As a busy CEO and mom, I’m all about getting maximum results with minimal effort. One of my favorite hacks for supporting full-body healthy aging? Taking a cucumin supplement every day. Curcumin is the compound in turmeric that gives it its orange color, and  it’s a must-have multitasker for minimizing inflammation—a key cause of premature aging and disease.

Research shows that curcumin can help with all kinds of inflammatory health concerns—everything from skin issues to poor metabolic health to post-workout soreness. (That’s why it’s the star ingredient in Kayo’s Daily Defense Curcumin Capsules.)

So what is inflammation—and how does it affect the body?

There are two types of inflammation, and both affect our bodies slightly differently. Acute inflammation is an immune response to an injury or illness—for instance, the swelling and pain you feel when you sprain your ankle. This type of inflammation is a good thing, even though it’s uncomfortable. It’s a sign that your immune system is helping you heal, and it usually goes away when your injury or illness does.

Chronic inflammation is the type we don’t want, but most of us experience it on some level due to our modern lifestyles. It lasts indefinitely and is caused by things like toxin exposure, obesity, stress, food sensitivities, and inflammatory foods such as sugar, alcohol, and processed meat.

Chronic inflammation can have a lot of negative effects on the body. These include:

1. Premature aging: Ever heard the term “inflammaging”? It essentially means that the body and skin break down faster than they should, due to low-grade inflammation. This can lead to everything from wrinkles, arthritis, and hair loss to age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and cancer.
2. Chronic Disease:  40% of Americans suffer from some form of chronic disease—and inflammation has been found to play a role in nearly all of these diseases, from autoimmune disorders to diabetes, IBS to depression.
3. Skin Issues: Chronic inflammation is linked with acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and other types of skin rashes.
4. Aches and Pains: From migraines to joint soreness and muscle aches, chronic inflammation often goes hand-in-hand with chronic pain.
5. Fatigue: If you suffer from brain fog, tiredness, or lack of focus, chronic inflammation could be the culprit.

How does curcumin help reduce inflammation?

Clearly, chronic inflammation is something we should avoid at all costs. In addition to exercise, eating an anti-inflammatory diet, and managing stress, a curcumin supplement can help minimize chronic inflammation.

Curcumin has been shown to suppress a wide range of inflammatory molecules in our bodies. It’s also a powerful antioxidant, helping protect us from pollution, UV rays, and other environmental stressors that contribute to inflammation.

Studies show that curcumin can also boost brain function, lower heart disease risk, and even prevent cancer! One supplement, so many benefits.

How often should you take a curcumin supplement?

Doctors recommend taking 500mg of curcumin twice a day for best results. But here’s the thing: Most curcumin supplements aren’t easily absorbed by the body.

That’s why Kayo’s Daily Defense is made with Superior Absorption Curcumin—it uses a patent-pending delivery method for the best bioavailability. Plus, we added frankincense and magnesium to the formula, both of which work with curcumin to optimize all of its anti-inflammatory, muscle-boosting benefits.

I love to take Daily Defense after my morning workout to prevent muscle and joint soreness, and then again before bed to help my body repair itself while I sleep. If you can only buy one supplement for healthy aging, you can’t go wrong with this one.

I want to know—have you tried Daily Defense yet? DM me at @christinebullock and let me know how you feel!