and motor skills. They scored lower on motor skills such as kicking a ball and jumping. In addition, these children had more trouble with social skills in their preschool years.

How can vitamin D affect such a diverse range of skills in a developing fetus? While researchers are not sure of the exact mechanism, it definitely appears that this nutrient has a more profound effect on fetal development than was previously known. Although the effects of low vitamin D are acknowledged by the medical field, American doctors do not currently recommend routine screening of pregnant women for a deficiency of this vitamin. As a result, many expecting mothers may be deficient without knowing it. At a time when many mothers are worried about their children developing autism and other increasingly common neurological disorders, taking a vitamin D supplement may be an easy way to give children a better chance at a healthy life.

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?

Although vitamin D is one of the most important nutrients for human health, many modern people are deficient. This vitamin is produced mainly through a reaction found in skin cells when they are exposed to ultraviolet light. Many people in the modern world wear sunscreen to lower their skin cancer risk, leaving them with low vitamin D levels. However, there are several ways to ensure that you get the vitamin D you need without increasing your risk of skin cancer.

• Spend a few minutes a day in direct sunlight without sunscreen. This is not enough to get a sunburn or increase cancer risk but will ensure that your cells are able to manufacture vitamin D.

• Eat foods that are rich in this vitamin. These include eggs, meat, leafy greens and also cereals. Cereals in Western countries are fortified with vitamins A and D, so they are a rich source of this nutrient.

• Take a vitamin D supplement to ensure that you get enough of this vitamin even if you lack sun exposure or a diet rich in animal foods.

• Consider getting a special lamp that emits ultraviolet rays, such as the ones used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). These have the wavelength of light needed to encourage your skin to produce vitamin D.

Not Just for Pregnant Women

Even if you are not pregnant, your body needs vitamin D to survive and to thrive. Vitamin D has a variety of effects that are beneficial to all people. It is important in producing the biochemicals that contribute to maintaining a happy and positive mood, which is why a deficiency has been shown to cause depression and seasonal affective disorder. It also is important to the growth and remodeling of your bones. Vitamin D serves as a cofactor in a variety of important metabolic reactions. People who are deficient in this vitamin often find that they suffer fatigue, malaise and sleep disorders. Last, this vitamin is important to the immune system. Without it, you may find that you become sick more easily and take longer to recover from even minor and routine illness.

Eating a well-balanced diet is crucial to human health. However, the food supply is more depleted in nutrients than ever before. More and more people are finding that they have better health when taking a multivitamin with a wide range of essential vitamins and nutrients. Good nutrition is the building block of good health, so getting your vitamins either from a balanced diet or a supplement is more important than ever.

Top 6 Crucial Vitamins for Men’s Health

Jun 20 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Today, the “Standard American Diet” has become, well, standard — especially among men. This diet is based on processed foods that are often lacking in nutrients and vitamins. The result is that many men in the United States are deficient in vitamins. In addition, men have slightly different nutritional needs than women and require more of certain vitamins to produce testosterone, prevent heart disease and otherwise promote good health. Exactly which vitamins are western men lacking? We’ve identified the following top six.

1. Vitamin D

Many modern people do not get enough vitamin D due to widespread sunscreen use. While protecting against skin cancer is important, it is also important to take in enough vitamin D. Not only does this vitamin help you to feel energetic and have good bone strength, it may also be important for the future health of your children. Men need vitamin D to produce the testosterone needed for high fertility and good health. Maternal vitamin intake is not the only kind that matters. Recent studies have found that men who take vitamin D around the time of conception have healthier children with lower rates of obesity.

2. B Vitamins

B vitamins are essential to your metabolism and immune system. They may also be especially important for protecting your cells and tissues from harmful elements in our environment. Air pollution is a health risk in many American cities, contributing to higher rates of cancer and even neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Researchers have found that B vitamins keep pollutants from doing as much damage in your cells. If you live in a city or town with air pollution, taking enough B vitamins could significantly impact your health.

B12 is especially important for men as they age. Many of the medications taken for heart disease and other common male problems keep the body from absorbing this nutrient. The result is that many men are deficient in this important vitamin.

3. Antioxidants

Antioxidants such as vitamin A, C and E are crucial to preventing tissue breakdown and aging. Our bodies produce free radicals in normal cellular processes, which can accumulate and cause a great deal of damage as we age. Anti-oxidants help to remove these free radicals before they can cause damage. Not only does this slow aging, but it also can help to prevent diseases that are unfortunately common in men such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and dementia.

4. Vitamin K

Vitamin K is well known for being important for bone health and for maintaining good clotting. However, there are other benefits to this vitamin for men. Vitamin D has been found in several research trials to reduce heart disease, which is one of the top killers of men. Because it is found mainly in leafy greens, broccoli and similar foods that are not eaten enough in the Western world, many men may benefit from a supplement.

5. Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that is not just important for maintaining healthy muscles and blood vessels but as an electrolyte that helps our bodies to run more efficiently. Without enough of this mineral, people may suffer muscle spasms, hypertension, headaches and a variety of other health complaints. Unfortunately, the amount of magnesium in our food supply has become depleted in modern times. In addition, modern men are subject to a wide range of conditions that lower magnesium levels such as stress and excessive workouts. If you’re a man and you aren’t taking a supplement or a multivitamin that contains ample amounts of magnesium, you probably aren’t getting enough.

6. Omega-3 Fish Oils

Omega-3 fish oils may not technically be a vitamin, but they function as one in the male body. These oils help to lubricate joints, reduce rates of heart disease, promote healthy mood and cognitive function and otherwise improve your whole body health. Because we can only get these oils from certain types of oily fish, the average man simply does not take in enough. Taking an omega-3 supplement will improve your health by ensuring that you always get enough of these oils.

Vitamins for Men Throughout the Lifespan

Getting enough of the right vitamins is not just important in youth, but as we age as well. In fact, older men have very special dietary needs. Vitamin B12 keeps your muscles and other tissues healthy, while vitamin B6 ensures that you have the healthy blood supply you need for high energy and effective healing. Vitamin D and calcium are also important in preventing osteoporosis and bone loss as men age.

How can you make sure that you get enough of these essential vitamins for men? Eating a variety of healthy foods is a start, but it is not enough for many people. Our soils have been depleted of many nutrients, leaving our food without enough of the vitamins we need. Taking a multivitamin is the best answer for many modern men. This is a simple way to ensure that you get all of the vitamins that you need to be healthy over a long lifetime.

Turmeric Benefits for Inflammation and Cellular Health

May 26 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

In the Western world, we don’t use turmeric heavily in our diet, although this is beginning to change. Many people are starting to enjoy spicy foods such as curries as part of their daily meals. Pungent spices are an integral part of Middle Eastern cuisine, Indian cuisine and even Latin American foods. In some cultures, turmeric is even made into a tea that is enjoyed both for flavor and as a traditional medicine. Whether you enjoy spicy foods or not, several new studies on turmeric benefits may encourage you to take in more of this potent yellow spice.

An Ancient Natural Remedy

Although most people in the West know turmeric as a yellow spice with a distinctive pungent flavor, it has been used for hundreds of years in other parts of the globe as a medicine. As a plant, turmeric is closely related to the popular spice ginger, which also has been found to have health benefits. It is the reason curries are yellow as well as a component of mustard. Both traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine consider turmeric an important medicine as well. People who take turmeric medicinally can take it as a spice, as a tea and even in capsules.

Traditionally, turmeric has been used to fight infections and reduce inflammation. This is due to a compound called curcumin that is present in high levels in this spice. New studies suggest that it indeed is useful for these health issues. However, it appears to have even more benefits for modern wellness than previously realized.

Turmeric Benefits for Cellular Health and More

Turmeric has been the subject of several recent studies due to its purported health effects. It has antioxidant properties that prevent cell damage from environmental exposures as well as daily wear and tear. In addition, it fights cytokines, the molecules that are responsible for inflammation in our bodies. Proven benefits of turmeric also include reducing chronic joint pain from arthritis.

These actions add up to a lot of benefits for human health. Turmeric is the latest natural wonder compound. It has been shown to affect the size of tumors, prevent heart disease and lessen some of the deadly side effects of cancer treatments. High turmeric intake may be the reason that places such as India have much lower rates of cancer. People who have inflammatory conditions such as ulcerative colitis also may see a reduction in symptoms when taking this spice. It is clear that practitioners of ancient medicine were right about the health benefits of turmeric. Are there any drawbacks to taking this compound?

Potential Drawbacks of Turmeric

As with all compounds, too much turmeric can have drawbacks. While eating this spice in foods or taking a modest dose as a daily supplement are safe for most people, researchers are clear that this spice can have negative health effects in mega doses—as with all dietary supplements. People who take more than 12 grams of turmeric a day may have diarrhea, headaches and skin rashes. In addition, turmeric can cause people to have yellow feces. It can also interact with other drugs, most notably chemotherapy drugs and the popular blood thinner Warfarin. At very high doses, it can even cause some of the inflammation that it treats in more modest amounts.

As with all medicinal compounds, it can be beneficial to take turmeric—but not in huge quantities. In addition, people who take other medications should talk to their doctor to ensure that there are no interactions with other drugs they are prescribed. However, people in India eat large amounts of turmeric as part of their daily diet with no ill effects. It is difficult to get too much of this natural remedy without taking capsules and supplements that contain a higher than recommended dosage.

Future Studies on Turmeric

This spice shows huge promise as a treatment for several of the most common diseases in the developed world. Because of this promise, it is currently being studied more seriously as a future medicine. For example, researchers at Ohio State University are looking at ways to enable better absorption of this spice as well as ways to increase its anti-inflammatory effects. Scientists are also studying its effects on cancer and tumors, with hopes that it may someday be added to the arsenal of chemotherapy drugs on the market. It is also being studied as a treatment for several common diseases of aging, such as Alzheimer dementia and osteoarthritis. While we know much about the benefits of turmeric, it appears that there may be much we do not know yet about its disease-fighting potential.

Turmeric is not the only spice that has been found to have health benefits. It appears that these compounds may not just flavor our foods, but contribute to whole body health. Whether you choose to take a supplement containing turmeric simply eat more curry, adding some extra turmeric to your diet may improve your health in a variety of ways.