CbdMD : What Happens When You Take Curcumin with Piperine?...

If you're a fan of Indian cuisine, then you more than likely know exactly what turmeric is - especially if you can't get enough of the earthy taste of curry. Not only is turmeric an essential ingredient in various ethnic dishes, but it has a diverse history as well, particularly when it comes to ancient medicinal practices. While some of those secrets remain a mystery, that hasn't stopped us from extracting the most important part: curcumin.

You probably have a lot of questions as to why exactly these spices matter enough for us to include them in some of our upcoming CBD products. And not just include them, but make them the star ingredient in our new CBD capsule. So without further ado, let's get down to answering some of your questions, such as:

• What is turmeric?
• What is curcumin?
• What is piperine?
• What are the differences between turmeric, piperine, curcumin, and curcumin with piperine?
• What are they typically used for and what are their benefits?
• Do they have a recommended serving size?

What Is Turmeric?

Most people are familiar with the distinct colors of Indian curries, but what they may not know is that turmeric is the ingredient responsible for giving yellow curry its hearty color. Of course, that's not all that turmeric does. In fact, originating in Asia and Central America, turmeric has been used in both ancient Chinese traditional Indian folk remedies for centuries.

Also known as "Indian saffron" and the "golden spice," turmeric comes from the root of a plant in the ginger family and has long been used as a supplement for a variety of health concerns including allergies and mood improvements. It is also commonly used as a household spice thanks to its strong yellow color and earthy flavor. And one of the major components often credited with providing turmeric its health benefits, and unique color is curcumin.

But what exactly are the supposed benefits of turmeric? And how can the modern age access them in the same way as ancient practices?

Benefits of Turmeric Supplements

The effects of turmeric include its natural antioxidant properties which support the body's efforts against free radicals and oxidative damage. Studies show turmeric has been used for a number of benefits over the centuries, particularly those in regards to:

• Reducing minor joint discomfort
• Supporting digestion and gut health
• Improving memory
• Defense against allergies
• Uplifting your mood
• Helping you breathe freely
• Supporting healthy skin
• Supporting the immune system with antioxidant effects
• Maintaining heart health

While it's fairly simple to add turmeric to various food and drink recipes, that probably isn't enough. As turmeric is fat soluble, like CBD, your body is also better able to absorb it when it's taken with a healthy fat. But even if you added it to everything you ate, you likely wouldn't be able to reap all the benefits it has to offer. It probably wouldn't hurt, but it also won't show you the results you're looking for.

Why?

Because rather than eating large amounts of turmeric (which probably wouldn't taste very good), what you should really be looking at adding to your diet instead, is curcumin.

Are Turmeric and Curcumin the Same?

Yes and no.

Curcumin is a component of turmeric, and the main ingredient responsible for the long list of turmeric's possible benefits. That being said, curcumin, which belongs to a family of molecules called curcuminoids, makes up about 3 percent of turmeric's molecular structure. At the moment, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently regulate either curcumin or turmeric or advise on a recommended daily serving.

Because the curcumin content in turmeric is so low, many have turned toward adding curcumin supplements to their daily routine. However, despite the fact that curcumin is fat soluble (and therefore a perfect combination with CBD oil), it has a low bioavailability, meaning that when taken orally not a lot of it is able to reach your bloodstream. Researchers have also noted that it is unstable and likely to change into other substances.

Even so, if you're interested in any of the numerous benefits listed above, you'll want to look at taking a curcumin supplement, rather than simply relying on whatever turmeric you can add to your diet. This is because, as we mentioned above, turmeric in its natural state actually contains very little curcumin, especially when compared with the amount of concentrated curcumin you could receive from a supplement.

And thanks to its extremely low bioavailability, many companies, including cbdMD, have begun to include additional compounds to amplify the effects of curcumin. cbdMD, for example, has included BioPerine in our Curcumin CBD Oil Capsules. BioPerine enhances the bioavailability of various substances, has been clinically shown to aid your body in the absorption of curcumin, and allows compounds such as curcumin to circulate within your body for a longer period of time.

BioPerine also contains 90 percent piperine, which boosts your body's absorption rate of curcumin by upwards of 2,000 percent. We'll dive deeper into how exactly piperine works a little later. In the meantime, let's go over bioavailability, and why exactly it's so important.

Why Bioavailability Is So Important

In simplest terms, high and low bioavailability refer to how much of a given substance, such as curcumin, is able to be absorbed by the body and into the bloodstream. So when we say that curcumin has proven to have a low bioavailability, that means that on its own the amount of curcumin you ingest and the amount that actually reaches your system are drastically different. And there's really no point to eating something for its benefits if it's never absorbed by your body.

Typically, when you eat your body picks out the nutrients and efficiently absorbs them into your system. If our bodies were perfect, there would be no need to worry about low bioavailability. But unfortunately, your body isn't always effective at absorbing all the nutrients from your food. Sometimes the nutrients are destroyed in the stomach, some pass through you unused, and some just don't make it into your cells.

And unfortunately, micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals tend to have a lower bioavailability when derived from everyday foods. Unlike carbs and fats, macronutrients that are highly bioavailable, the vitamins and minerals your body needs to function efficiently need a bit more help in order to be efficiently absorbed by your body.

So how can you increase the bioavailability of various vitamins and minerals? As we mentioned above, the answer lies in both the concentration and combination of nutrients. Take curcumin, for example. By taking a higher concentration than what you get from turmeric and mixing curcumin with piperine, you greatly increase the rate of absorption into your body.

But what exactly is piperine? Where does it come from and how is it able to increase the bioavailability of curcumin?

What Is Piperine?

Piperine is a natural substance extracted from black pepper. As the alkaloid (organic compound) that gives black pepper its oomph, piperine is also often included in health and medicinal supplements because it has the ability to help increase the bioavailability of a number of vitamins and minerals.

In addition to its own innate benefits, such as stress management, digestive balance, and even mental sharpness, piperine is mainly included in most supplements for its bioavailability-boosting properties. And because piperine allows your body to absorb substances like curcumin more easily, it can actually boost the absorption of a number of other essential nutrients as well.

Like curcumin, piperine makes up just a small percentage of the molecular structure of black pepper, meaning that you have to do more than swallow some black pepper with a handful of turmeric. In order to really reap the benefits of curcumin with piperine, you'll want to take them together in a more concentrated supplement form than you'd be able to find in their natural bases.

Benefits of Curcumin with Piperine

By adding piperine to the mix, curcumin is more readily absorbed into your body, allowing the full effects of curcumin, such as its ability to fight inflammation and help improve your heart health, to go into effect. So by taking curcumin with piperine, you give your body its best chance at absorbing as much nutrients as it can so that you can reap all the benefits that curcumin has to offer.

At cbdMD, our Curcumin CBD Oil Capsules contain a proprietary blend of 200 mg of curcominoids, 15 mg of piperine, and 27.5 mg of our Superior Broad Spectrum CBD formula in every single serving. By adding just enough piperine to the mix, we've drastically increased the bioavailability of curcumin all while ensuring that your body receives the many benefits of CBD as well. Oh, and our curcumin with piperine supplements are also vegan and gluten free, like most of our other products.

Of course, as with any supplement, we highly recommend talking with your doctor before starting any dietary supplements. Especially if you're already taking other supplements or medications, or have experienced health conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, or elevated cholesterol levels. And as we mentioned above, the FDA does not currently regulate curcumin servings, and your doctor should be able to provide you with medical advice to help you determine exactly how many milligrams of curcumin you should take in a day.

For more information on how taking curcumin with piperine can benefit you, and how the inclusion of CBD can boost those effects, keep an eye on our frequently updated blog. Interested in staying up to date on the latest CBD news and cbdMD's upcoming special offers? Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or chat with someone live today!