Curcumin in Turmeric

The key compounds in turmeric are called curcuminoids. Curcumin itself is the most active ingredient and appears to be the most important. As a polyphenol, curcumin has several advantages to health . It’s a strong antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. However, one of the greatest downfalls of curcumin is that it’s not well absorbed in the body.

Piperine in Black Pepper

Black pepper comes from black peppercorns. It contains the bioactive compound piperine, which is similar to capsaicin, the medicinal component found in chili powder and cayenne pepper. Peperine has been shown to help relieve nausea, headaches and poor digestion and also has anti-inflammatory properties. One of the most significant benefits of piperine may be its ability to boost the absorption of certain compounds in the digestion process.

Keep in Mind

§  Tell all your health care providers about any complementary or integrative health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.