- Helps inflammatory response and heart health
- NANOFUSE® helps absorb better than capsules
- Used by doctors and Olympic athletes
- Liquid formula is delicious and easy to take
- Big subscription discounts + free shipping
- Helps maintain joint comfort
- With Curcugen® turmeric oil for 39x potency
- Doctor recommended & clinically studied
- Starting at $1.03/serving
- Supports joints and cardiovascular health
- Micelle technology for advanced absorption
- Made from pure turmeric root & black seed oil
- Starting from $0.33/serving
- Supports healthy joint flexibility
- Includes Boswellia serrata & Type II collagen
- Doctor formulated
- As low as $2.33/serving
- Made to help joint & muscle health
- With ginger root & black pepper fruit extracts
- Purity tested in ISO-certified labs
- As low as $1.63/serving
- Lends aid to a healthy immune system
- Curcuma longa extract and root
- Vegan and Kosher formula
- As low as $1.17/serving
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric is closely related to ginger and has been used for thousands of years throughout its native Southeast Asia. It has traditionally held a high medical value in Indian, Chinese, and other Southeast Asian medical systems.1
While you may be more familiar with turmeric as a spice often used in curries and other Asian cuisines, it has many health benefits. Taking the best turmeric supplement can help reduce inflation, boost gut health, and—according to some lab studies—help treat a variety of ailments including HIV, diabetes, and depression.2
But trying to select a turmeric curcumin supplement can be difficult because of the sheer number of options on the market. Should you go with a basic turmeric capsule, or should you look for a more versatile turmeric vitamins mix?
To help you decide, we’ve put together this list of the top 10 best turmeric supplements on the market today.
Manna
What are Turmeric Supplements?
Modern turmeric supplements are powders, pills, capsules, or other preparations containing turmeric. These are said to provide a range of health benefits because it contains high levels of curcumin, among other active constituents. Often times you may find supplements marketed as the best turmeric with black pepper, since black pepper extract is said to enhance the body's absorption of curcumin. Other brands may offer the best turmeric and ginger supplement, with claims that the addition of ginger in the supplement helps a healthy inflammatory response.
For one thing, turmeric is a strong antioxidant, which means that it provides protection against free radical damage.3 It also has excellent anti-inflammatory properties because it is thought to stimulate the production of natural cortisone while lowering histamine levels. In fact, some studies have shown that it’s as effective as cortisone in treating acute inflammation.4
Other research has suggested that turmeric benefits the cardiovascular system, reducing your risk of heart disease.5 And although more research is needed on the topic, turmeric has even been shown to help prevent cancer growth and development.6
At the end of the day, using turmeric for inflammation and as a general health supplement could be a great idea. There are countless known health benefits and few risks if you source high-quality supplements such as the ones we’ve outlined in this list.
What You Need to Know Before Choosing Turmeric Supplements
As far as supplements go, turmeric is a relatively safe option, and you can take up to eight grams per day for up to two months without any ill effects. There are no serious side effects, although you could get an upset stomach, nausea, or diarrhea if you exceed the turmeric recommended dosage.7
Some supplements are sold with complete turmeric, while others contain a curcumin extract. Here are a few things to be aware of when you’re selecting a turmeric supplement.
Turmeric doesn’t work the same for everyone.
One important thing worth noting is that turmeric seems to affect different people differently. Some people may experience obvious benefits almost immediately. Others may experience few to no benefits, even after a few weeks of daily use.
Some turmeric supplements have added ingredients.
Some turmeric supplements are on the simple side, containing little more than turmeric or curcumin powder and an inactive filler. Others contain other supplements, minerals, and vitamins. Make sure you check ingredients and ensure that any supplements you choose meet your dietary requirements.
Meanwhile, combining turmeric with black pepper can increase its absorption in the body. Fatty foods such as avocado and nuts can also help boost its bioavailability.
There are various ways to take turmeric supplements.
Turmeric supplements come in various forms, including turmeric powder, capsules, pills, and other oral forms. You will also find things like turmeric toothpaste and mouthwashes, while skin creams and gels are becoming more common.7
You may have to budget for vitamins and supplements.
Last, but certainly not least, you need to think carefully about the price of your supplements. Fancy supplements can become quite expensive, especially if you take them daily.
How Long Does it Take for Turmeric Supplements to Work?
Although it’s becoming more widely studied, there isn’t a whole lot of research about turmeric and turmeric-based supplements and how they work. Here, we’ve summarized the small amount of research-backed information that is available.
For one, it’s likely that taking turmeric has almost immediate health benefits due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.8 In one study, patients with gastric ulcers took daily turmeric supplements. After four weeks, 48% of patients were healed, and this number jumped to 76% after 12 weeks.9
Another study involved a daily curcumin supplement for 18 months. This showed a clear improvement in memory and brain performance.10 Finally, a group of coronary artery bypass surgery patients who took curcumin a few days before and after their surgery had a 65% lower risk of having a heart attack following the procedure.11
At the end of the day, the most important thing to understand is that turmeric is a health supplement, not a medication (and not meant to replace medications, either). However, with the best turmeric for inflammation you may start to notice positive effects almost immediately, and long-term use can decrease your risk of many diseases and other medical conditions.
Citations
- https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/turmeric
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/supplement-guide-turmeric
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02432631
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26007179/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28274852/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835707/
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-662/turmeric
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3633300/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11485087/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1064748117305110?via%3Dihub
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22481014/