Turmeric vs. Curcumin

What is Turmeric?

What is turmeric? Turmeric is the main spice in curry, a well-known Indian dish. The fine yellow powder (turmeric root powder) derives from the ground roots of the Curcuma longa plant. Curcuma longa’s presence in Southeast Asia led to the widespread use of turmeric.

The historical practices of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine have significant validity. These timeless principles used natural herbs and spices as remedies for common ailments. Our ancestors were ahead of the curve when they studied the medicinal uses of turmeric.

Turmeric curcumin benefits the body in a number of ways and appears in several different products. You’ve likely seen turmeric in a variety of items and products including:

Turmeric tea
Turmeric milk
Turmeric lattes
Turmeric smoothies
Soaps and scrubs
Essential oils
CBD oil products
Accent colors and paints
Weight loss and fat burners
Turmeric masks and skincare products
And various other turmeric recipes

Due to the wide variety of uses, the turmeric market has been absolutely booming of late.

Turmeric vs. Curcumin

What is the difference between turmeric and curcumin? It’s important to understand that these are not interchangeable terms. There is a distinct difference in curcumin vs. turmeric supplements.

Turmeric contains several chemical compounds which we refer to as “curcuminoids.” The active curcuminoid in turmeric responsible for its therapeutic properties is curcumin. The standard curcumin content of turmeric is only about 3-6%. When buying a turmeric supplement, make sure it contains 95% curcuminoids and follow the recommended turmeric dosage.