“Curcumin is the active ingredient of turmeric, and is also found in limited amounts in ginger. It is an anti-inflammatory molecule with anti-cancer properties, and similar to fish oil, it seems to be a metabolic syndrome band-aid. It has poor bioavailability and black pepper greatly enhances absorption.” ( From the Examine.com website. )
So you can’t really just eat turmeric and get all the benefits – unless you eat a lot of turmeric. These capsules are like a concentrated dose, specifically of Curcumin. I heard about Curcumin for the first time on the Joe Rogan podcast, where he interviews and talks to Dr. Rhonda Patrick ( she has her own podcast called Found My Fitness, but it is not for the faint hearted – full of deep dives and chemicals, it all flies above my head. Joe’s podcast is easier to absorb, for me. )
Once I’m done with this bottle, I will be ordering a cheaper brand – hopefully one that’s made in India. There’s one by Himalaya but it is as expensive as Schwartz!
I can’t tell if I can feel any difference in my body or mind after I started taking this supplement. I think the only reason I might continue to consume it is because I don’t get enough turmeric in my regular diet. Apart from that, there don’t seem to be any well-designed clinical studies or research that has directly proven the advantages of consuming Curcumin or Turmeric. It has been consumed in Indian households and has been used in Ayurvedic therapy for eons, so I’m ok with eating the supplement and assuming it’s doing something.
Curcumin has shown better absorption and bioavailability in the body when consumed with black pepper, which is what the BioPerine in this supplement is for – in addition to the Curcumin.
Initially, I wanted to try this supplement because of the supposed anti-inflammatory effects. In my experience, quitting sugar has given me the maximum anti-inflammatory benefits, which is probably why I don’t really see much difference since I started consuming this supplement.
As always, like with previous supplements I’ve shared my experiences with, I am not a doctor and I am not recommending you take this supplement. I can’t possibly tell you whether it will be good for you or not. Feel free to consult your doctor and decide accordingly. These posts on my blog are meant to share my experiences on my health / fitness journey.
Other supplements / vitamins I’ve written about on this blog.
Other health / fitness features on this blog.
