The 'spice of life' with so many health benefits - what to look for and what to avoid when choosing a Turmeric supplement
Over the last few years, turmeric — or curcumin as many people refer to it — has grown to be recognized as one of the world’s healthiest superfoods.
Though this multi-functional plant has been around for ages, it's only until recently that medical experts have started to really research these roots for their medicinal power.
It’s interesting to note though, that people from the East have known about the power of turmeric and have been using it for well over hundred years now. The Indians are especially known for using turmeric generously — both as spice for their food and for medicinal purposes.
There are so many health benefits that turmeric has to offer that we decided to dedicate this article to the topic.
In this review, we are going to point out some of those benefits and why turmeric should be an important part of your daily diet. Also, we are going to let you take advantage of months of intense research on the best turmeric supplements around, so you can make the most informed choice possible.
Why Take Turmeric Curcumin?
For many years now, researchers have been finding more and more evidence of the benefits of regular turmeric supplementation.
It has come to a point that some doctors are starting to encourage their patients to consume more turmeric for them to enjoy its natural healing properties. With more credible research done showing the potentially large health benefits that this natural root can bring about, more and more people are now considering Turmeric as an integral part of their daily health regime.
Some of the most common reasons people take a turmeric supplement include:
Natural Anti Inflammatory
Studies show that curcumin may offer potent anti-inflammatory properties to help with the symptoms of conditions like arthritis, joint pain, gout, sciatica & muscle pain.
Potent Antioxidant
Curcumin has been shown to be effective in reducing free radicals that cause damage to the body’s cells. Free radical damage, along with inflammation, are a key driver of cardiovascular disease.
Skin Health, Gut Health & Immunity
The antioxidant properties of curcumin also make it potentially beneficial for skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis - as well as supporting gut health and immune health.
Brain Health & Cognitive Function
There is evidence that curcumin may help with Alzheimer’s disease and mood disorders. In recent studies it helped reduce depression and anxiety symptoms in multiple participants.
The Main Types Of Turmeric Supplements
As the popularity of turmeric around the world increases, there has been an influx of new turmeric supplements hitting the shelves. They come in different forms and types, of which these two are the most common:
Turmeric supplements extracted from powdered roots: The most basic form of turmeric supplement, this would be basically finely ground turmeric roots and would be similar to the turmeric you would find in your grocery store’s spice aisle. While this would work well for cooking, in reality it contains only trace amounts of the active ingredients curcumin/curcuminoids, hence would not be recommended if one is looking for the maximum health benefits.
Turmeric extract: These extracts are achieved using advanced food science technology. The basic extraction will contain 95% curcuminoids, but result in certain key components being lost. With more advanced extraction methods, turmeric extracts these days such as Curcugen™ can result in a product that while only contains 50% curcuminoids, its health benefits are far beyond the current industry standard that uses 95% curcuminoids. This is because of its superior absorbability as well as key components such as turmeric oil being retained.
The Importance of Bioperine® in Turmeric Supplements
BioPerine®, also known as piperine is the extract obtained from black pepper fruits which has been found to enhance the absorption of nutrients by 30% or more.
The effectiveness of many high quality dietary supplements has been boosted by the presence of this extract. This is the same for many turmeric supplements.
The major advantage is the fact that BioPerine® helps to boost the bioavailability of most supplements. Bioavailability refers to the quality of the nutrients that effectively reach the target cells. With BioPerine® extract present, it greatly impacts the amount of the nutrients from the turmeric supplement that can be absorbed by the body.
The major attraction is the fact that BioPerine® helps to boost the bioavailability in any supplement. (Bioavailability refers to the rate at which drugs get absorbed in the system). Curcumin being the main property of turmeric is known to have very poor bioavailability. The BioPerine® extract therefore helps to increase the amount of supplement that can be absorbed by the body.
While BioPerine® is important for a number of reasons, these two reasons stand out the most.
BioPerine® will help to inhibit the production of intestinal acid that will tamper the effectiveness of your turmeric supplement to a large extent. It will help improve the absorption of curcumin into your body cells and tissues.
Hence, the recommendation is for people to only buy turmeric supplements that contain BioPerine®. This would also be the reason why the turmeric from your grocery store’s spice aisle won’t cut it. It may taste nice but unfortunately won’t do anything for your health.
4 Things To Look For When Buying Turmeric Supplements
Look for BioPerine® on the label: The presence of BioPerine® will dramatically improve the absorption level/rate of curcumin.
Check potency: Make sure the product lists how many milligrams (mg) of turmeric extract is included. Turmeric extract is absolutely key, and a branded and scientifically proven turmeric extract like Curcugen™ would be best.
No unnecessary ingredients: The best Turmeric supplements on the market are the ones composed of natural, healthy, non-synthetic ingredients. By cutting out the fillers, you can be sure you're getting 100% premium, highly concentrated ingredients in their purest form, with no unnecessary artificial additives or synthetics.
Liquid delivery: Curcumin is fat soluble which means water insoluble and has poor inherent bioavailability - hence absorption into the body is harder. Therefore, the most effective form of consuming Turmeric Curcumin is in liquid form, which has the best absorption rates into the body compared to capsules or edibles. As much as possible, finding a liquid supplement would be the best way to reap the benefits.
What You Need to Avoid
There are certain key factors you should look out for when it comes to picking a turmeric curcumin supplement. Listed below are the three main things you need to avoid:
Don't buy cheap turmeric powder:
Other than for the taste, there are no health benefits in using your grocery store's ground up turmeric. You would need the extract for maximum potency.
Do not sacrifice quality for price:
Buying turmeric powder instead of extract or buying a cheap product without BioPerine® or Curcugen™ would not be recommended.
Avoid synthetic, non-vegetarian fillers:
Always check the label to make sure you're not buying an inferior product that relies on cheap fillers.
Top 5 Turmeric Supplements
We here at Superfood Reviews have put in the hard miles to find out what the best option for a turmeric supplement in the market is. We have graded each choice through a stringent grading based on the following criteria:
While there are a number of brands and products in the market, our choice for best overall would go to the Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice by The Purest Co.
In addition to the fact that they use premium ingredients in their formulation for this supplement, our review team could not find any other alternative that was in a concentrated drink format. As expounded, the best absorption rate comes from liquids rather than pills or powders.
While the Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice option from The Purest Co is not the cheapest option in the market, we believe that it is the most effective. This has been backed up by the reviews that we have analyzed in which many customers feel that their turmeric supplement has indeed benefited their health.
PROS
Potent formulation with 250mg of industry-leading Curcugen™ turmeric extract
Contains complementary ingredients such as BioPerine® and also Ginseng extract
Made in an FDA and HACCP certified facility in Taiwan
No unnecessary additives or fillers
30-day risk free satisfaction guarantee
Highly rated for customer experience
Free express delivery on all local orders
CONS
Only available online
Regularly out of stock due to high demand
BOTTOMLINE
With a potent formulation and the only liquid turmeric supplement we could find, the Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice by The Purest Co is our number one choice.
The formulation contains a generous amount (250mg) of branded turmeric extract Curcugen™ as well as includes BioPerine® - which we feel is a need-to-have in any turmeric supplement. In addition, the brand has included 200mg of Ginseng extract for good measure.
From our research, customers who have tried the superjuice by The Purest Co have unanimously agreed on its efficacy and taste. The company is highly-rated for customer service and also offers a 30-day risk free, money-back guarantee. It is always refreshing to see a brand stand behind the quality of their product in this way.
When compared to other brands, our number one choice was unrivaled in effectiveness and quality.
*Results are based on the Superfood Reviews System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
PROS
Contains 500mg of industry standard turmeric extract
No unnecessary additives and fillers
Widely available both online and offline
Vegetarian, gluten and yeast free
CONS
Does not use premium turmeric extract
Pills have less bioavailability than liquids
No presence of complementary ingredients, especially BioPerine®
Divisive feedback from some consumers
BOTTOMLINE
Standardized Turmeric Curcumin by GNC is a good option from a brand that is well known in the country for affordable options.
Each pill contains 500mg of industry standard turmeric extract, and while not as potent as our first choice, this still provides a good option for consumers.
This vegetarian-friendly formula has no unnecessary additives, but also omits certain complementary ingredients such as BioPerine®, which would help enhance the benefits of the product.
We feel that overall, the Standardized Turmeric Curcumin by GNC is a good no-frills choice.
*Results are based on the Superfood Reviews System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
PROS
House brand of a reputable medical provider
Affordable option
Widely available online
No added starch
Manufactured in USA
CONS
Low amount of turmeric extract - 50mg
Pills have less bioavailability than liquids
No presence of complementary ingredients, especially BioPerine®
BOTTOMLINE
Raffles Medical is affiliated with Raffles Medical, a well-known healthcare provider in the country. Their house brand turmeric extract is manufactured in the USA and is widely available online to purchase.
Their product contains 450mg of turmeric root, but only 50mg of turmeric extract, which is low. As turmeric extract is the focal point of these supplements, this option will not be as beneficial as other choices with higher quantities of turmeric extract.
Additionally, there is no presence of BioPerine® or any other complementary ingredients.
Diving into customer experience, it seems that Raffles Health may not take the customer experience too seriously, and there may be some negative feedback on that front.
That being said, this option is an affordable one and may be for customers who are looking to try a turmeric extract before moving onto higher quality options.
*Results are based on the Superfood Reviews System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
PROS
Contains 650mg of industry standard turmeric extract
Affordable option
Widely available online
Vegan option
Non-GMO
CONS
Pills have less bioavailability than liquids
No presence of complementary ingredients, especially BioPerine®
BOTTOMLINE
Turmeric Curcumin tablets by Now Foods is number 4 on our list and is an offering by a mass-market brand that can cater to those looking for a no-frills turmeric supplement option.
This vegan-friendly formula delivers 650mg of turmeric extract in the form of capsules. However, it does not have any complementary ingredients in its formulation, which may affect its holistic efficacy for one’s health.
While capsules are a good option, research has shown that its bioavailability is inferior to those in a liquid form. Additionally, as turmeric already has a relatively low bioavailability to begin with, consumers may prefer a form factor (i.e liquids) that improve this.
While we tried our best to learn more about the product offering, it does not seem that Now Foods offers a money-back guarantee, hence you may not be protected if things don’t work out as expected.
*Results are based on the Superfood Reviews System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
PROS
Peach-flavoured and tasty
450mg of turmeric extract per serving
Vegan option
Well-established manufacturer
CONS
3 gummies per serving.
Lower dosage of Turmeric Extract
Contains sugar, fructose and additives
No presence of complementary ingredients, especially BioPerine®
BOTTOMLINES
Turmeric Curcumin & Ginger Gummies by Nature's Truth come with a real novelty factor - delivering their turmeric 95% extract in the form of peach-flavoured gummies that proved to be a real hit with our readers for their taste.
Each serving of 3 gummies provides 450mg of Turmeric Extract as well as 75mg of ginger root. While the unique gummy format will be popular with some, it does unfortunately also make the product unavoidably quite high in sugar content and additives so it's definitely not the cleanest way to get your daily dose of Turmeric if that's something that matters to you.
The amount of Turmeric Extract per serving is also lower than some of its competitors(especially as each serving is 3 gummies rather than 2) and there are also no discounts for multiple bottle purchases so if you plan on taking this long-term it may start to get quite expensive.
*Results are based on the Superfood Reviews System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
CONCLUSION
After ample research and testing, the Superfood Reviews team has concluded that the Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice from The Purest Co is the number one choice in the market today. While there are a number of cheaper options, we feel that because of the more effective liquid form paired with a generous amount of turmeric & its complimentary ingredients, the turmeric drink deserves the top spot.
The Purest Co's Ginseng Turmeric Superjuice is of high quality, made with premium and natural ingredients, and the only concentrated turmeric drink available today. On top of all that, its effectiveness and positive reviews about joint pain & inflammation relief, assures you that you're getting your money's worth.
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