My turmeric doesn’t work (anymore)?!

Turmeric - probably the best-known root from Southeast Asia. Due to its wide range of applications, it is increasingly used in cooking or taken as a capsule for its therapeutic effect. Numerous studies prove the special properties of turmeric in relation to health, but it can happen that the desired effect does not occur or is no longer present.

The following reasons could be responsible for the lack of effect of turmeric:

The habituation effect has set in

Have you been taking your turmeric capsules for some time? It can of course be the case that after taking them for a longer period of time, your body no longer reacts as strongly to the active ingredient as it did at the beginning. In this situation, it would be advisable to take a one to two week break from taking the capsules. When you start taking them again, the body's reaction to the active ingredient will be increased again.

Your turmeric has low bioavailability

Depending on the treatment goal, the insufficient bioavailability of the turmeric capsules may be to blame for the lack of effect of the turmeric. In this case, it makes sense to look for preparations that have increased bioavailability. Preparations with pepper are very popular because pepper can increase the absorption rate. However, there are a few points to consider here:

• Pepper only increases bioavailability by up to 20 times. There are now much more effective methods, such as the micellar formulation (>184 ​​times) or a holistic formulation that rearranges the turmeric's own plant substances to increase absorption by up to 40 times.
  
  
• Pepper, especially black pepper, which is used in very high doses in many capsules, can irritate the stomach lining and is not suitable for people with gastrointestinal problems. Such preparations are not recommended, especially if you already have to take a lot of tablets.
  
  
• Black pepper causes interactions with medications. Due to the fact that black pepper is an enhancer, it can also change the effect of medications. For example, asthmatics whose tablets contain theophylline should not consume too much black pepper, otherwise too much of the active ingredient will be deposited in the body.

How can you tell the quality of turmeric when buying it?

When buying your turmeric capsules, pay attention to the best-before date. An expired best-before date does not necessarily mean that the product is no longer effective, but it could be an indication of this. Therefore, you should always only buy as many products as you will take. The product can change over time, for example the curcuminoids can lose bioactivity, which reduces the effect of the turmeric. Also pay attention to the storage instructions. Sunlight and heat can also have a negative effect on the effectiveness of the product.

When is the best time to take turmeric?

The time of intake can also have an influence on the effect of the capsules. Basically, you should follow the manufacturer's instructions. This also includes preferably taking them with water instead of other liquids. In particular, you should not use alcohol or cow's milk when taking the turmeric preparations, as these are very inflammatory and can therefore have the opposite effect.

Conclusion:

In order to take advantage of the beneficial properties of turmeric, there are a few things to consider. This is especially true if you feel that the effect has stopped or has not really kicked in. Try taking a break and check whether your preparation has a sufficiently high bioavailability. Micellar turmeric preparations, for example, achieve very high values. It is also important to stick to the best-before date and the instructions in the package insert or on the packaging. With these simple methods, nothing should stand in the way of successfully incorporating turmeric into your treatment.