The popularity of turmeric as a miracle cure for just about everything that ails you has gained traction the last few years, with this famous spice being dubbed many names including “the new kale”, the “king of spices” or the more well-known “spice of life”. When you read up on the amazing benefits of turmeric, it is no wonder this super spice is taking the health world by storm. And it’s also versatile and can be used in many different ways in your cooking, just throw some turmeric into your smoothies, use it season your eggs, or golden milk, anyone?
But is it really all it’s cracked up to be and what’s the benefit of turmeric supplements if you can easily buy this spice in the grocery store?
Miraculous Turmeric
Turmeric comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant. From the outside, turmeric looks like ginger and it is part of the same family, but when it is ground up, it is a bright yellow-orange color popularly used to season curries. Historically, it was used as a dye, and Indians have been using it for centuries as a solution to many health concerns. Science has finally caught up to what the Indians and other Eastern medicinal practices have known all along which is that this powerful spice holds the key to many health benefits. The latest research has shown that turmeric holds many benefits for both the body and the brain and could be one of the most effective wellness supplements available.
- Turmeric has excellent anti-inflammatory properties.
- Turmeric is a powerful source of antioxidants.
- Turmeric protects the brain from degenerative diseases.
- Turmeric is an effective treatment for arthritis.
- Turmeric helps regulate blood sugar levels.
- Turmeric provides cardiovascular benefits by lowering bad cholesterol (LDL).
Sounds Amazing
With all these health benefits turmeric has going for it, it sounds worth it to throw turmeric into every recipe. Not so fast. Interestingly, turmeric itself is not where all the magic is at. Turmeric contains different bioactive compounds called curcuminoids, and these are what is responsible for its numerous benefits on your health. Curcumin is the main curcuminoid and is essentially the powerhouse of the turmeric, giving it is numerous health benefits.
When you use turmeric in cooking, only a small part of that will contain curcumin – around 2-5%. As this is where all the health benefits are, you would need to eat a lot of turmeric to get any of the benefits. This is where turmeric supplements, also referred to as curcumin supplements, come in. So while cooking with turmeric does offer health benefits, to get the most out of turmeric, you want to incorporate a turmeric supplement in your daily routine.
Turmeric supplements contain a turmeric extract which is more concentrated with curcuminoids, and therefore curcumin. So while in a regular turmeric powder you may only have 3% curcuminoids, in a supplement, you could have up to 95%! This means you will actually get the many health benefits that turmeric has to offer by simply taking a capsule and not needing to consume the powder by the spoonful which, with its strong taste and aroma, may be difficult to do.
The main problem with curcumin is that it is difficult for the body to absorb. And if you are not absorbing it, then you will not be getting any of its health benefits. So what can you do? Take it with black pepper. The main alkaloid found in black pepper, piperine, has been found to increase the body’s ability to absorb curcumin by 2000%!
How To Choose The Best Turmeric Supplement
Whether it’s the best turmeric supplement you’re searching for or the best curcumin supplement, they are basically the same thing with the same considerations. The best turmeric supplement, or best curcumin supplement, should contain a high amount of pure turmeric extract (we recommend 1500 mg) standardized to contain at least 95% curcuminoids. The lower the percentage of curcuminoids, the fewer health benefits it will provide. To increase the bioavailability of the curcuminoids so that your body can absorb them and utilize their benefits, the best turmeric supplement will contain some form of black pepper extract. The most well-known and popular black pepper extract is BioPerine® which is a patented black pepper extract that is standardized to contain 95% piperine, the main compound found in black pepper which increases the body’s ability to absorb certain nutrients.
In summary, the best curcumin supplement will have these 4 components:
- The best turmeric supplement contains at least 1000 mg of pure turmeric extract
- The best turmeric supplement contains 95% curcuminoids
- The best turmeric supplement contains BioPerine® for absorption
- The best turmeric supplement is vegan-friendly
TurmericMD By Approved Science
Now that it has been established what makes the best curcumin supplement, finding the best and most trusted supplier can be tricky with the numerous products that are out there today. Turmeric supplements can be bought both in health food stores and online. Oftentimes, buying online can be a better option as it is more convenient and you can also obtain more information about the manufacturer.
When considering where to buy turmeric online, make sure the manufacturer provides adequate information about its product and is transparent about what goes into it. This can be done by taking a look at the label of the product which should be provided on the manufacturer’s website. If the manufacturer does not provide this information, keep looking. Another element to look out for is the provision of a money-back guarantee. That is how you can really know you are getting a top quality product.
When a manufacturer believes its product to be the best, they are willing to put their money where their mouth is, so to speak. If the manufacturer is confident it won’t be losing money by selling the supplement, you should feel confident too. Take advantage of our 60-day money-back guarantee here!