Anti – Inflammatory Turmeric. What Is The Difference Between a Rhizome, Powder and a Supplement?
Let’s talk about turmeric and answer couple of the very common questions I get:
What are the differences between turmeric supplements and using turmeric in cooking?
What is the best way to consume turmeric for health benefits?
I love to recommend my clients to use Turmeric for it’s anti-inflammatory effect. It can be used in various forms: as a fresh rhizome, in powdered form, or as a patented supplement. Each form offers unique benefits and efficacy levels, which are important to understand when choosing how to incorporate tu rmeric into your diet.
TURMERIC AS FOOD:
When used as a culinary spice, turmeric adds beautiful flavour and colour to dishes. In its whole form, turmeric contains curcumin, the active compound responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties, along with other beneficial compounds like volatile oils. However, the curcumin content in turmeric is very low, only around 3%. Additionally, curcumin’s bioavailability is poor, meaning that the body absorbs only a small amount when turmeric is consumed as food. To enhance absorption, it’s often paired with black pepper. I still advise to use turmeric root in your every day cooking or even a juice because you would benefit from other compounds besides curcumin too. Great for general wellbeing.
TURMERIC AS POWDER:
Turmeric powder is made by drying and grinding turmeric rhizomes. It is more concentrated than fresh turmeric and can be easily added to smoothies, teas, and meals. While it contains a higher concentration of curcumin than fresh turmeric, the bioavailability issue remains. Mixing turmeric powder with fats (like coconut oil) and black pepper can enhance absorption. This form is versatile and convenient for daily use, offering more potent benefits than using turmeric solely as a culinary spice. Just make sure that you buy a good quality powder if you want to benefit from the active ingredients.
PATENTED SUPPLEMENTS:
Patented turmeric supplements are designed to maximise curcumin absorption and efficacy. These supplements often contain standardised curcumin extracts with higher concentrations, typically around 95%. Many patented formulas include additional ingredients like piperine or use advanced delivery systems such as nanoparticles, liposomes, or phospholipid complexes to improve bioavailability. These supplements offer the most effective way to achieve therapeutic levels of curcumin in the body, making them ideal for individuals seeking targeted anti-inflammatory benefits. Make sure you buy reputable brand, the price is reflecting the quality. This is my go to if I need to help someone with arthritis, endometriosis, support liver, bone density, mental health or reduce inflammation in general.
