Linda is our resident health and wellness editor. As a long time health and nutrition enthusiast, she spends her time researching scientific studies and keeping up with the latest health and wellness trends to provide top nutrition tips.
Turmeric may be better known for its unique flavour and colouring, however, in many countries around the world, it’s also praised for its miraculous healing properties1. In recent years, scientists have conducted extensive studies shed light on how we can use turmeric to treat various health conditions and answer the question healthcare professionals have been asking themselves for centuries: “does it work?”
What is Turmeric Curcumin?
Turmeric is a plant that typically grows in Southeast Asia. The root of the plant is often used as a cooking spice and a highly effective natural remedy for numerous ailments. Turmeric has been used to treat skin disorders, painful joints and respiratory conditions in India for centuries2. Today, it is commonly used as a dietary supplement to remedy arthritis, liver disease, digestive issues, and more3. The best way to make sure you’re getting adequate daily doses of Turmeric is by taking a quality supplement.
Studies have shown that the main active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, is an effective natural treatment for various health issues, including joint pain, arthritis, inflammation, Alzheimer’s and heart disease4. Adding turmeric to your daily diet in the form of a supplement can also help to alleviate nausea, headaches and poor digestion5. However, despite the many advantages of taking turmeric supplements, it’s important to know that they’re not all created equal. In order to reap the benefits of this miracle spice, you need to choose the right supplement.
Choosing the right supplement
When it comes to choosing dietary supplements, many of us are tempted to reach for the cheapest option on the shelf. Yet, there’s a reason some are more expensive than others.
Often, higher quality products are also accompanied by a slightly higher price tag. Although this means you’re spending a bit more, it also means you’ll see more results and fully reap the benefits of the supplements you are taking. Read below to see our roundup of the 5 best turmeric curcumin supplements on the market.
Benefits Of Turmeric Curcumin
- Relieves joint pain and aids mobility
- Helps to fight chronic illnesses, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and tendonitis
- Enhances immune health
- Improves the body’s inflammatory response
- Lowers the risk of brain and heart disease
- Increases the body’s antioxidant capacity6
Why It's Crucial That Turmeric Supplements Include Vitamin C and D
Although many brands emphasize the importance of including black pepper extract (or BioPerine) in their turmeric supplements, it is also equally important to look for a product that includes vitamins C and D in their formula. Vitamin C and vitamin D have long been hailed for their many health benefits, but what most consumers don’t know is that these vitamins are essential for bone, cartilage, joint and muscle health.
Studies have shown that vitamin D can help to improve overall body tissue health by boosting muscle health and function, improve bone health and even reduce the risk of dangerous falls by helping us to improve balance.
Despite being known for its immune benefits, Vitamin C is also a key vitamin when it comes to improving joint and bone health. Vitamin C can help us to maintain healthy bones by encouraging collagen formation, which can help to protect against osteoporosis. It has also been shown to help to take down inflammation, which helps to alleviate painful symptoms of arthritis.
Turmeric curcumin’s popularity has surged in the health and wellness world. There are so many different supplements to choose from, which can make it hard to differentiate the good ones from the bad ones. This is why we’ve rounded up the best turmeric products on the market. Keep reading to see the top 5 turmeric curcumin supplements that you should buy.
What should I look for?
Considering all of the attributes listed above, we’ve compiled a list of the three essential criteria you should look for when choosing your turmeric curcumin supplement.
One of the most important things to look out for when choosing a supplement is that it’s recommended by healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals are more likely to align themselves with products that are made with high-quality ingredients that truly work.
It’s crucial that the supplement you buy has perine in it’s ingredients list. Perine is a bioactive compound that is found in black pepper7. On its own, turmeric curcumin is not easily absorbed by the body. However, adding perine helps to enhance absorption of turmeric by up to 2,000% percent, so you can take advantage of all the wellness benefits that turmeric supplements have to offer8.
It’s crucial that your supplement contains these two other ingredients. They all work in harmony together on your bone, muscle, joint & immune health.
It goes without saying, but it’s essential that the supplement you take is produced using high-quality, natural ingredients. Make sure that the supplement you buy doesn’t have any additives or additional unnecessary ingredients.
When buying your turmeric curcumin supplement, you need to ensure that the turmeric and perine are delivered in potent doses. Look for supplements with around 200mg of Turmeric Extract9, and 20mg of black pepper extract or BioPerine.
Make sure that the product you buy has a clear money-back guarantee on all product purchases. This is a tell-tale sign that a company knows they’re selling you a great product, so they aren’t afraid to offer you a sort of “insurance” on it.
What should I avoid?
Poor quality ingredients and low potency
In order to see the wellness results you’re looking for with turmeric, it’s essential to choose a supplement that uses great ingredients in potent doses. Avoid any supplements with less than 200mg of turmeric extract10, with 95% curcuminoids and 20mg of black pepper or BioPerine11 per serving. Also, watch out for supplements that add unnecessary ingredients or synthetic additives.
Beware of online reviews (especially on Amazon)
Before purchasing any product, one of the first things we do when researching it is check its online reviews. Unfortunately, these are not always a trustworthy way to measure the quality and effectiveness of a product. Companies often pay for reviews on popular online retailers, like Amazon, to try and trick their way to a five star rating. While you should definitely consult these reviews before purchasing, do your own research as well.
Look for turmeric extract, not organic turmeric
When you buy your turmeric supplement, look for products that use turmeric extract instead of organic turmeric. While turmeric extract might be a bit more expensive, it is also much more potent, and therefore, you’ll feel the results much more quickly. For example, 200mg of turmeric extract is equivalent to 10,000mg of organic turmeric.
How we evaluated the top 5
In recent years, turmeric has become one of the most popular natural supplements on the market. There are so many brands producing the supplement, and while this means you have many to choose from, it also makes it more difficult to differentiate between the quality supplements and the poor quality ones that won’t give you any benefits. So, we’ve made it easy for you.
We searched the internet for the very best turmeric curcumin supplements available on the market today and rounded them up for you in our top 5 list.
