We have scoped out the best turmeric supplement to help you with everything from pain to cognitive health to muscle building. These turmeric curcumin supplements have been evaluated by us for the quality of their ingredients and ability to absorb into the body.
Turmeric is an ingredient which has been used for centuries, for its countless health benefits. It wasn’t until recently that this herb was properly studied and its countless purported effects became backed by science.
Turmeric’s active ingredient is called curcumin. Curcumin extract is the part of turmeric which gives it the bright yellow pigment. It is also the part of turmeric which provides powerful health boosting properties.
Unfortunately, curcumin extract alone is very hard for the body to absorb. This makes yielding the benefits of curcumin extract difficult. Effective turmeric supplements use various curcumin forms and ingredients to improve efficacy and absorbability.
Doctors Best Curcumin C3 Complex is a product which combines three different curcuminoids and pairs it alongside Bioperine, a very effective bioavailability agent. It is in the middle ground as far as price goes.
Eden Pond Turmeric Curcumin is a supplement with a high quality curcumin extract. It lacks bioavailability improving absorption agents, but you can expect a proper curcumin dosage from this supplement, as long as you pair it with something like Bioperine.
Curcumin, Longvida by Nutrivene is a supplement by a reputable company with a great proprietary extract. Longvida is a high quality curcumin extract, which is provided at a well-studied dosage. The only fallback is that this supplement comes at a higher price.
Terry Naturally CuraMed BCM-95 Curcumin has a great curcumin complex which combines BCM-95 curcumin with phospholipids and essential oils. It is a very well rounded supplement, and is in the high-middle area of the price range.
Jarrow Formulas Curcumin Phytosome uses Meriva, a very well studies curcumin extract. Some of the best turmeric supplements use Meriva and at lower price per dosage, this is a great, effective, low cost option.
The Best Turmeric Supplement Reviews
Picture | Product | Brand | Main Ingredient | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor's Best | Turmeric Root, Bioperine | ||
| Jarrow | Meriva Turmeric | ||
| Nutrivene | Longvida Turmeric | ||
| Terry Naturally | BCM-95 Curcumin | ||
| Eden Pond | Turmeric Root |
Turmeric extracts are relatively useless without a bioavailability agent. Black pepper extract has been shown to improve bioavailability of turmeric, however many black pepper extracts are not standardized for piperine – the ingredient which improves bioavailability. The amount of piperine can vary from 2% to 10% of the extract.
Luckily, many supplements use a patented form of black pepper extract called ‘Bioperine’. Bioperine is standardized for 95% piperine. Studies have shown Bioperine to improve the absorbability of turmeric extracts by 2000%. Bioperine is a powerful bioavailability agent and you can expect to receive the full benefits of curcumin with this formula.
Things We Liked
- Extremely well studied
- Shown to improve bioavailability drastically
- Uses a standardized piperine dosage
Things We Didn't Like
- Brand name with nothing unique in its formulation
- Piperine can interfere with some peoples medications (consult a doctor if you have a prescription)
Meriva is a patented form of turmeric extract, which is well studied to improve bioavailability. Meriva uses something called phytosome technology. They bind the turmeric to phospholipids which are much more actively absorbed by the body, greatly improving bioavailability.
The supplement uses a time released formulation of curcumin extract which releases the active ingredients slowly over a longer period of time. Despite that, Meriva reaches 5 times greater, peak blood curcumin levels than a supplement without bioavailability agents. It also has a 29 times greater total absorption than a regular turmeric supplement. Clearly this is among the best curcumin extracts there is!
Things We Liked
- Very well studied form of curcumin supplement
- Uses phospholipids to effectively improve bioavailability
- Time released formula
Things We Didn't Like
- Somewhat pricey
- May be less effective for acute pain, due to its time released formula
Longvida is a curcumin extract formulated to be particularly effective at passing the blood brain barrier. This equates to further improvements in turmeric’s cognitive benefits, as well as its ability to reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Longvida uses forms of phospholipids, just like Meriva, however it is formulated to result in minimal conversion to curcumin metabolites. These metabolites are less effective at treating brain related symptoms and crossing the blood brain barrier. If you want increased cognitive benefits, this is your top choice!
Things We Liked
- Uses phospholipids to effectively improve absorption
- One of the most effective turmeric curcumin supplements for improving brain health
Things We Didn't Like
- Somewhat pricey
- Not as effective for inflammatory conditions due to reduced metabolite conversion
BCM-95 curcumin is the only curcumin supplement which uses turmeric essential oils to improve bioavailability. This turmeric extract is formulated to be particularly effective for inflammatory conditions, cancer prevention and cardiovascular health.
The essential oils have been purported to be very effective at reducing gastrointestinal inflammation and may be beneficial for diabetics. It’s also touted as an all-natural weight loss supplement.
Things We Liked
- Only curcumin supplement to use turmeric essential oils in its formula
- Very effective for gastrointestinal inflammation
- Good price for a brand name curcumin
Things We Didn't Like
- Contains unnecessary additional curcuminoids in its formula
Curcumin is very minimally absorbed in the body without some form of bioavailability agent. To get any of the countless benefits turmeric has to offer, you need to make sure the supplement you buy is bound to a form of phospholipid, contains turmeric essential oils, or has a bioavailability agent like piperine.
There has been some anecdotal claims that turmeric may be effective without these bioavailability improvers, if consumed long term. These claims usually cite the extremely low number of Alzheimer’s cases in India vs USA, claiming that long term dietary consumption of turmeric may be the reason. It is an interesting anecdote; however it is likely a better idea to just consume a better absorbed turmeric curcumin supplement then take any chances.
Things We Liked
- A good food additive
Things We Didn't Like
- Minimally absorbed, if at all
- Waste of Money
Why Take a Turmeric Supplement?
Curcumin has a long history of being used to treat a wide array of illnesses and conditions. It is only recently, studies have come out backing its wide array of effects. This is such a powerful supplement that it has even been shown to be as effective as pharmaceutically formulated painkillers.
Curcumin has been WELL STUDIED in its ability to do the following:
- Reduce Blood Pressure
- Improve Cholesterol Levels
- Improve Kidney Function
- Improve Diabetes
- Reduce Cancer Risk
- Prevent Genetic Damage
- Reduce Heart Disease Risk
- Raise Testosterone Levels
- Reduce DHT Levels
- Improve Erectile Dysfunction
The effects of curcumin on testosterone and testicular function are just starting to come out but appear to have a lot of potential. In rats, testosterone reducing compounds are rendered ineffective when in the presence of curcumin supplementation. Curcumin also inhibits an enzyme responsible for converting testosterone to DHT, a metabolite with far more potential for side effects and no effect on increasing muscle mass.
Additionally, there is a strong evidence supporting potential negative effects of excess estrogen in men. Turmeric is thought to work as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). SERMs block estrogen’s effects on certain tissues in the body, while allowing the benefits of estrogen to remain.
This means you get all the advantages of having lower normal range estrogen, as a man, without having the joint issues and recovery problems which come with too little estrogen. If you are interested in reading more about how to block estrogen, check out our article on the best estrogen blockers here.
Curcumin’s effects on insulin sensitivity are not just beneficial to diabetics, but to athletes and average people alike. Insulin is the body’s anabolic hormone, insulin desensitization results in increased fat gain and decreased anabolism to muscular tissues. This means the insulin sensitizing effects could improve your body composition and help you build muscle.
Conclusion
Turmeric curcumin supplements have been used for centuries for a reason; they have an astounding array of health benefits and effects which rival the strength of pharmaceutical drugs.
Old or young, male or female, athletic or sedentary; pretty much every group of people can benefit from curcumin supplements.
Finding the right curcumin supplement could mean an absolute transformation to your health and wellness. It is one of the only supplements on the market showing evidence that it regenerates brain tissue and has actual evidence demonstrating its ability to fight dementia.
Choosing the right form with improved bioavailability will make you benefit the most from the health transforming effects of curcumin. Terry Naturally CuraMed BCM-95 Curcumin is our top choice for the best turmeric supplement.
Without being outrageously expensive, it combines multiple forms of curcumin with improved bioavailability alongside a good dose of BCM-95 extract. Try it today, we are very confident that you won’t be disappointed.
Image credits: Amazon.com
