Not all Turmeric/Curcumin Is Created Equal

Welcome back!

Last year, I did an article about Turmeric. If you haven’t read it yet, it’s here:

Turmeric – The Anti Aging Spice

Curcumin is the main primary component of turmeric, so it’s also sold under that name.

I’ve recently joined Consumer Lab which is an independent lab that tests supplements. They’ve done testing on various brands of turmeric/curcumin supplements and discovered that some brands weren’t delivering what they promised. Some didn’t have the amount of curcuminoids they claimed and others were contaminated with lead.

Things to look for when you buy turmeric supplements:

Species of turmeric (look for Curcuma longa, although the use of the accepted common name “turmeric” is sufficient to denote this species)

Part of the plant used (should be “root” or “rhizome”)

Form of turmeric used (e.g., root/rhizome powder or extract)

Amount of turmeric per pill or dose in grams (g) or milligrams (mg) [1 gram = 1,000 milligrams]

These are things that are required on the labels by the FDA.

Obviously, Consumer Lab did not test ALL turmeric supplements, but one brand that DID pass their testing was:

TurmericForce

Enjoy!

Related Turmeric/Curcumin Posts:

• Medical Properties Of Turmeric
• Turmeric, Curcumin Known to Protect Against Alzheimers
• Turmeric/ Curcumin May Prevent Heart Failure
• Curcumin – there’s more to this extract of turmeric than just the …

Turmeric – The Anti Aging Spice

Turmeric or tumeric, as it’s often misspelled, is an age old spice from India and Indonesia. It is also confused with saffron because of it’s rich yellow/orange color.

This herb is a root plant with a tough brown skin and a deep orange flesh inside, similar to ginger. It has been traditionally used as a condiment, a healing remedy and a dye.

Health Benefits

The primary agent in turmeric is curcumin, which has been shown to be an anti-inflammatory. Studies have been done which show it may be useful in treating such diseases as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis and even cancer prevention, especially colon cancer.

Turmeric is also a powerful antioxidant and is helpful in improving liver function, lowering cholesterol and in treatment and prevention of Alzheimers.

It is high in iron and manganese. It is also a good source of vitamin B6, fiber and potassium.

How to Use It:

Obviously, it would be best to buy it whole, but not all supermarkets will carry it. It is easy to get in powered form however, try to get an organic variety that has not been irradiated. For that, it might be better to try a specialty foods store.

Try adding it to egg salad to give it an extra yellow color.

Any recipe with lentils is complemented with turmeric.

Brown rice with raisins and cashews goes well with turmeric,cumin and coriander.

You can also just mix a small spoonful with some warm water and drink.

For a more extensive list of recipies, try:

Turmeric Recipes

Precautions Using Turmeric

Remember that part about it being used as a dye? Well, it dyes everything – teeth, shirts, everything. So be careful using it. It doesn’t permanently stain your teeth, but you may want to brush your teeth after consuming a large amount.

If you don’t care for the taste of turmeric but still want the benefits of this anti aging spice, try

Turmeric Force