Turmeric is trending because it has been researched as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and protective agent against chronic diseases.
It’s the most popular “super supplement” of recent years.
All this from the yellow root of an Asian rainforest plant where the chemical compound curcumin is found.
If you want to incorporate a super-healthy supplement to hedge your on-the-go lifestyle, turmeric is one of the best.
Because of the popularity of turmeric, there are hundreds of supplements on the market. Our research team has found the best.
Our advisory panel and our research team rank the best health products and supplements based on performance, label accuracy, and the efficacy of the ingredients in the products.
- Best overall: Turmeric Curcumin + By Nuzena
- Best for cognitive health: VitaBalance Turmeric Plus
- Best for heart health: 1MD Advanced Turmeric Curcumin X285
- Best for joint pain: Transparent Labs Turmeric
- Solgar Turmeric Root Extract
Research
Rankings
Last updated: November 1, 2023
Turmeric supplements considered: 29
Hours of research: 47
Experts reviewed: 16
Scientific papers referenced: 45
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | 1. Turmeric Curcumin + By Nuzena
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Best for cognitive health  | 2. VitaBalance Turmeric Plus
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Best for heart health  | 3. 1MD Advanced Turmeric Curcumin X285
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Best for joint pain  | 4. Transparent Labs Turmeric
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 | 5. Solgar Turmeric Root Extract
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 | 6. New Chapter Turmeric Force
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 | 7. BlueBonnet Turmeric Root Extract
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 | 8. Organic India Turmeric Formula
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 | 9. Lumen Naturals Turmeric Curcumin 1200
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 | 10. BioSchwartz Turmeric Curcumin
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 | 11. Me First Living Turmeric Curcumin
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 | 12. Doctor’s Best High Absorption Curcumin from Turmeric Root
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1. Turmeric Curcumin + By Nuzena
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Nuzena is a new, premium supplement line famous for its potent concentrations.
For those who’re serious about taking an excellent turmeric supplement, Nuzena is our #1 pick.
Looking at Turmeric Curcumin + we can see that it has one of the most robust ingredient lists among the many turmeric supplements on the market.
First, a generous dosage of 1200 mg turmeric root per serving sets it apart from many of its competitors, but what’s more interesting is its supporting ingredients.
Nuzena have added 100 mg of curcuminoids, which is great to see, as they are arguably more beneficial for you than the turmeric root itself. They’ve also added 10 mg of the patented delivery ingredient BioPerine, which is known to help maximize nutrient absorption and bioavailability of turmeric.
Their potent “formula” holds up well to their claims of reducing inflammation, supporting healthy joints, and regulating blood pressure.
Easily one of the better daily habits you can have in the supplement space and the all-around turmeric winner of 2023.
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2. 1MD Advanced Turmeric Curcumin X285
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Advanced Turmeric Curcumin X285 is one of the better options.
They have the endorsement of a prolific cardiologist, Dr. Michael Fenster, who says, “As a Board Certified Cardiologist, I stand behind 1MD’s Advanced Turmeric Curcumin x285 formula which combines two clinically studied, patented ingredients, Longvida® Turmeric Curcumin and WokVel® Boswellia Serrata, both clinically shown to boost systemic health.”
From alleviating joint pain to providing your body with more energy, Advanced Turmeric Curcumin X285 is a solid option.
No “additives.” All natural, and made in the USA in an FDA-approved facility.
3. Transparent Labs Turmeric
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If you’re serious about all of the benefits turmeric root has to offer, then you should be focusing on curcumin, the most active component locked within turmeric root.
The main problem with standard turmeric root supplements is that they are hard to digest. Since turmeric root is fiber-rich and doesn’t dissolve, many users of non-concentrated turmeric report ‘turmeric specks’ passing through their stool.
This is why Transparent Labs Turmeric is specifically formulated with only 95% curcuminoid turmeric powder. When 95% curcuminoids are compared to standard turmeric root, there is no competition.
To further enhance bioavailability, Transparent Labs Turmeric also contains 20 mg of patented BioPerine ® black pepper extract.
This one-two 95% curcuminoid turmeric and BioPerine® punch ensures that you get exactly what you’re looking for without the unnecessary serving-size inflating fluff.
Solid option, and pretty economical, too.
4. Solgar Turmeric Root Extract
Solgar may not look like the most exciting turmeric supplement out there, but when it comes to effectiveness, it is hard to beat. The ingredients are fairly straightforward; 400 mg of turmeric extract per capsule, and notably, no black pepper extract like many of the competitors.
5. New Chapter Turmeric Force
New Chapter makes a point of emphasizing how the turmeric is extracted from the plant. They use both an ethanol process and a supercritical CO2 process to get the extract from the raw plant material.
Only go for New Chapter if you want a very high-quality extract that captures as much of the raw plant material as possible.
6. BlueBonnet Turmeric Root Extract
BlueBonnet has made a name for itself as a manufacturer of simple and high-quality supplements, and that reputation is deserved in the case of their turmeric root extract supplement. With no fluff and no extra ingredients, BlueBonnet delivers 400 mg of turmeric root extract per vegetarian capsule.
The company also guarantees that the supplement is free from all common allergens; many other competitors make their products on the same equipment that is used on wheat, dairy, or soy-based supplements and as such can’t make such a claim.
7. Organic India Turmeric Formula
Organic India puts a unique spin on their turmeric supplement by adding ginger root extract into the mix. Ginger is reputed to be a powerful supplement in its own right, though there isn’t much in the way of specific research on combining the two.
The turmeric dose is pretty standard, at 400 mg per capsule, though Organic India does note that they take the extract from two slightly different parts of the plant. The defining attribute of the supplement, though, is the ginger, so make this the deciding factor for you.
8. Lumen Naturals Turmeric Curcumin 1200
Lumen Naturals provides a high dose of straight turmeric root extract, combined with a few boosters of additional bioactive compounds.
Each cellulose (i.e vegan) capsule provides 600 mg of pure turmeric root extract alongside 50 mg of highly purified curcuminoids, the primary bioactive compounds in turmeric root and 5 mg of BioPerine, which is a proprietary black pepper extract preparation.
The high amount of turmeric, plus the boost of the curcuminoids, makes Lumen Naturals a very solid choice, though it’s not the most cost-effective or the best for a strict purity fanatic.
9. BioSchwartz Turmeric Curcumin
BioSchwartz follows the standard model when it comes to turmeric supplements: a hefty dose of unprocessed turmeric root, alongside a small amount of the purified, concentrated curcuminoids, and a small dose of BioPerine.
In this case, the supplement provides 500 mg of turmeric root, 50 mg of purified curcuminoids, and 3.3 mg of black pepper extract (BioPerine).
10. Me First Living Turmeric Curcumin
Popular and beloved–that’s the most accurate way to describe Me First Living’s turmeric supplement. What’s it got going for it? It’s a fairly cost-effective supplement that delivers a no-nonsense turmeric extract. 500 mg per capsule, plus a small amount of BioPerine, like many of the other turmeric extracts on the market.
This is all fine and good, but there are no “extras” like other companies offer, like turmeric from a different extraction method or a highly purified concentrate booster. Me First Living falls into the good but not outstanding category.
Category winners
Best turmeric overall: Turmeric Curcumin + By Nuzena
Nuzena makes an all-around winner: this turmeric supplement has 1200mg of turmeric root per serving, plus BioPerine for optimal absorption. From pain and inflammation to long-term wellness, it’s an excellent all-around pick.
Best turmeric for joint pain: Transparent Labs Turmeric
With joint pain, controlling inflammation is the name of the game. Transparent Labs Turmeric is ideal for this purpose, thanks to its highly concentrated extract, with over 95% curcuminoids by weight.
Best turmeric for cognitive health: CurcuminMD Plus VitaBalance Turmeric Plus
Keeping oxidative damage under control is vital for long-term cognitive health, and that’s exactly what CurcuminMD Plus is designed for. Thanks to its multi-ingredient antioxidant combo, you can be sure this supplement is being put to work protecting your brain.
Best turmeric for arthritis: Transparent Labs Turmeric
Transparent Labs uses highly absorbable curcumin powder alongside BioPerine to help ensure your body makes the best use of the compounds in turmeric that combat pain and inflammation. For arthritic pain and inflammation, Transparent Labs is our top choice.
Best turmeric for heart health: CurcuminMD Plus
CurcuminMD Plus combines the anti-inflammatory capabilities of turmeric with those of boswellia serrata, another natural herbal extract. The combination of boswellia and turmeric was chosen specifically for supporting cardiovascular function, making CurcuminMD Plus an easy pick for heart health.
Best turmeric for inflammation: Turmeric Curcumin + By Nuzena
Nuzena’s Turmeric Curcumin boasts a potent dose of both purified curcuminoids and raw turmeric root. This innovative dual-source approach makes this supplement particularly well-suited for fighting systemic inflammation in your body.
Who should buy turmeric?
Turmeric is a good supplement to consider for any health and wellness issue related to chronic inflammation. This includes:
People looking to reduce joint pain. Joint pain from arthritis or old sports injuries is typically caused by inflammation, and you’ll find turmeric in many top multi-ingredient joint supplements for exactly this reason.
People with inflammation-related bowel conditions. Turmeric is popular among people with irritable bowel syndrome and other inflammatory issues that affect the gastrointestinal tract because of the potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities of the curcumins in turmeric. Indeed, turmeric has been researched as a potential treatment for IBS, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.
People who want to improve their heart health. Systemic inflammation is a major contributing factor for heart disease, and some research suggests that the anti-inflammatory effects of turmeric could improve blood vessel function.
People who want to preserve their cognitive function as they age. Turmeric is also popular among older adults who want to stave off cognitive decline. Inflammation is also thought to contribute to cognitive deterioration with age, and turmeric is known to stimulate a growth hormone that promotes the growth of new brain cells.
How we ranked
Turmeric is extremely popular, so there are dozens of options on the market. Our research team waded through the dizzying array of options using the following evidence-based criteria:
Effective dosage backed by scientific research. While turmeric is available at many different dosages, much of the research has used doses between 400 or 600 mg of turmeric, or 50 to 100 mg of curcumin as an active ingredient.
As such, we prioritized supplements that had doses that were approximately in this dosage range. We dropped products that had too low or too high of a dosage.
Clean supplement design. Products with too many fillers, like silicon dioxide, coloring agents, and extra additives, got dropped.
We had a slight preference for products with a cellulose capsule as opposed to a gelatin capsule, but we didn’t rate this as a critical distinction.
High bioavailability. Lastly, what distinguished the top products from the rest of the pack was whether or not they took the extra steps to ensure that the turmeric was bioavailable.
Top contenders like Nuzena and 1MD used products like black pepper extract or proprietary turmeric preparations to improve the amount of turmeric that actually gets absorbed into your system.
FAQ
Q: What is turmeric?
A: Turmeric is an herb that’s native to Asia and has been used for thousands of years as an herbal remedy. The part of the plant material that is actually used as a cooking spice and for herbal extracts comes from the roots of the turmeric plant, which is dried and ground into a powder.
Sometimes, this powder is directly packaged into capsules for use as a turmeric supplement, but in other cases, the biologically active compounds are extracted using alcohol or another solvent.
Q: Where does turmeric come from?
A: Turmeric comes from the dried and powdered root of the turmeric plant, which is native to Asia. It has a long history in Ayurveda, and has long been utilized as an herbal remedy.
The raw powderized form of turmeric is often used as a cooking spice, and can even be taken directly as a supplement, but more often, it is passed through an extraction process using alcohol or another solvent, then is packed into capsules for use as a supplement.
Q: How many mg of curcumin should there be in turmeric?
A: In raw turmeric powder (like the kind you’d use as a cooking spice), the curcumin content is about 3% by weight. This means that there is around 30 mg per 1000 mg of raw turmeric.
However, in supplemental form, the curcumin content can be much higher: between 50 and 100 mg of curcumin per 500 mg of turmeric.
Specifying exactly how much should be in turmeric from a dosage perspective is trickier, because not all of the scientific research has used the same concentration of curcumin in turmeric, and moreover, there is research that supports a huge range of potential doses, so anywhere in the vicinity of about 10% of the total turmeric content is an appropriate level of curcumin content.
Q: How much black pepper supplement does it take to help turmeric?
A: Black pepper extract, which is sometimes listed in ingredients as BioPerine, has been studied as a potential way to boost the bioavailability of other herbal supplements.
There’s good evidence it can boost the absorption of other supplements too, including CoQ10, by up to 30% (1).
In these studies, the dose of black pepper extract that’s needed to achieve a significant boost in absorption is not very much—even just 5 mg is enough to see substantial effects on bioavailability.
Several of our top-ranked turmeric supplements include 5 to 10 mg of black pepper extract, or its proprietary form BioPerine.
Q: How much turmeric is needed to lower blood triglycerides?
A: Lowering blood triglycerides has been one of the more robust findings across the scientific research on turmeric, though the exact dosage that’s necessary is less clear.
A good place to start is 500 to 600 mg of turmeric per day, though some research has employed higher or lower doses than this and has achieved acceptable effects.
Lowering triglycerides is one benefit that does seem to be directly linked to curcumin content, so curcumin levels between 5o and 80 mg per day seem optimal for lowering blood triglycerides.
Related articles
Recap
Turmeric is a potent antioxidant that has a wide range of applications for reducing inflammation, preventing oxidative damage, and helping to assist with long-term health.
Most research has focused on the ability of turmeric and its biologically active ingredients to treat risk factors for heart disease, markers for type two diabetes, and could even speed wound healing by enhancing the body’s healing response to physical trauma.
It’s been studied at a wide range of doses, from as little as 80 mg all the way up to 2000 mg per day. Most research, however, supports doses of 400 to 600 mg as safe and effective.
The primary side effects are gas, flatulence, and dry mouth, though some biochemical research suggests that supplemental turmeric could increase your risk for kidney stones.
In sum, turmeric is one of the most potent supplemental sources of antioxidants, and has promising applications for reducing risk for heart disease, as a supplementary treatment for type two diabetes.
For BodyNutrition‘s #1 turmeric recommendation, click here.
