Best turmeric capsules: buying guide, effect & application

You’re interested in the latest food trends and are looking for the perfect addition to your healthy lifestyle, then watch out: Because turmeric is the new superfood and is touted in various forms on the market, but not everyone likes the taste of yellow root. In this case, it is recommended to take turmeric in capsule form. Simple, fast, convenient, and still benefit from the many effects of turmeric root.

In our Turmeric Capsule review, we show you which capsules have the best and purest ingredients and how you should best take them. Find the best supplement for you and your health and complement your healthy and balanced diet with turmeric.

The most important facts in a nutshell

• By taking turmeric capsules, valuable Curcumin is added to your body in a high dose, which increases the bioavailability enormously. Therefore, turmeric capsules are many times more efficient than raw turmeric root.
• Basically, a distinction is made between turmeric capsules with animal capsule shells, vegan capsules, and high-quality turmeric capsules with special additives.
• Vegan turmeric capsules – in contrast to capsules made of gelatin – are suitable for people who want to avoid animal ingredients in their dietary supplements.

In our guide, we answer the most important questions about turmeric capsules. Here you will learn what turmeric is and what it is in the form of capsules, how turmeric capsules work, how to take them, and also where it is best to buy them.

What is turmeric?

Turmeric belongs to the ginger family. The bulbous shape of the turmeric root with its spurs is very similar to the more familiar ginger root – but it is much smaller.

The botanical name of turmeric is “Curcuma Longa”. Turmeric is also known as turmeric, Javanese turmeric, yellow ginger, saffron root, Curcuma, or Tumeric.

The healthy ingredient in turmeric is called curcumin. Since it is poorly soluble in water, it is best to take turmeric with some oil.

With piperine, an active ingredient in black pepper, you can also absorb the curcumin better.

Turmeric is characterized by the following benefits:

• Health-promoting.
• Anticarcinogenic.
• Anti-inflammatory.
• Analgesic.
• Digestive.

Turmeric originated in India but is now cultivated in many other (sub-) tropical countries. Turmeric is also known in Ayurveda. Meanwhile, the Western world has recognized the many uses of turmeric, so that the standardized curcumin can be used successfully in numerous situations.

What ingredients are in turmeric capsules?

In general, turmeric root contains 5 to 11 percent essential oil, depending on the species. In total, more than 90 different ingredients could be detected – including vitamins, minerals, or proteins.
As far as the composition of turmeric capsules is concerned, there is little difference.

Turmeric capsules usually contain a curcumin extract in combination with a piperine extract. Pure curcumin is also known as E100.

If you have an intolerance to the plant compound piperine, you should alternatively buy turmeric capsules that do not contain black pepper.

Instead, this type of capsule is subsumed with lecithin. For people with intolerance, capsules with lecithin are a viable alternative.

You can get turmeric capsules mostly:

• Color free.
• Without additives.
• Gluten-free.
• Lactose-free.
• Without added sugar.
• If needed also vegan.

The pepper contains the active ingredient piperine, a natural substance that improves the absorption of curcumin into the bloodstream.

To support the cancer-fighting effects of turmeric, there are now also turmeric capsules with Y-tocotrienols.

To improve the absorption of curcumin, curcumin should be consumed in combination with the active ingredient of the pepper plant. Likewise, Curcuma capsules should not contain dyes, preservatives, or other chemical substances.

Our tip to you would therefore be to buy curcumin capsules with Bioperine extract. Also, make sure that the capsules have bite-size for you.

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The curcumin contained in the turmeric capsules is extremely beneficial to health. Turmeric contains a very high amount of curcumin. The ORAC value that can be measured from it is much higher than that of other foods.

Turmeric capsules contain a high proportion of curcumin.

This value indicates the antioxidant effect of food. The higher this value, the more successful this food can fight free radicals. So you can take advantage of the high-quality turmeric extract in different ways. In general, turmeric capsules have very high effectiveness.

The capsules pass through the stomach as a complete capsule. Only in the intestine, the shell dissolves and the content unfolds its full effect there. From there, the powder enters the bloodstream and thus acts at the point in your body that needs help from turmeric. Since turmeric has hardly any side effects, you may take the amount indicated in the package without any problems.

If you want to achieve an even better effect, you can buy curcumin capsules, where the concentration is higher.

The list of positive properties of turmeric on diseases is very long.

Therefore, we would like to give you a short excerpt here, with which complaints turmeric capsules can help:

• Cancer (colon, breast, skin, lung, liver, uterus, prostate). (source).
• High blood sugar level (source).
• Increased cholesterol level (source).
• Liver and bile problems.
• Increased blood pressure.
• Pain and inflammation.
• Weak immune system.
• Alzheimer’s disease (source).
• Arthritis (source).
• Osteoarthritis (source).
• Respiratory diseases.
• Chron’s disease.
• Lupus nephritis (source).
• Cancer.

Of particular interest is that turmeric forces colon cancer cells to a kind of self-destruction and can therefore be extremely helpful in cancer treatment. In general, curcumin supports both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. For example, it is more common for cancer cells to develop resistance during chemotherapy. Curcumin can prevent this development of resistance.

• Alzheimer

Thus, turmeric not only protects you from malignant cancer cells but also protects your heart vessels and brain.

Turmeric capsules prevent the buildup of certain protein complexes in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

The chief medical officer of Toyota General Hospital in Kariya, Japan, in reviewing three independent Alzheimer’s therapy case studies, concluded that the curcumin contained in turmeric can counteract the dementia effects of Alzheimer’s.

Daily oral intake of turmeric capsules resulted in significant improvements in memory and attention among study participants. Therefore, it can be inferred that daily intake may improve memory and attention in adults without dementia. (Source).

• Digestion

The authors of a U.S. study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine in June 2014 concluded that curcumin has great potential for treating various diseases of the digestive tract. In particular, the anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin helps in diseases such as gastritis or inflammation of the intestines.

• Weight reduction

In 2015, a study was conducted at the Velleja Research Institute in Milan to test the effect and tolerability of curcumin as an aid to weight loss in overweight patients with metabolic syndrome. This showed that turmeric can have a positive effect on weight loss.

• Rheumatism

In a pilot study at Nirmala Medical Center in Kerala, the tolerability and efficacy of curcumin compared to diclofenac (a well-known rheumatism drug) in the treatment of rheumatism were investigated. The group treated exclusively with curcumin showed the best progress compared to the two diclofenac groups. In addition, no patients in the curcumin group experienced adverse side effects. (Source).

Turmeric capsules are among the most potent natural remedies available.

However, those with ailments should always check with a professional to determine which remedy and at what dosage is appropriate for the individual and circumstances.

• Multiple Sclerosis

In 2018, a study was conducted in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to investigate the therapeutic potential of curcumin on multiple sclerosis (MS). Curcumin curbs the inflammation that occurs in MS, thereby reducing the discomfort and symptoms of MS. (Source).

Although turmeric and turmeric capsules are generally well tolerated, there are restrictions when taking them.

The following groups of people should avoid turmeric preparations altogether:

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women: The reason for this is that turmeric can promote menstruation and stimulate the uterus. This could jeopardize the pregnancy.
• People taking blood-thinning medications: The risk of bruising and bleeding may increase.
• Individuals suffering from gallstones: Turmeric may promote bile secretion and cause biliary colic.
• Individuals allergic to piperine: These individuals may want to use turmeric capsules without added black pepper.

As with almost all natural helpers, you should take turmeric regularly. However, turmeric can be quite difficult to swallow in large quantities – not least because of its somewhat bitter taste.

Store turmeric products in a tightly closed container in a cool, dark and dry place.

That’s why we recommend fresh turmeric powder in turmeric capsules, so you can take full advantage of the healing power of this magic bulb. Ideally, you should even use a combination of “normal” powder and curcumin capsules.

If you are still hesitant, you can also gradually incorporate turmeric into your everyday life and, for example, initially only as a spice in your diet.

What are the side effects of turmeric capsules?

First of all, it should be said that curcumin can only very rarely cause side effects. In the vast majority of cases, turmeric capsules are very well tolerated.

If you follow the daily recommended dosage, consumption of turmeric capsules and curcumin is considered safe.

Why do turmeric capsules contain pepper?

The substance piperine, or Bioperine, contained in pepper helps curcumin to exert its effect even better.

Pepper enhances the effect of turmeric.

Otherwise, up to 90 percent of the turmeric would be excreted by the body. This substance, therefore, ensures that turmeric can be optimally absorbed by the body. This increases the effect. Of course, you can also buy turmeric capsules that do not contain pepper.

First, it should be said that Curcumin can cause side effects only very rarely. In the vast majority of cases, turmeric capsules are very well tolerated.

If you follow the daily recommended dosage, consumption of turmeric capsules and Curcumin is considered safe.

The substance contained in pepper Piperine, or also called Bioperine, helps the curcumin to develop its effect even better.

Pepper enhances the effect of turmeric.
Otherwise, up to 90 percent of the turmeric would be excreted by the body.

This substance, therefore, ensures that turmeric can be optimally absorbed by the body. This increases the effect. Of course, you can also buy turmeric capsules that do not contain pepper.

In the following, we would like to introduce you to how turmeric is usually sold and show you the advantages and disadvantages of the variants.

Basically, you can distinguish between three different types of turmeric capsules:

• Capsules with animal shells.
• Vegan capsules.
• High-quality capsules with special additives.

Regardless of the brand and manufacturer, turmeric capsules are very similar in composition, as they usually consist of curcumin and piperine of different quality.

In each of the listed types, the composition is slightly different, which can bring individual advantages and disadvantages. Depending on what you value most when buying this type of supplement, a different type of turmeric capsules will be best suited for you.

In the following section, we would like to help you find the right type of turmeric capsules for you. For this purpose, we will introduce you to all of the above-mentioned product types and clearly illustrate what the strengths and weaknesses of each are.

What distinguishes turmeric capsules from animal casing and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Turmeric capsules with animal shells were the first turmeric capsules available. The use of gelatin as a capsule shell is still simple and inexpensive.

The hard capsules for Curcuma Longa capsules are mainly made of a gelatin mass.

In some drugs, an enteric coating is applied to the capsule shell of a soft gelatin capsule.

Advantages:

• Very compact.
• Bone health.
• Joint health.
• No allergenic potential.

Disadvantages:

• The origin of gelatin is often unknown.
• Lack of quality standards.
• Animal suffering.
• Negative for the environment.

Gelatin is made “denatured” from all kinds of animal tissues – even fish, chicken, and other animal waste.

Denatured means that the substance is obtained by the chemical breakdown. It therefore no longer has much in common with the original starting material.

Due to ethical and cultural influences, as many people reject gelatin capsules, other film formers, such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, are therefore increasingly used.

What distinguishes vegan turmeric capsules and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

The particular advantage of turmeric capsules with vegan capsule shells is that this type of product does not require the addition of animal gelatin.

This means that if you are a vegetarian, you have the option of taking turmeric capsules made only from plant substances.

Meanwhile, there are many turmeric capsules for you, whose shell consists of vegetable substances and is therefore also suitable for vegans or vegetarians. Turmeric capsules should find their way into your healthy everyday life as a daily dietary supplement.

Advantages:

• No gelatine.
• Renunciation of animal suffering.
• Renunciation of genetically modified animal protein.
• Positive for the environment.

Disadvantages:

• Lack of protein.
• No promotion of bone health.
• No absorption of amino acids.
• Possible bitter taste.

How are distinguished turmeric capsules with additives and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Depending on the manufacturer, turmeric capsules with a particularly large number of additives contain different nutrients – including vitamins in particular. The capsule shell consists of either gelatin or the vegan shell alternative.

This dietary supplement with an addition of various nutrients is especially popular with people who want or need to take the added substances anyway to balance their nutrient balance.

Advantages:

• Additional nutrients.
• “2in1” capsules.
• A complex of B vitamins.
• Cheaper than using multiple capsules.

Disadvantages:

• Overdose of vitamins.
• Insufficient curcumin.
• Shorter shelf life.
• Not a natural remedy.

Mainly vitamins are added here – mostly a mixture of different B vitamins. Especially for vegans, the addition of vitamin B12 can be important, as they cannot absorb the vital vitamin through their diet.

Thus, you get a particularly high nutrient density through the dosage mixture of only one turmeric capsule.

Additional nutrients

In the shell of turmeric capsules, there is either only turmeric powder, a mixture with black pepper, or also a mix of various other nutritional supplements.

Below we would like to give you a list of commonly added nutrients for your reference:

• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine).
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin).
• Vitamin B3 (niacin).
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride).
• Vitamin B7 (Biotin).
• Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin).
• Magnesium.

If necessary, check to see if your favorite product also stands out in a positive way with the addition of extra vitamins if you are unsure.

However, if you are unsure about the additional nutrients in your turmeric capsules, it is better to contact your family doctor as a preventative measure.