Feeling down? Adding spice to your life could be the remedy—literally. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that curcumin, a plant compound and curcuminoid derived from the spice turmeric, lessens symptoms of depression. Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the study investigated the effects of administering curcumin (500 mg twice daily as a supplement called BCM-95) to individuals with clinical depression. After eight weeks, individuals who received the curcumin reported significant improvements compared to the placebo group in symptoms of depression and anxiety. Those with atypical depression, a form of clinical depression that can be difficult to treat, also reported improvements in their symptoms. The study is the second to attribute antidepressant effects to the BCM-95 form of curcumin specifically.

Source: Journal of Affective Disorders