What is curcumin?

If you’re into health and wellness, you’ve probably heard about turmeric and why it’s good for you. But what about curcumin? Here, we’ll investigate exactly what it is, curcumins different health benefits and we’ll take a look at any potential side effects. We’ll explain how to get more in your life, including how curcumin supplements work.

Perhaps you don’t know curcumin by name. Still, you’d certainly recognise it on sight as curcumin is the pigment which gives turmeric its bright yellow colour.¹ Curcumin is responsible for turmeric’s reputation as a healing food in Ayurveda, India’s ancient holistic tradition.² Modern science has proven turmeric’s association with health and wellness is justified by demonstrating that curcumin’s anti-inflammatory effects.³ 

However, turmeric itself is only 3% curcumin, which means it’s near impossible to get curcumin’s benefits by adding turmeric to meals.⁴ Many people choose instead to take curcumin as a supplement.

Like other bright natural foods, curcumin is rich in phytochemicals and phytonutrients.⁵

Most people can take curcumin supplements without any problems. However, some people may experience adverse side effects, including:¹⁴ 

People with liver complaints shouldn’t take curcumin without consulting their doctor, as curcumin increases bile secretion.¹⁶

Scientists have shown that cooking turmeric with oil encourages curcumin absorption.¹⁷ It’s easy enough to add a spoon of olive or coconut oil to a curry, or rice dish, prepared with turmeric, and doing so helps the body better process curcumin.

With so many different benefits of curcumin, taking curcumin tablets is a fantastic way to enjoy this pigments health benefits. Most supplements include black pepper, as the blood can’t effectively absorb curcumin without it. Black pepper increases the blood’s efficacy at absorbing curcumin by 3000%!¹⁸

So, how much curcumin can you take each day? The World Health Organisation (WHO) state that 1.4mg per pound of body weight is acceptable to take per day.¹⁹

That’s the lowdown on all things curcumin. Now you know more about this interesting component of turmeric, will you add it to your diet? Keep in mind that it may interfere with some medication and pre-existing conditions, so please speak to your GP before trying it.