Found in certain types of Asian spices, curcurmin is a powerful and naturally occuring antioxidant. Its protective effects may help you to avoid getting certain types of cancer. If you are worried about developing cancer, these helpful curcumin reviews will show you the right supplement for your needs.
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The Top 5 Curcumin Supplements for Reducing Cancer Risks
Sports Research Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex
This formulation combines three different curcuminoids to get the maximum cancer fighting benefits of these compounds. The Sports Research product has a combination of 75 to 81 percent curcumin, 15 to 19 percent demethoxycurcumin, and 2.2 to 6.5 percent bisdemethoxycurcumin. You can be confident that you are getting a balanced dose of curcumin each time you take these pills.
Pros
- With 500 mg per capsule, it is easy to get your daily dose of curcumin.
- Organic coconut oil is used to further boost curcumin absorption.
- This supplement also has bioperine to help your body absorb the curcumin.
- Sports Research’s products are both GMO and gluten free.
Cons
- The larger size of the capsules can make them a little difficult to swallow.
- There are other curcuminoids besides curcumin in these pills which can make it difficult to calculate doses.
Thorne Research Meriva 500
The Meriva formulation that Thorne uses is actually the curcumin supplement used in many of the research studies about curcumin, so you know it is definitely effective! The key to this version of the supplement is that is uses one part curcuminoids to one part lecithin. Lecithin is a type of fatty substance derived from egg yolks, so it helps your body to thoroughly absorb the curcuminoids. This makes the Thorne Research curcumin 18 times more bioavailable than other types of curcumin.
Pros
- Unlike other brands with lecithin in them, Thorne Research’s product is soy free.
- Each capsule has 500 milligrams, so you do not have to take several pills to get the effects.
- Thorne Research adheres to FDA regulations and follows GMP manufacturing regulations, so each pill is quality assured.
- Capsules roughly the size of a penny are easy to swallow.
Cons
- A little on the pricier side compared to other curcumin supplements.
Schwartz Bioresearch Turmeric Curcumin
These supplements made by Schwartz Bioresearch are a simple and solid choice. They are free of fillers, binders, and preservatives. When you select this curcumin supplement, all you get is a pill with 95 percent curcumin and 5 percent bioperine. This makes it a great option for you if you want a reliable, bare bones supplement.
Pros
- Very budget friendly price.
- Schwartz Bioresearch manufacturers their curcumin in a USA based factory that follows GMP regulations.
- Since the company tests for heavy metals, pesticides, toxins, and solvent residues in their product, you can be confident that the curcumin is pure and untainted.
- A three seal system keeps the curcumin fresh for a longer amount of time.
Cons
- Each tablet only has 50 milligrams of curcumin, so you have to be willing to take several tablets if you want an effective dose.
BulkSupplements Curcumin Natural Extract Powder
Made by BulkSupplements, this is a very versatile and affordable curcumin supplement. It is sold as a basic powder instead of being put into capsules, so you can customize your dosage. You have the option of mixing it into foods, swallowing it straight, or filling empty capsules to make your own curcumin pills. Half a teaspoon of this powder contains an impressive 1,000 milligrams of curcumin.
Pros
- A factory sealed foil zip pouch keeps your curcumin fresh until you need it.
- BulkSupplements runs testing through independent labs to make sure their product is pure of add-ins.
- A ratio of 95 percent curcuminoids lets you get plenty of curcumin with each serving.
- The mild flavor is not noticeable when mixed into yogurt, smoothies, or other meals.
Cons
- Not as convenient and user-friendly as pills.
- Does not come with piperine or fatty compounds that boost absorption and bioavailability.
- The powder can be messy and stain things.
Nutrivene Longvida Curcumin
The Nutrivene Longvida method of producing curcumin supplements relies on something called solid lipid curcumin particle technology. This is essentially a type of technology designed in California that relies on putting tiny molecules of curcumin into a fat attracting coating, so the fats you eat as part of your daily diet help your body to better absorb the curcumin. Each pill contains 500 milligrams of the curcumin compound.
Pros
- Nutrivene uses vegetable derived fats and cellulose based capsules for their pills, so their product is vegan.
- The specially formulated capsule does not dissolve until it reaches the gastrointestinal tract, making this a great option for those who also deal with inflamed bowels.
- Longvida is one of the most bioavailable forms of curcumin on the market.
Cons
- Only 60 capsules come in the container, so you have to reorder frequently.
- Not suitable for those with soy allergies.
Summing It All Up
All of these curcumin supplements provide similar benefits, but Thorne Meriva stands out from the rest. Since it has been the subject of more research studies than other curcumin supplements, you can feel confident that it is actually absorbable and effective.
Another great thing about the Thorne Research supplement is that it is free of allergens like gluten, soy, and nuts. Since it has a higher amount of curcumin per tablet than some of the other options on the list, you can get all the curcumin you need each day just by swallowing one or two capsules.
Does Curcumin Really Lower Your Cancer Risks?
There’s definitely a lot of hype surrounding the use of curcumin to reduce cancer, but you’re probably wondering whether or not it’s true. Keep reading to actually examine these claims and see how accurate they really are.
The first thing you need to know about curcumin is that it is a strong antioxidant. This means that the compound keeps cells in the body from undergoing oxidation, a type of chemical reaction that makes damaging free radicals.
Cancer typically occurs after a cell is damaged and begins to mutate while it is trying to heal, so curcumin’s ability to reduce damage on a cellular level may help to stop cancer.
As you can see, the idea of curcumin reducing cancer is sound in theory. Now it’s time to see what medical research says about this type of supplement.
One 2013 study from the Public Library of Science found that people with cancer who took curcumin along with chemotherapy had a better outcome than those who just took chemotherapy (1).
Researchers for the Journal of Postgraduate Medicine found that countries where people ate a diet high in curcumin had lower rates of cancer overall (3). All of this evidence combines to show that curcumin may be a very helpful way of lowering your cancer risks.
How Do You Use Curcumin Supplements?
Now that you know a little about how curcumin actually works to reduce cancer rates, let’s take a look at how you should be using these supplements.
According to registered dietician Makayla Meixner, there are no definitive rules for how much curcumin a person should take in a day, but we can look at how much curcumin is in the average Indian diet to get a rough guideline.
The average person in India eats foods containing between 1,900 to 2,375 milligrams of curcumin per day. Since the reduced rates of cancer in India are one of the main reasons researchers believe that curcumin can reduce cancer risks, eating around this amount can provide you with the cancer-lowering benefits of curcumin. To be safe, try to eat somewhere between 500 to 2,000 milligrams a day.
Most people who take curcumin get their daily dose through pills. However, there are some curcumin supplements that come in a powder or liquid too. If you get one of these versions, you can try mixing the supplement into a smoothie or turning it into a tea.
Keep in mind that curcumin is not very easily absorbed on its own. Taking it with piperine, which is a compound found in black pepper, can make it a little easier for your body to absorb the substance (2).
You can also boost curcumin absorption rates by taking it alongside fats or oils that help the gut to absorb the supplement. Some companies are starting to add small particles of fat straight to their supplements, so you do not have to bother with eating fat each time you take the curcumin.
What Other Benefits Do You Get When You Take Curcumin Supplements?
Even if your main goal is just to avoid getting cancer, you still get plenty of other health benefits when you start taking curcumin.
If your joints feel stiff and sore every now and then, you definitely need to be taking curcumin. Researcher G. Belcaro found that curcumin worked better than arthritis medication for study subjects with osteoarthritis (6).
Curcumin also has an ability to reduce levels of bad LDL cholesterol, so it may reduce your risks of developing heart problems. The supplement’s overall ability to reduce inflammation has also been associated with things like diabetes prevention, better recovery from exercise, and reduced irritable bowel syndrome.
Are All Curcumin Supplements the Same?
You might think that any old curcumin supplements will have the same exact effect on your body. However, it is important to remember that supplements are not as heavily regulated as foods. It is possible for some supplements to contain mostly filler with only a small amount of curcumin.
There is also a danger of the product being contaminated. According to ConsumerLab, some turmeric supplements have been found to contain lead.
Because of these concerns, it is very important to look for curcumin from a reputable source. To get the best possible results, you need curcumin without useless additives. Good supplements should be ones that are properly processed for maximum antioxidant content.
Since certain ingredients can help you to absorb curcumerin, you may want to check for supplements that have a little piperine to help your body process the curcumerin better. There is also the option of supplements that add fatty lipids to boost absorption even more.
Sources
(1) https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0057218
(2) https://examine.com/supplements/curcumin/
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14597785
(5) https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/turmeric-dosage#dosage
(6) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20657536