Turmeric Supplements: 2022 Buyers Guide

Turmeric is an ancient superfood that’s been used for thousands of years as both a herb and cooking ingredient.

Studies and customer reviews show it is a highly effective natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant which has led to a meteoric rise in popularity as a health supplement in recent years.

However a large number of 'turmeric supplements' have hit the market which are low in quality and hugely misleading to consumers. 

This has resulted in people being grossly ripped-off and ending up disillusioned as to the efficacy of turmeric because often these inferior versions of the supplement do not deliver on the amazing health benefits it's purported to have.

The reason for this happening is quite simple: 'Turmeric' is the name the supplement is most commonly known and advertised as, but the active ingredient within it is called curcumin.

Because the curcumin content of a turmeric supplement can vary significantly you'll need to choose wisely.

In this guide we take a closer look at some of the key things to consider when shopping for a quality supplement...

What Is Turmeric?

Turmeric is a potent spice that's commonly used in cooking and helps to give curries their rich, earthy taste and vibrant yellow-orange colour.

It comes from the root of the Curcuma longa and has also been used in traditional Indian ayuvedic medicine for thousands of years.

Although turmeric is perhaps most famous for its vibrant colour and its role as a culinary spice, it contains contain compounds with medicinal properties known as curcuminoids, the most important of which is curcumin.

What Is Curcumin?

Curcumin is the main active ingredient of turmeric, which is a plant native to tropical regions of Southern Asia.

It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is also a very strong antioxidant. 

Curcumin has been the focus of more than 12,000 peer-reviewed studies into its effect on health, from supporting a healthy inflammation response, through to memory and digestion.

However, the typical curcumin content of turmeric is only around 3%. That means if you were to consume normal culinary turmeric, available widely in supermarkets, you would have to consume huge amounts to get the same amount of curcumin as a supplement containing a highly concentrated extract.

3 Things To Look For 

When it comes to finding a high quality Turmeric supplement that delivers results you should look for the following things:

1. 95% Turmeric Extract

Be sure to read the back label carefully to ensure the product has a high curcumin content. The best Turmeric supplements are ones formulated with high strength Turmeric Extract providing 95% curcuminoids.

Turmeric Extract is around 20x stronger than the standard food grade Turmeric used in some supplements, meaning it also has a far higher percentage of curcuminoids which makes all the difference if you're looking for health benefits.

2. Black Pepper

There is little point in consuming something if the body is just going to get rid of it. While curcumin is a potent antioxidant it unfortunately suffers from poor bioavailability when consumed on its own.

Studies show that adding black pepper extract (which contains bioperine) helps to significantly increase the bioavailability of curcumin by as much as 2000% - making it far easier for your body to absorb and significantly enhancing effectiveness. 

3. Satisfaction Guarantee

It's important that any manufacturer stands behind their product and is willing to give your money back if you aren't happy with the results. 

Some products offer a money-back guarantee which allows you to try the product first and protects you in case things don't work out as expected.

What To Avoid

1. Fillers & Additives

Many supplements on the market often contain sketchy fillers or additives that are both unnecessary and offer zero nutritional benefit.

Watch out for ingredients such as titanium dioxide, microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, vegetable gum, talc and propylene glycol.

By cutting out the fillers, you can be sure you're getting 100% premium, highly concentrated ingredients in their purest form.

2. Culinary Turmeric

Many turmeric supplements only contain standard culinary turmeric which is widely available on supermarket shelves.

However, the curcumin content of this "food grade" turmeric root powder is only around 3%, meaning you would need to consume huge amounts to get the same amount of curcumin as a high potency 95% extract supplement.