Turmeric Curcumin
Plus
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Turmeric is one of those superfoods that
has taken the natural health world by storm. While most people might use this
spice to add flavor to curries, health enthusiasts use turmeric for its many
purported health benefits. Just a few of the studied benefits include
supporting a healthy immune system, supporting muscle and joint health and
supporting healthy cognitive function.
This made me start to think about how I can
start to experience some of the benefits of turmeric. Because of turmeric’s
hype, you can get your fix of turmeric in many forms. I’m a huge fan of
turmeric’s studied benefits - not its smell or taste. Lathering myself in
turmeric soap or having a turmeric-ginger tea wasn’t exactly my cup of tea per
se, however that’s not too much of an issue when I learned that
supplemented turmeric may actually be more effective than raw turmeric. Hear me
out.
How supplemented
turmeric beats raw turmeric
There are circumstances in which it is
better to absorb nutrients through supplements over whole food sources. While
rare, extracted turmeric is one of these unique circumstances.
The concentration of curcuminoids can be
stronger in supplements compared to raw turmeric. While curcumin typically
makes up 2 - 8 % of turmeric, the curcumin extract in turmeric supplements
typically include 95% curcuminoids. ¹ Because of the low source of curcumins in
turmeric, you will struggle to test the health benefits of turmeric by simply
sprinkling it on your food.
Furthermore, one study showed that cooking
turmeric may result in the loss of the curcumin compound. Boiling turmeric for
20 minutes was found to be the most damaging, meaning that your turmeric curry
or slow cook becomes less and less beneficial. ²
Many turmeric supplements also include some
form of peppercorn. The reason for this is curcumin is tricky to absorb on its
own. However, when paired with peppercorn, there can be a 20-fold increase in
bioavailability compared to turmeric used alone. Some patented forms of pepper
extract have been specifically developed for this purpose. ³⁻⁵
Choosing between
turmeric supplements
When choosing between turmeric capsules, a
concerning number of supplements were made overseas or were Genetically
Modified Organisms - GMO. I don’t know about you, but I’m willing to pay extra
for a supplement that is manufactured in the US and is non-GMO.
Another thing I would look for is the
presence of organic or non-organic turmeric. I understand the process of
labeling an ingredient as organic is pretty stringent. For an ingredient to be
labeled as organic, it needs to be produced without genetic engineering or
GMOs. Organic turmeric root is quite a bit pricier, which is why it is fairly
rare to find an affordable supplement with organic turmeric.
Surprisingly, some turmeric supplements
weren’t vegan - I find this pretty shocking considering the key ingredients are
plant based! This is largely due to the capsules being made from gelatin. While
I’m not vegan, I can see the benefit of keeping supplements as plant-based as
possible and avoiding unnecessary harm caused by gelatin capsules.
There were also some promising soft gel
options, however none of these contained organic turmeric and many had a long
list of fillers. Soft gels are sometimes vegan, but often contain gelatin. If
possible, I would opt for turmeric supplements in a vegan-friendly vegetable
capsule.
Considering all of this, I discovered VitaPost Turmeric Curcumin Plus. Vegan
friendly, 1500mg of organic turmeric, and a strong concentration of curcumin,
make this my turmeric supplement of choice.
VitaPost
Turmeric Curcumin Plus is a dietary supplement
consisting of BioPerine and turmeric extracts. A huge perk is the formula was
designed to be enjoyed by many people. It is vegan friendly, gluten free, sugar
free and non-GMO.
Benefits of VitaPost
Turmeric Curcumin Plus
You may be wondering who should consider
turmeric supplements. The great thing about Turmeric Curcumin Plus is that just about anyone could benefit from
supplementing turmeric. Everyone can benefit from antioxidant support in some
form and turmeric is widely tolerated. That being said, always consult a
healthcare professional before taking any dietary supplement - that includes
this one.
I’d
be especially wary if you are pregnant. Large
amounts of curcumin taken during pregnancy may alter the levels of estrogen in
the body. The implications for this on pregnancy aren’t worth it in my opinion,
however I am not a doctor and would recommend consulting yours before making
any decisions.
The Science of Life
+ The Spice of Life
Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest
holistic healing systems. In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “The Science of Life.”
Originating from India, it follows the principle of promoting good health
rather than fighting disease.
Turmeric has been used for centuries in Ayurveda
practices to promote good health. It is thought to have many beneficial
properties and is frequently prescribed as a remedy in a paste form. Perhaps
the wide range of assumed benefits can be linked to modern science’s findings
that this root has strong antioxidant properties.
Something I find fascinating is that the
concept of bioavailability enhancing originates from Ayurveda. In fact, the
term ‘bioavailability enhancer’ was first coined by scientists in India, who
discovered and scientifically validated piperine as the world’s first
bioavailability enhancer in 1976.⁶ Piperine is, you guessed it, the
bioavailability enhancer that Turmeric
Curcumin Plus utilizes.
The formula for VitaPost Turmeric Curcumin uses some of the practices from Ayurveda
that have been scientifically proven to combine the science of life with the
spice of life.
How does Turmeric
Curcumin Plus work?
Turmeric
Curcumin Plus is a combination of three key
ingredients; organic turmeric, curcumin, and BioPerine (piperine). Let’s dive
into how these three ingredients work together to form Turmeric Curcumin Plus.
Ingredients
Organic Turmeric
It wouldn’t be
right to talk about a turmeric supplement without mentioning the turmeric
first. This golden superfood has been used in Ayurveda wellness practices for
thousands of years. Modern medicine is only just catching up to the Ayurveda
practices, with many studies showing promising health benefits.
The main
clinical targets of turmeric are the digestive organs. Some studies have shown
promising results when turmeric is used for the intestines, bowel, and colon.
⁷⁻⁹
Turmeric is
well-known for providing potent antioxidant support. While many of turmeric’s
benefits can be linked to its curcuminoids, the verdict is still out on whether
turmeric or curcumin is better for your health. More research is needed before
scientists can conclude whether one is better than the other. That said, I would
try to take the closest form to the food (turmeric) as possible. I can see why
the Turmeric Curcumin Plus formula
includes 1200mg of organic turmeric and 100mg of turmeric with 95%
curcuminoids.
On that note,
let’s look into what is so special about curcumin.
Curcumin
A lot of the
research into turmeric quickly deflects to curcuminoids and their benefits.
Studies indicate that curcuminoids also support the immune system, cognitive
function, and joint health.
Curcuminoids are
considered to be natural antioxidants. It is this strong antioxidant effect
that can support joint and muscle health by fighting free-radicals and
oxidation. ¹⁰
Just like
ginger, curcumin also makes a special appearance around Christmas time. While
we wouldn’t suggest swapping your gingerbread men with turmeric cookies just
yet, I can absolutely see the benefit of supplementing turmeric to support the
immune system and your body’s antioxidant potential. This immune system support
also further bolsters curcumin’s joint and muscle support. ¹¹
Another
promising benefit of curcumin is the potential to support healthy brain
function. Several studies have linked taking curcumin daily with healthy
cognitive function. The reason for this is believed to be curcumin’s
antioxidant potential. One small study showed potential to support a healthy
mindset and reduce feelings of stress. ¹²
BioPerine
Perhaps
curcumin’s greatest flaw is how tricky it is to absorb on its own. It doesn’t
matter how many tablespoons of curcumin you eat if hardly any of the nutrients
are being absorbed.
Remember when I
mentioned that turmeric is best fortified with pepper? Well, meet the pepper!
BioPerine (known chemically as piperine) is the most well-known black pepper
extract. This patented extract’s history tells the tale of its success, with
over 20 years of being used as a bioavailability enhancer.
When BioPerine
is taken with curcumin, there can be a 20-fold increase in bioavailability
compared with curcumin alone. Who would’ve guessed that a black pepper extract
could be so powerful?
To understand the power of combining these
ingredients, it helps to know a little bit about how the body absorbs
nutrients. After all, it’s not about what you eat, but what you absorb.
When you eat real food, you’re not just
consuming single nutrients, but rather a whole range of compounds (minerals,
vitamins, enzymes and other goodies). These compounds work together to allow
the body to harness the best results. When one compound is isolated - like
curcumin from turmeric - it is unlikely to be used by the body in the same way.
Scientific consensus currently stands that you benefit from all the parts of
the root, just the way nature intended.
There are many beneficial compounds within
the turmeric root aside from the curcuminoids. This includes the volatile oils,
sesquiterpenes, aromatic components, and rhizomes. The volatile oils have shown
potential in supporting turmeric’s immune support effects. ¹³ Furthermore, the
BioPerine of Turmeric Curcumin Plus
unlocks the turmeric’s benefits in a way that the raw root alone cannot do.
Serving Size and
Cautions
Turmeric
Curcumin Plus includes 60 gorgeous orange capsules
in every bottle, equivalent to a one-month supply. Take two per day 20-30
minutes before a meal. I’d say the size of the capsules are easy to swallow for
most people.
A few moments after opening the bottle you
will be greeted with a warm turmeric aroma. As turmeric has a strong aroma, I’d
be concerned by any turmeric supplements that don’t have a turmeric smell
(except for maybe soft gels).
Keep in mind that I am not a registered
dietician or doctor. I am just your average person with the time to
investigate. Always talk to your healthcare professional before using any
dietary supplement.
Let’s get to the
root of it
Altogether, Turmeric Curcumin Plus seems like a great option for anyone
considering a turmeric supplement. It’s not the cheapest supplement on the
market, but in exchange for being non-GMO, made in the US, and containing
organic turmeric, I would say it is well worth it.
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