Is Black Pepper Necessary for Turmeric Absorption?
For thousands of years, turmeric has been an important staple of natural medicine. Most people are familiar with turmeric as the powdered spice you can buy in a grocery store, but it is also naturally found as a root native to South Asia. Clinically, turmeric is also proven to provide a myriad of health benefits. Many people use turmeric to relieve pain and chronic inflammation, and current clinical research is continuing to unravel how turmeric is able to reduce the symptoms and severity of diseases such as arthritis, chronic back pain, and diabetes. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of turmeric supplementation and why black pepper is sometimes important for absorption of active ingredients in the body. We will then explore the unique characteristics of the Ultra BioTurmeric (UBT) supplement and how its formulation is able to achieve high bioavailability in the body, without needing black pepper to absorb turmeric. This will be addressed through answering the following three frequently asked questions:
Do you need black pepper to absorb turmeric?
Previous clinical work and several turmeric supplements currently available on the market use piperine (the active ingredient in black pepper) to improve turmeric absorption in the body. Turmeric is infamous for being rapidly metabolized in the body, via the natural detoxification process of the liver. This process is known as glucuronidation and is responsible for preventing levels of drugs or toxins in the body from getting too high. However, this can result in supplements being rendered useless as they are rapidly broken down and excreted from the body. Other supplements and some clinical trials utilize piperine to prevent glucuronidation in the liver, thereby reducing metabolism of turmeric and improving absorption of the active ingredients. However, despite the increase in bioavailability, piperine supplementation can lead to side effects due to non-specific inhibition of the liver’s detoxification process. This can result in the build up of compounds that would normally be detoxified by the liver, potentially leading to negative outcomes over time.
The Ultra BioTurmeric (UBT) supplement is able to overcome these side effects through a formulation which is entirely composed of turmeric, facilitating rapid absorption and bioavailability of the active ingredients in the plant, without the addition of adjunct chemicals, preservatives or emulsifiers. This means the active ingredients in the turmeric root, including curcuminoids, antioxidants and over 250 other compounds are packaged into a natural turmeric matrix for optimized delivery. This unique formulation retains turmeric’s active ingredients in their natural state, in contrast with synthetic alternatives, which are more likely to be targeted by the liver for degradation. The 100% turmeric-based formulation is not targeted by the liver for detoxification, so efficient bioavailability of the active ingredients can be achieved even without black pepper (piperine) or other adjuvants.
What are the benefits of turmeric and black pepper supplementation?
Turmeric contains a variety of compounds that provide it with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. These include antioxidants and curcuminoids, such as curcumin. Within the turmeric root, these beneficial compounds are found in relatively low abundance, and thus taking supplements enriched for antioxidants and curcuminoids can facilitate absorption and alleviate symptoms related to chronic pain and inflammation. However, because turmeric is notorious for being poorly absorbed in the body, many supplements combine turmeric treatment with black pepper (piperine). Piperine, or other adjuvants, are used to improve the absorption of turmeric and maximize its effects within the body. The UBT supplement is able to overcome this obstacle through a novel extraction procedure and turmeric-based packaging matrix to allow the body to absorb turmeric at maximal levels, even without the addition of adjuvants, preservatives or other compounds.
How much turmeric and black pepper should you take daily?
The effective dose of turmeric to treat chronic inflammation and pain can vary based on the individual, the severity of the disease and the type of supplement being consumed. With Dr. D’s Ultra BioTurmeric, patients can take doses starting as low as 250mg twice daily, without the need for supplementation with black pepper to absorb turmeric. Some medical research indicates that supplementation of turmeric treatment with black pepper can increase absorption of the active compounds by up to 2000%; however, this is not necessary with the UBT capsule which has been clinically demonstrated to reach the same concentrations in the body without any additional adjuvants or preservatives.
What medications should not be taken with turmeric supplements?
Turmeric supplements can be an effective addition to a treatment plan for arthritis or chronic pain, however like the majority of medications, there are important circumstances to consider before beginning treatment. Always talk to your health care provider before adding any supplements to your daily regimen, including taking daily doses of turmeric. Due to the chemical properties of the active ingredients in turmeric, the supplement is capable of lowering blood pressure. Therefore, supplements should not be taken by individuals taking blood thinning or antiplatelet medications. Extra caution should also be practiced before taking supplements if you are an individual that is breast feeding or pregnant, have stomach ulcers or gallstones or bile duct obstruction. If you develop discomfort, stop using the supplements and talk with your health care provider.
Overall, we hope that this article was able to explain why black pepper is traditionally used to improve turmeric absorption. Extending from this, we hope you now understand how the UBT pill is able to combine a novel extraction and packaging protocol to remove the necessity of black pepper to optimize absorption. If you have additional questions about black pepper to absorb turmeric or any question about turmeric supplements and their benefits, talk to your health care provider and contact us here at Dr. D’s. Our goal is to improve the health and lives of our patients, and information is the most important first step for a treatment or recovery process. We are always happy to answer any question you may have about our supplements, the benefits of turmeric, or other ways you can improve your overall health and wellbeing.