Curcumin vs. Turmeric
One common question is “what’s the difference between turmeric and curcumin?” This blog aims to provide a detailed answer. Turmeric, a common spice, often overshadows curcumin, its primary source of health benefits. There is so much to learn on this topic so let’s dive into the amazing benefits of turmeric and curcumin!
What Is Turmeric?
Curcuma longa, better known as turmeric, is a flowering plant native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Turmeric, part of the Zingiberaceae family like ginger, primarily utilizes its roots, akin to ginger’s usage.
Is Curcumin the Same as Turmeric?
The roots of turmeric are chock full of bioactive compounds, the most studied class of which are the curcuminoids. In the class of curcuminoids, our primary focus is often on one compound: curcumin. This bright orange pigment boasts numerous health benefits!
Historical Uses of Turmeric
People have used turmeric for centuries in culinary, textile dyeing, and supplement applications. Most people commonly know it for its bright orange color and pungent earthy flavor in Indian cuisine. The flavor of turmeric primarily attributes to its essential oil content, with alpha-turmerone as the main essential oil. Turmeric’s vivid orange hue not only makes it a staple spice but also a popular dyeing agent for textiles and foods.
Farming and Production of Turmeric
High levels of heavy metals can contaminate turmeric roots, despite its wide culinary usage. When farmed, turmeric easily absorbs heavy metals from its environment. Turmeric, when cultivated in polluted regions, absorbs and concentrates heavy metals in its roots. Large amounts of turmeric root being used in culinary applications exacerbate this problem. In recent years, we have seen turmeric contain unacceptable levels of copper, arsenic and lead. Even worse, individuals often intentionally add lead chromate to turmeric to enhance its color. Even in US grocery stores, researchers have found samples of turmeric powder contaminated with lead chromate.
Many scientists are now working with turmeric farmers to create better farming practices that prevent turmeric from concentrating heavy metals. Although farmers are working on creating better turmeric farming practices, opting for properly lab tested curcumin is in our opinion the only way to safely attain turmeric benefits. All our curcumin products undergo heavy metal testing and comply with Prop 65 regulations, unlike culinary turmeric products.
What is Curcumin?
Curcumin is one of the main curcuminoids present in the roots of turmeric. Curcumin, despite not influencing turmeric’s taste, serves as a primary pigment compound, responsible for its effects. While turmeric boasts the highest natural concentration of curcumin, this compound can also be found in other botanicals like ginger.
Curcumin Benefits
Curcumin has many great benefits but one of it’s strongest focuses is on supporting balanced inflammation and oxidation levels. This is achieved by preventing the nucleus from receiving inflammatory signals, regulating inflammation in immune cells, and moderating the stress on inflammatory enzymes. When curcumin balances inflammation and oxidation levels, emotional wellbeing is also promoted.
One of the most interesting functions of curcumin is its ability to turn endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) on or off. eNOS, iNOS and nNOS are always present in your body, it’s just up to different compounds to bring out their benefits! Curcumin activates nNOS which supports memory. This goes hand-in-hand with curcumin’s ability to block iNOS which may help promote neuroprotection while also helping to promote balanced inflammation levels. Finally, it also activates eNOS which may induces vasodilation and help promote blood flow and overall cardiovascular function!
Curcumin Absorption
Taking curcumin alongside other supplements that enhance its absorption significantly increases its absorption rate. We recommend taking Piperine Extract Capsules, derived from the flowering plant that produces peppercorns, alongside curcumin. If that seems like too much work, we also provide premade curcumin + piperine mixes designed to bring you the best of all curcumin benefits! No matter what you’re looking for, we have a curcumin option for you. Continue reading to learn more about the variety of Curcumin supplements Noo-tropics.eu has to offer you. Ideally, at the conclusion of this blog, you will be able to pick the best Curcumin supplement for you based on your supplementation goals.
About Curcumin Powder | 95% Extract
Curcumin powder consists solely of curcumin without any additional ingredients. Although this has a lower rate of absorption than the other curcumin options available, the dosage is significantly higher (at 500mg) which helps offset some of the low absorption of plain curcumin and the cost is much lower than our other curcumin offerings. It is also able to provide localized effects on supporting balanced inflammation and oxidation levels, specifically in the intestines!
Pairing Curcumin With Piperine
Piperine comes from black pepper and greatly impacts the bioavailability of curcumin! Adding piperine to the mix helps to unlock the door of absorption so that curcumin can be fully integrated and provide its benefits. It specifically helps prevent the glucuronidation of curcumin which is one of the main hindrances in initial curcumin absorption.
Also read our blog on Coluracetam
