Turn To Mother Nature: Best Turmeric Supplement
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Turmeric is a bright yellow spice that has been used for centuries in cooking and traditional medicine. Its main active compound, curcumin, is studied for its anti-inflammatory effects.
This colorful spice comes from the root of a plant in the ginger family and is valued in Ayurvedic medicine for its fantastic health benefits.
If you want more than you get from cooking, a turmeric supplement is one option. Keep in mind that the FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are sold.
The supplement reviewed here is Turmeric Curcumin Supreme with BioPerine made by HB & S Solutions.
No supplement treats or cures disease. The strongest early evidence for turmeric is for knee osteoarthritis pain, and even there, better studies are needed.
Below, I’ll explain what the research shows and who should avoid it.
Why Should I Take A Turmeric Supplement?
Why should I take a turmeric supplement, you may ask? The honest answer is that the evidence is still early.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, oral turmeric or curcumin shows initial positive results for knee osteoarthritis pain, stiffness and function. Early research also looks promising for some measures of fatty liver disease.
For most other uses, there isn’t enough evidence to say whether it helps. That includes claims about blood-sugar levels, blood purifying and infection resistance.
Curcumin is an antioxidant that researchers are studying for heart health and help with a wide variety of other things. Promising lab results don’t always hold up in people.
If you have diabetes or take blood sugar medicine, talk to your doctor before adding turmeric.
Best Turmeric Supplement To Take
A popular choice is Turmeric Curcumin Supreme made by HB & S Solutions.
HB & S Solutions adds BioPerine to its capsules. This black pepper extract (piperine) increases how much curcumin your body absorbs.
That cuts both ways. The NCCIH notes that curcumin products with boosted absorption have been linked to liver damage in some people.
The company says the product is third-party tested. Look for a seal from an independent tester such as USP or NSF on the label you buy.
Follow the dosing on the label, and don’t take more than directed.
What Turmeric Can and Can’t Do
An engineered supplement like this may ease knee osteoarthritis pain for some people, based on early research. There’s no good evidence that it boosts red blood cells or circulation.
Claims that turmeric protects bones, prevents arthritis or treats autoimmune disorders are not supported by strong evidence. Any joint benefit in studies took weeks, not days.
Turmeric supplements do have side effects. The NCCIH lists nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, stomach upset, diarrhea and constipation.
Conventional turmeric supplements are likely safe in recommended amounts for up to 2 or 3 months. There is no established safe upper limit for curcumin supplements.
Stop taking it and call your doctor if you notice fatigue, nausea, poor appetite, dark urine or yellowing of the skin or eyes. These can be signs of liver injury.
Turmeric supplements may be unsafe during pregnancy. If you take any medication, including blood thinners or diabetes drugs, ask your doctor or pharmacist before starting.
The Bottom Line
Turmeric is a healthy spice to cook with, and taking this supplement may modestly help knee osteoarthritis pain. It is not a cure-all, and it isn’t risk-free.
Talk to your doctor before you start, especially if you have liver disease, are pregnant or take other medicines.
Sources
- Turmeric: Usefulness and Safety, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH)
- Dietary Supplements, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
