Ashley T

Jun 64 min read

Are Turmeric Supplements Worth the Money?

Don’t Waste Money on Turmeric Supplements—Unless They Contain These 2 Ingredients

Turmeric gets a lot of praise for its health benefits, from helping with cholesterol to relieving arthritis. But here's the catch: not all turmeric supplements are created equal. In fact, most are just a waste of money if they lack 2 crucial ingredients.

Don't worry, keep reading to discover what the 2 essential ingredients are and how to choose the right supplements, as well as our top recommendations from experts.

👉 Skip to our #1 recommended turmeric supplement.

Curcumin

The active medicinal component in turmeric is actually 'curcumin' or curcuminoids. However, raw turmeric only contains a tiny amount—about 2 to 6 percent. Therefore, consuming raw turmeric won't deliver the potent health benefits often touted.

Curcumin has been linked to a wide range of health benefits, including:

Heart health: Curcumin may benefit heart health by improving endothelial function, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and lowering levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Joint health: Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, curcumin may help alleviate symptoms of arthritis and other inflammatory joint conditions, reducing pain and improving mobility.

Digestive health: Curcumin may promote digestive health by stimulating bile production, reducing symptoms of indigestion, and protecting the gastrointestinal lining from damage.

“Reputable” supplement brands that tout high levels of turmeric, but only contain a fraction of actual curcumin.

Black Pepper

Curcumin’s major drawback is its poor bioavailability—only about two to three percent of curcumin is absorbed into your bloodstream when you take it.

So you can eat the highest quality curcuminoids, and it may just go to waste…But there’s a trick to enhance its absorption.

Adding black pepper can boost curcumin absorption by up to 2,000 percent, thanks to a compound called piperine which defends curcumin from being broken down by enzymes in the body.

Choosing the Right Supplement

If you’re serious about managing your cholesterol with turmeric, here’s what to look for in a supplement:

High Curcumin Concentration: Ensure the supplement contains a significant amount of curcumin, not just raw turmeric powder.

Black Pepper: Look for piperine or black pepper extract on the label, which can greatly improve absorption.

Minimal Additives: Avoid supplements with unnecessary fillers.

Top 3 Turmeric Supplements in Malaysia

At Superfood Reviews, we’ve thoroughly researched products in Singapore to find the best turmeric supplements in the market. We’ve graded each choice through a stringent grading based on the following criteria:

1. Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice by The Purest Co

Grade

A+

PROS

✅ Features premium Turmeric extract CURCUGEN™ and American Ginseng

✅ Enriched absorption with BioPerine® (95% Piperine)

✅ Low-calorie sweetener doesn’t affect blood sugar levels

✅ GMP-certified, made in an FDA-registered & HACCP-certified facility

✅ 90-day money-back guarantee

✅ Free islandwide shipping in Singapore

CONS

❌ Only available online

❌ Regularly out of stock due to high demand

Bottom Line

When compared to its competitors, Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice by The Purest Co comes out on top. This is due to its superior formula and unbeatable price-to-performance ratio.

The star ingredient is undoubtedly Curcugen™, a patented turmeric extract developed by Dolcas Biotech. Tests show it has over 52 times enhanced curcumin absorption compared to turmeric extracts standardised up to 95% curcuminoids.

Importantly, the added BioPerine®, a very pure form of piperine, is studied to boost absorption by up to 2,000%. It also features American Ginseng, a potent herb for inflammation, high blood sugar and fatigue.

As a mark of its quality and safety, Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice is GMP-certified and manufactured in an FDA-registered & HACCP-certified facility. Finally, the company's 90-day, 100% money-back guarantee reassures cautious shoppers.

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2. Turmeric Curcumin Extra Strength by GNC

Grade

B+

PROS

✅ Contains contains turmeric root extract (95% curcuminoids)

✅ Features Black Pepper Fruit Extract (50% piperine)

✅ Widely available both online and offline

✅ 30-day money-back guarantee

CONS

❌ Not GMP-certified

❌ Contains several synthetic ingredients like Polyethylene Glycol and Triacetin

❌ Large pills to swallow

Bottom Line

Coming in second place is Turmeric Curcumin Extra Strength by GNC. This is a longstanding reputable supplement brand, and it does not disappoint with an impressive turmeric offering.

Each capsule contains a whopping 1063 mg of turmeric extract standardised to 95%, and goes the extra mile with 20mg of Black Pepper Fruit Extract to boost absorption. While not as potent as our first choice, this still provides a decent option for consumers. To top it off, the company has a 30-day money back guarantee too.

Something to consider is the inclusion of some synthetic ingredients in the product, which we cannot figure out why they are in there. However, we feel that overall, Turmeric Curcumin Extra Strength by GNC is a good no-frills choice for consumers who want to try a turmeric extract in pill form.

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3. Turmeric Curcumin by NOW Foods

Grade

B-

PROS

✅ Has 665mg turmeric root extract (95% curcuminoids)

✅ GMP-certified

✅ Can be purchased both online and offline

CONS

❌ Does not include piperine for absorption

❌ No money back guarantee

Bottom Line

We found many turmeric products were filled with mostly raw turmeric powders, despite being almost twice the price of this product. We included Turmeric Curcumin by NOW Foods in our top 3 ranking because it features 665 mg of turmeric root extract. Standardised to 95% curcuminoids, consumers get a potent 631 mg of the active curcumin ingredient.

It also meets our criteria to be GMP-certified, which means you can take this supplement knowing it is safe and of good quality. Sadly, the lack of piperine means you’ll need to take a piperine supplement along with this one. Without piperine, the bioavailability of curcumin is too low to be effective.

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