{"id":5087,"date":"2018-03-12T06:00:02","date_gmt":"2018-03-12T13:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/?p=5087"},"modified":"2018-03-10T13:41:36","modified_gmt":"2018-03-10T21:41:36","slug":"3-tricks-optimize-turmeric-potency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/3-tricks-optimize-turmeric-potency\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Simple Tricks To Effectively Optimize Turmeric For Maximum Potency"},"content":{"rendered":"

Countless studies have demonstrated the medicinal benefits of this amazing herb which you can view\u00a0here<\/a>. Once you see the irrefutable proof that turmeric has a plethora of important\u00a0health benefits<\/a>\u00a0 you will be eager to work it into your everyday diet. However, before you begin consuming this potent food medicine, you need to understand how to fully unlock its powerful healing potential.<\/p>\n

Turmeric, is\u00a0a rhizome<\/a>\u00a0(A type of horizontal, usually underground stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes; AKA as a rootstock.)\u00a0 It\u2019s related to ginger root (also a rhizome) both are classified as members of the Zingiberacaea family; it has been a stellar staple in the pharmacopeia of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic medicine for eons; It\u2019s been in continuous use for thousands of years as a medicine, spice (curry) and yellow dye.<\/p>\n

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is the yellow pigment found in the spice turmeric (Curcuma longa). Curcumin is one of\u00a0three known curcuminoids<\/a>\u00a0present in turmeric, the other two being desmethoxycurcumin and bis-desmethoxycurcumin.<\/p>\n

Scientists have still not identified all the\u00a0constituents in turmeric<\/a>. Researchers continue to discover new curcuminoids. Current estimations are that turmeric contains well over a hundred chemical compounds which are primarily located in the essential oil of this complex medicinal spice.<\/p>\n

A major problem with Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is curcumin\u2019s (CUR)\u00a0low bioavailability<\/a>. Curcumin is the key active constituent of Turmeric.\u00a0 A preponderance of animal and clinical studies reveal that the concentrations of CUR in blood plasma, urine, and peripheral tissues, if detectable at all, are extremely low\u00a0regardless of dosage size<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What is Bioavailability?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

According to the\u00a0Merck manual<\/em><\/a>, \u201cBioavailability refers to the extent to and rate at which the active moiety (drug or metabolite) enters systemic circulation, thereby accessing the site of action.\u201d<\/p>\n

Essentially, bioavailability is about how much of an ingested substance is actually absorbed by our bodies. It follows that substances with poor bioavailability will not be effective for healing purposes.<\/p>\n

Research Confirms Turmeric\u2019s Low Bioavailability<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Key Points:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Numerous curcumin studies confirm that very low blood serum levels are reached when curcumin is orally administered. The majority of orally ingested curcumin gets metabolized before it reaches the bloodstream.\u00a0Increasing the dose does not result in greater absorption.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The route of administration and method of preparation are major factors affecting the bioavailability or serum levels of turmeric.<\/p>\n

Turmeric\u2019s bioavailabity can be enhanced with the addition of specific\u00a0Adjuvants<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Studies<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Low Serum Concentratiions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A\u00a0study on the fate of curcumin<\/a>\u00a0in the rat (1978) by Whalstrom and Blennow showed oral curcumin was poorly absorbed in the gut. When 1g\/kg of curcumin was orally administered to the rats only a negligible amount of curcumin was found in their blood plasma. About 75% of it was excreted via the feces.<\/p>\n

A study in\u00a01980 by Ravindranath et al found when rats<\/a>\u00a0were orally administered 400 mg of curcumin, no trace of curcumin was found in the heart blood while only a small trace was found in the portal blood within 15 min to 24 hours of administration.<\/p>\n

Another\u00a0recent study by Yang et al<\/a>\u00a0found that when 10 mg\/kg of curcumin was orally administered only 0.36 \u00b5g\/ml of curcumin was found in the blood serum.<\/p>\n

A pilot study conducted by\u00a0Sharma et al.<\/a>\u00a0on patients with colorectal cancer. The patients were given Curcuma extract which contained 36\u2013180 mg curcumin in proprietary capsule for 4 months. After 29 days of oral curcumin: Neither curcumin nor its metabolites were detected in the plasma, blood and urine. Although traces of curcumin and curcumin sulfate were found in feces.<\/p>\n

Tissue Distribution<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In another study:\u00a0Absorption and tissue distribution of curcumin in rats<\/em><\/a>. Ravindranath et al found after orally administering 400 mg of curcumin to rats: \u201conly traces of the unchanged molecule were found in the liver and kidney. At 30 min, 90% of the curcumin was found in the stomach and small intestine, but only 1% was present at 24 h. [hours].\u201d<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/strong>\u00a0Very few studies have been done on Curcumin and tissue distribution.<\/p>\n

Metabolites<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Metabolites are the intermediate\u00a0<\/a>and final products of the process known as metabolism, which is from the Greek word for \u201cchange.\u201d Metabolism is a step-wise series of life-sustaining chemical transformations within the cells of living organisms. The term metabolites commonly refer to small molecules.<\/p>\n

Primary metabolites are necessary for the normal growth and maintenance of life. Secondary metabolites support primary metabolite activity indirectly and serve other important ecological functions. Metabolites are a natural occurrence formed when as part of an inherent biological process that breaks down and eliminates various compounds.<\/p>\n

Research indicates that metabolites of curcumin, instead of curcumin itself, are detected in plasma or serum following\u00a0oral consumption<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The majority of studies have shown that\u00a0these metabolites are actually less active<\/a>\u00a0or potent compared to curcumin itself.
\nBottom Line: when curcumin is metabolized the potency of its metabolites are less potent than curcumin.<\/p>\n

The intestine and liver, is where oral curcumin is conjugated (the formation of a water-soluble derivative of a chemical by its combination with another compound, such as glutathione, glucuronate, or sulfate.) into metabolites.<\/p>\n

Based on various studies the metabolites produced are: curcumin glucuronides and curcumin sulfates or, alternately, reduced to hexahydrocurcumin(HHC) and Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC). Again most studies have shown that these metabolites are less biologically active compared to the parent compound curcumin.<\/p>\n

Short Half-life<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Half-life<\/a>\u00a0is the time it takes for a drug or other ingested substance to lose half its strength. Medications with a short half-life must be taken several times a day, to maintain therapeutically effective concentrations of blood serum levels.
\nIn contrast, medications with longer half lives maintain effective blood serum levels for much longer periods of time and can be taken less frequently.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0studies by Whalstrom and Blennow<\/a>\u00a0demonstrated curcumin\u2019s rapid systemic excretion from the body or short half-life. As mentioned when 1g\/kg curcumin was given orally to rats\u00a0 around 75% of the curcumin was excreted via the feces with only trace amounts found in the urine.\u00a0\u00a0A short half -life decreases Turmeric\u2019s therapeutic effect in the body. More studies are needed in order to draw\u00a0 definitive conclusions about Turmeric\u2019s half-life.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

1) Add BLACK PEPPER to Your Turmeric<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Black Pepper is a\u00a0powerful medicine in its own right<\/a>\u00a0 and a Potent Turmeric Adjuvant.<\/p>\n

How does Black Pepper Enhance the Bioavailability of Turmeric?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cPiperine is a potent inhibitor of drug metabolism. One of the ways our liver gets rid of foreign substances is making them water soluble so they can be more easily excreted. But this black pepper molecule inhibits that process.\u201d \u2013Michael Greger, M.D. (Michael Greger, M.D<\/a>., is a physician, author, and internationally recognized professional speaker on a number of important public health issues.)<\/p>\n

How much Black Pepper?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Not much!<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cIf people are given a bunch of turmeric curcumin, within an hour there\u2019s a little bump in the level in their blood stream. We don\u2019t see a large increase because our liver is actively trying to get rid of it. But what if the process is suppressed by taking just a quarter teaspoon\u2019s worth of black pepper? Then you see curcumin levels skyrocket. The same amount of curcumin consumed, but the bioavailability shoots up 2000%. Even just a little pinch of pepper\u20141\/20th of a teaspoon\u2014can significantly boost levels. And guess what a common ingredient in curry powder is besides turmeric? Black pepper.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 Dr. Michael Greger<\/p>\n

Black Pepper\u2019s Side-effects<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The compound Piperine in pepper significantly increases curcumin and thus Turmeric\u2019s overall bioavailability. When pepper is freshly ground from whole peppercorns the essential oils in the pepper are more available.<\/p>\n

Piperine is the active ingredient in black pepper; it\u2019s what causes black pepper\u2019s spiciness and heat.<\/p>\n

Black pepper\u00a0Chemistry<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cThe sharp aroma of black pepper is due to its essential oil content. Black pepper contains approximately 1.2 to 3.5% essential oil.\u00a0 Its key chemical constituents include: d-limonene (up to 20%), a-pinene, b-pinene, sabinene, b-caryophyllene and \u03b4-3-carene.\u00a0 It is an essential oils rich in monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes (e.g. b-caryophyllene).<\/em><\/p>\n

As a herb: Black pepper contains 5-10% pungent acid-amides (pseudoalkaloids), with piperine as its main compound and several others including piperyline, piperoleines, and piperamine.\u00a0 Pharmacological studies show that piperine is analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and exhibits a depressant effect on the central nervous system.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

One Study<\/a>\u00a0entitled:\u00a0Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers<\/em>
\ndemonstrated that when piperine was co-administered with curcumin and given to human subjects the bioavailibity of curcumin increased 2000%.<\/p>\n

2) Add a Healthy Fat to Turmeric<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Since turmeric is fat-soluble, in order for your body to fully absorb it and experience its amazing health benefits, Turmeric needs to be combined with a fat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it doesn\u2019t dissolve properly, curcumin has a tough time getting into the gut, which is where most of the immune system lives. \u201c80 percent of your immune system is located in your digestive system, making a healthy gut a major focal point if you want to maintain optimal health,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0explains Dr. Joseph Mercola.<\/p>\n

\u2018Another way to boost the absorption of curcumin is to consume it in the whole food, turmeric root (fresh or dried as a powder) because natural oils found in turmeric root and turmeric powder can enhance the bioavailability of curcumin seven to eight fold. When eaten with fat, curcumin can be directly absorbed into the bloodstream through the lymphatic system thereby in part bypassing the liver.\u2019<\/em>\u00a0\u2013Dr. Michael Greiger, MD<\/p>\n

3) Heat Increases Turmeric\u2019s Bioavalibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dr. Saraswati Sukumar explains how to enhance Turmeric\u2019s bioavailability<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cThe potent ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which, despite its power, is not easily absorbed by the body without assistance. This is where the saut\u00e9 pan and a little warm oil come into play.\u201d\u00a0Dr. Sukumar explains<\/a>\u00a0\u201cI use it [turmeric] in every saut\u00e9, just a quarter teaspoon, a half teaspoon is enough. But you don\u2019t have to use it sparingly \u2013 use it lavishly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem with the pill is that it is very insoluble in water,\u201d she said. \u201cThe better way to take it, I feel, is to use it in your cooking very extensively. If you have any saut\u00e9, just sprinkle it in. The moment you heat oil and add turmeric to it, it now becomes completely bio-available to you.\u201d \u2013Dr. Sukumar<\/a><\/p>\n

SUMMARY: To extract the optimum benefit when consuming turmeric as a medicine<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1.\u00a0Activate<\/strong>\u00a0turmeric with some cooking heat.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Boost<\/strong>\u00a0turmeric\u2019s absorption 2,000% by combining it with some freshly ground black pepper.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Skyrocket<\/strong>\u00a0turmeric\u2019s bioavailability and healing potential by mixing it with a healthy fat (such as coconut oil or ghee) some fresh ground black pepper and then gently cook cycle on medium low heat (never boil). Ghee has been used as a vehicle for medicine and as a medicine itself by Ayurvedic doctors for thousands of years.<\/p>\n

Dosage guidelines according to the University of\u00a0Maryland Medical Center<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Cut root: 1.5 \u2013 3 g per day
\n\u2022 Dried, powdered root: 1 \u2013 3 g per day<\/p>\n

About The Author:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paul Fassa<\/a>\u00a0is a contributing staff writer for REALfarmacy.com. His pet peeves are the Medical Mafia\u2019s control over health and the food industry and government regulatory agencies\u2019 corruption. Paul\u2019s valiant contributions to the health movement and global paradigm shift are world renowned. Visit his blog by\u00a0following this link<\/a>\u00a0and follow him on\u00a0Twitter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you enjoyed this article, you may also be interested in:\u00a0https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/turmeric-lemonade-better-prozac\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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Countless studies have demonstrated the medicinal benefits of this amazing herb which you can view\u00a0here. Once you see the irrefutable proof that turmeric has a plethora of important\u00a0health benefits\u00a0 you will be eager to work it into your everyday diet. However, before you begin consuming this potent food medicine, you need to understand how to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":5089,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthandvitality"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5087"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5093,"href":"https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5087\/revisions\/5093"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youwealthrevolution.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}