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All You Need to Know About Turmeric Extract vs. Turmeric Powder

What is the difference between turmeric extract and turmeric powder?

The reality is that it all depends on what you are looking for. If you want to cook a delicious meal, then the turmeric powder in your pantry will probably suffice.

Known as Curcuma longa, turmeric is a member of the ginger family. While it is common in Southeast Asia, turmeric needs a lot of rain to be able to thrive. This is exactly why India is still the number one producer in the world.

In some cultures, turmeric is referred to as "the herb of the Sun" and has been part of alternative medicinal practices for centuries.

Turmeric is a rhizomatous plant, which means it produces rhizomes or thick stalks that grow underground. These same rhizomes are then harvested, and turned into a powder or extract for commercial use.

If, on the other hand, what you are looking for is more of pain relief, anti-inflammatory, or immunity boost, then the right turmeric for you is the extract. Turmeric extract has powerful properties and benefits, which include acting like an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant.

So, what is turmeric exactly?

Turmeric contains compounds known as phytochemicals, and one of these is a flavanol called curcumin. In turmeric powder, there is about 3% – 5% of curcumin total, which means that if you were to eat a large amount of a meal containing turmeic powder, you will get only about 20-40 milligrams of pure curcumin.

Many studies have found that a dosage of 500 milligrams per day of curcumin has great health benefits.

There are three curcuminoids in turmeric: curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDM). These all seem to share health benefits and can be used to treat many conditions.

Curcumin remains the strongest of the three curcuminoids, but it isn't very bioavailable and can't be absorbed well. DMC, however, seems to be water-soluble and easier to absorb. BDM has also been researched due to its immune-modulating abilities.

What makes turmeric extract special?

While turmeric has been around for centuries, particularly as part of Ayurvedic medicine. But until very recently, the knowledge was mostly passed on based on experience.

Recently, though, the plants and active compounds used in these alternative practices became central to many studies. Today, plenty of research is done into the medical and nutritional properties of the active compounds in turmeric.

Countries like China and India rely on plant-based medicines commonly. This is why there are plenty of research studies done in government and why many educational and commercial institutions find an interest in plants like turmeric.

Since there is more evidence now, many commercial companies have found it profitable to create products that contain turmeric for health benefits. Still, there are many products that contain very low concentrations of curcumin.

Facts to Know About Turmeric Extract

Turmeric extract is made through a process that isolates the powerful curcuminoids and allows for an optimal amount for better health benefits. However, turmeric powder doesn't contain nearly enough curcumin to really have an impact on your health. Some companies out there still prefer to save costs and will not have nearly enough high potency turmeric extract in their products.

This all is to say, you should be careful with what supplements you look into. It is not enough information to simply state that there is a concentrated extract form of a botanical. Always check what that level of concentration is, as some companies don't even hit the therapeutic mark. As an example, some supplements vary from a 20% curcumin concentration up to 95%. If you find a supplement with only a 50% concentration, you will need to take immense amounts to get any effects.

To avoid the trouble and the expense, simply try to a 95% turmeric extract, which is the one deemed therapeutic in every research study.

There is another thing you need to know, and that is the two systems that are used to express the concentration level of your turmeric extract.

When a percentage is used, it is telling you what percentage by weight is the active component. This means that a 50% concentration will be about half powder and half concentrated curcumin.

The other method you can find out there is a ratio. A ratio shows the concentration of the active ingredient compared to the original raw powder. That means that if your supplement has a curcumin concentration of 4%, and the extract contained 40% curcumin, then the ratio would be 10:1.

There are multiple steps and calculations to the ratio method, so it is not commonly used. All companies are responsible for ensuring the level of active compounds in their products is stated accurately for you. So make sure you look into it before you pick a supplement.

Why You Need to Choose Turmeric Extract

Curcumin has been part of alternative medicine and nutrition for many years, and in some countries, it is referred to as a "tonic". This kind of substance contains many benefits that allow your body to heal and reach homeostasis.

Some of the effects of turmeric include:

· Reducing inflammation

· Pain relief for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

· Prevention of some types of cancer

· Protects the bowel and promotes motility

· Prevent stomach ulcers

· Can help reduce cholesterol levels

· Can help manage blood sugar

· Boosts mood

· Prevents infections

Turmeric extract has been shown to work in treatment for the following diseases and conditions :

1. Parkinson’s disease

2. Cancer

3. Inflammation

4. Depression and anxiety

5. Osteoarthritis

6. High blood pressure

All of these claims have been proved with extensive research, including clinical trials.

What is a Good Dose of Turmeric Extract?

Research studies have found that an optimal dose of curcumin is between 500-2,000mg a day. There is no established toxicity for turmeric extract to this day, so taking around 1,500mg daily can help you see health benefits.

Learn more about turmeric extract and which dose is right for you here: What is the Optimal Turmeric Dosage for Inflammation?

Be Careful With Misleading Turmeric Advertising

Before you make a decision on what turmeric extract to buy, you should read the label. Some companies may try to fool you into thinking their supplement is a turmeric extract when it is turmeric powder instead.

If a supplement company claims there is “1000 mg of turmeric" but the label indicates that there is 1000 mg of turmeric root powder and a very small amount of turmeric extract in each tablet. This means that the total amount is 1000 mg of turmeric powder, which is equivalent to only 3 to 5 mg of curcuminoids. If you do the math, you would have to take around 30 tablets to achieve anything close to a therapeutic dosage.

There are some reasons why companies advertise high potency turmeric but only have 50mg of turmeric extract. For one, the company may not have a clue what high potency means. They can also mislead and falsify information to sell more, and trick the consumer into buying their products. Another reason is that they may not know the difference between turmeric powder and turmeric extract. Some companies may not know what the protocols are for calculating and reporting the actual concentration of the active compounds in turmeric. Finally, most manufacturers will put profit before they do the customer, even when it means misleading.

Manufacturers will often prefer to do this because turmeric powder is more affordable than extract. To get a high potency turmeric extract, companies need to obtain a large amount of turmeric powder, which they will then use to isolate curcuminoids. This turmeric extract is now high potency, containing 95% curcuminoids. By advertising high amounts of turmeric, these companies can sell more, but save costs.

If you are about to buy a high potency turmeric extract supplement online, make sure you check, as it may only have 50mg of turmeric extract.

Take time to understand labels and how they can trick you. This article can show you how Active Atoms Turmeric Extract excels when compared to other popular brands: Misleading claims about Turmeric – 5 examples and how to read labels.

Things to Consider Before You Pick a Turmeric Supplement

Considering everything out there, there are a few tips you should be aware of before you pick a turmeric extract supplement:

· Check the potency of turmeric per each capsule: Is there at least 500mg of turmeric? You need a high amount of turmeric to obtain real benefits. You may be shocked to see that most commercial brands contain only 50mg of turmeric extract. On the other hand, Active Atoms provides 750 mg of turmeric extract per capsule, making it much more efficient and powerful than other supplements.

· Does it contain black pepper extract? Also called BioPerine®, this compound has been proven to promote bioavailability and absorption of turmeric. Not all brands have this added ingredient, but it can increase the potency of turmeric by 2000%. Active Atoms adds an additional 5mg BioPerine® per capsule, making its turmeric extract much more efficient.

· Is it free from any lead? Though not everyone knows, some turmeric products can actually contain traces of lead. Studies have shown that plants that produce turmeric powder had used lead to promote the appeal of a yellow color. However, lead is extremely dangerous and can cause severe neurological damage. Don't worry, though, turmeric extract uses a water dispersion technology, which filters out all unwanted substances.

· Make sure you check whether your supplement has been tested for lead, as not all companies report this. Active Atoms sends their supplements for independent lead testing and you can find a full report on the website.

· Consult with your physician: As a rule of thumb, you should always consult your physician before you start any supplement. It is also a good idea to work on your diet, sleeping habits, physical activity, and lifestyle along with taking this supplement.

· Be careful with side effects: While turmeric doesn't have a lot of side effects, it can affect certain people more than others. If you are immuno-compromised, undergoing hormonal treatment, taking blood thinners, or suffer from gastric, kidney, or gallbladder issues, then you should talk to your doctor and exercise caution with starting turmeric extract supplements.

Check out the possible side effects of a turmeric extract supplement here: What are the side effects of Turmeric Supplements?

Final Thoughts...

Curcumin has been efficient in managing and treating all sorts of conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, dementia, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, depression, and more.

A dose of 500-2000 mg of turmeric extract per day can be beneficial to you. Make sure you pick a supplement that contains at least 500mg or more of turmeric extract along with BioPerine®, and that is also tested for traces of lead.

You may find what you are looking for and more in Active Atoms Turmeric Extract. Get ready to change your life and your health, and start taking turmeric extract soon!

References:

1. https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/curcumin-market

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30316076

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17900536

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