Should I use a curcuma supplement?

Curcumin is one of the most interesting natural compounds that clinical doctors and scientists are currently studying. Extracted from turmeric spice powder has proven to be useful with a number of human diseases.

Some of the diseases known to fight and prevent include cancer, bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis and even AIDS. It is also known to help regulate cholesterol and may even be helpful for diabetics.

In addition to all this fighting power against the disease, it is also extremely safe and has no side effects, even in large doses.

With all the wonderful news about curcumin, health supplements manufacturers have climbed into the car by bringing curcumin supplements to the market and marketing them extensively. These supplements generally consist of capsules or tablets containing this extract of turmeric.

The problem of curcumin subsidies

Often these capsules or tablets will contain approx. 500 mg of curcumin. However, some recent laboratory tests have shown that curcumin is often not natural. Some supplement manufacturers have added a synthetic form of the extract that is not known to be as effective.

There is another important problem with taking these curcuma supplements as indicated on the label. Many manufacturers recommend taking a capsule or table three times daily with water. Sounds good at first, doesn't it? It may not be so easy to get enough of this wonderful connection into the bloodstream where it will be good.

The problem is bioavailability. When performing scientific studies with curcumin in patients, the daily doses can be administered up to 8 grams of this powder. The reason for this is because it has been difficult to find ways to increase the bioavailability of this substance. Curcumin is generally not soluble in water and is therefore absorbed in small amounts relative to the amount consumed when taken with water.

So if this is the way you take curcumin, you can waste your money.

The possible solution to the problem

There are two possible solutions to the problem of curcumin bioavailability. A study recently showed that when taken with phospholipids.

Another study, recently published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, found that boiling in water for a period of time and then drinking the resulting mixture dramatically increases absorption in the human body.