Turmeric is not usually known as a weight loss supplement, but that doesn’t me you can’t use turmeric for weight loss as a part of your plan for healthy weight loss. I use turmeric supplements every day, and I recommend them to all of my friends and family as well.
Unlike other fat burners or stimulant-based weight loss supplements, turmeric does not promote weight loss by artificially boosting your metabolism. Instead, turmeric supplements help with improving your overall health which will result in long-term weight loss.
In this article, I will analyze a few of the beneficial properties of turmeric supplements, as well as describe how turmeric can help you lose weight!
Turmeric and Weight Loss – How Does Turmeric Help You Lose Weight?
Turmeric (official name Curcuma longa), is one of the most powerful natural products in existence. Turmeric is a bright yellow, aromatic powder, obtained from the rhizome of a plant belonging to the ginger family.
The name “turmeric” comes from the Persian word “saffron,” which is the neon yellow-orange hue of the root.
Commonly used for coloring and flavoring in Asian cookery, Curcuma Longa was also originally used as a dye in traditional cultures.
There were many traditional uses for turmeric, and it is also the main spice in curry.
Turmeric has been one of the most potent herbs on earth in fighting and reversing the effects of various diseases for thousands of years.
Turmeric has many healing properties, and currently, there are over 6,000 peer-reviewed articles published to demonstrate the health benefits of turmeric (curcumin).
Nutritional Values of Turmeric Based on the Recommended Daily Amount (RDA):
- 26% Manganese
- 16% Iron
- 5% Vitamin B6
- 3% Magnesium
- 3% Vitamin C
- 4% Potassium
- 5% Fiber (1.4g)
The reason you can use turmeric for weight loss is that turmeric contains bioactive compounds that have powerful health effects.
These bioactive compounds are known as curcuminoids, and the most powerful curcuminoid is curcumin.
Curcumin is the most active bioactive compound in turmeric, and it is a powerful antioxidant with potent anti-inflammatory effects. In fact, turmeric favorably competes with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs.
Turmeric targets multiple steps in the inflammatory pathway, at the molecular level. Turmeric blocks NF-KB, which is a molecule that travels into the nuclei of cells and can activate genes that are related to inflammation. Researchers believe NF-KB plays a significant role in many chronic diseases.
Additionally, one of the main reasons that you should use turmeric for weight loss is because it helps you fight oxidative stress and the signs of aging.
Oxidative stress and damage cause aging and several other health problems. Free radical cells are highly reactive molecules that have unpaired electrons, and they react with important organic substances such as fatty acids, DNA, or protein.
Antioxidants help protect our bodies from free radical cells by binding with the free radicals, and curcumin is a potent antioxidant.
As you can see, turmeric can help you lose weight by promoting the internal functions of your body which all for a faster basal metabolic rate and better overall health.
Additionally, turmeric is one of the best supplements for weight loss because it helps you recover from exercise and feel fresher each day.
As stated by a study published in Clinical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition,
“Participants supplemented with curcumin displayed reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, decreased pain and muscle damage, superior recovery and muscle performance, better psychological and physiological responses (thermal and cardiovascular) during training and improved gastrointestinal function. Curcumin supplementation appears to be safe and beneficial for sport and physical exercise in human beings.”
There are numerous reasons to use turmeric for weight loss, and numerous reasons to use turmeric supplements in general!
How to Use Turmeric for Weight Loss
Although there are no conclusive or distinct studies on how to use turmeric supplements for weight loss, you can use turmeric for weight loss simply by adding it to your diet.
You can use turmeric supplements for weight loss or you can add turmeric powder to your foods and drinks.
However, the curcumin (most important compound of turmeric) content in turmeric powder is only about 3%, which is not high.
If you choose to use turmeric supplements for weight loss, you can get enough curcumin easily. Although using turmeric as a spice is still beneficial, you will not receive as much benefit as if you use a turmeric supplement that is formulated for more curcumin.
Additionally, since curcumin is not absorbed into the bloodstream easily, you want to consume it with black pepper, since a natural compound in black pepper (Piperine or Bioperine) enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2000%!
Although curcumin supplements usually are more comfortable to use, I have had success adding large amounts of turmeric powder to smoothies and shakes as well.
If you want to add turmeric to your daily shakes or smoothies instead of taking turmeric pills to help you lose weight, I suggest you try Your Super Mellow Yellow because it contains high-quality turmeric powder as well as a couple of other ingredients that are great for your health!
Personally, I prefer to take a turmeric supplement each day, and the dosage of turmeric I take depends on the product I use.
Unlike other weight loss supplements, you won’t feel the effects of using turmeric supplements rapidly. However, over time, you will lose more weight because you are taking a turmeric supplement.
One suggestion that I have is that you should only take your turmeric supplement after eating. Whenever I take turmeric on an empty stomach, I have stomach pain for hours.
What is the Best Turmeric Supplement for Weight Loss?
There are many great turmeric supplements, and nearly any turmeric supplement you purchase will provide some amount of benefits.
However, certain turmeric supplements do provide much better results. Although I don’t specifically use turmeric for weight loss, I do use turmeric supplements all year as a home remedy for asthma and for natural joint pain relief, so I can usually tell if the supplement I am using is a quality turmeric supplement or not.
Here are a few of the best turmeric supplements that I have tried:
Nuvana Turmeric Curcumin
I have over a dozen different turmeric supplements throughout the last few years, and after my self-experimentation, I believe the best turmeric supplement is Nuvana Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine and Ginger.
Nuvana Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine and Ginger is a high-grade blend of Curcuma Longa, ginger, and Bioperine that is optimized for maximal absorption.
If you don’t want to waste your time experimenting with a variety of different turmeric supplements, I suggest you choose Nuvana Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine and Ginger!
Okinawa Triple Turmeric
Okinawa Triple Turmeric is a turmeric supplement from Japan that combines three unique types of turmeric powder. I have used this supplement in the past and I absolutely loved it.
It does not contain any ginger or other compounds except the three types of turmeric and black pepper for absorption, but this is definitely one of the best turmeric supplements for weight loss!
Swanson’s TheraCurcumin
Although I haven’t tried it yet, a promising turmeric supplement for weight loss is Swanson High Absorption TheraCurcumin.
Although black pepper extract is the most commonly used absorption enhancer for turmeric, newer studies have shown that nano-particle curcumin is even significantly more absorbed! According to a study published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
“The in vivo pharmacokinetics revealed that curcumin entrapped nanoparticles demonstrate at least 9-fold increase in oral bioavailability when compared to curcumin administered with piperine as absorption enhancer. Together the results clearly indicate the promise of nanoparticles for oral delivery of poorly bioavailable molecules like curcumin.”
Unfortunately, there are not many brands that utilize nanoparticle entrapped curcumin for their supplements, and the ones that do are incredibly expensive. Although the products are probably worth their money, it is still hard to pay $60 or more per month for turmeric supplements.
However, a significantly cheaper option is Swanson’s TheraCurcumin. TheraCurcumin is a patented form of nanoparticle curcumin, and Swanson sells it for a fraction of the price of other brands!
According to a study published in PharmaNutrition,
“In human study, the area under the blood concentration–time curve (AUC) after oral administration of Theracurmin was 27-fold higher than that of commercially available curcumin.”
What is the Best Turmeric Drink for Weight Loss?
Along with these turmeric supplements for weight loss, there are also some great turmeric drinks for weight loss. Turmeric tea is a great option, or you can make your own turmeric drink for weight loss.
Here are the best options:
Hyley’s Pure Matcha Turmeric Tea
If you would like to add a turmeric drink to your diet as well, you should try Hyley’s Pure Matcha Turmeric Tea.
Turmeric and matcha green tea is an excellent combination for weight loss, and drinking a turmeric-infused tea to kick off your morning is an excellent home remedy for weight loss that will boost your metabolism and help you lose weight.
I have purchased Hyley’s Pure Matcha Turmeric Tea several times and I will certainly purchase it more often as well.
Turmeric and Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss
Combining turmeric and apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a great way to improve your overall health, improve your digestive system, and make losing weight easier. Apple cider vinegar contains a variety of properties that makes it perfect to pair with turmeric for weight loss.
One of the main benefits of using turmeric and ACV for weight loss are the unique organic acids in ACV.
Benefits of the organic acids in ACV such as acetic acid and propionic acid include:
- Promoting Digesting
- Improving pH Balance (Acid/Alkaline Balance) in the Blood
- Aids Detoxification of the Body
- Dissolves and Oxidizes Fats
- Kills Viruses, Bacteria, Fungus
Additionally, apple cider vinegar contains polyphenols which researches have shown play an important role in the prevention of:
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Multiple Types of Cancers
- Neurodegenerative Diseases (such as Alzheimer’s)
- Osteoporosis
- Type-2 Diabetes
Lastly, a few documented properties fo using apple cider vinegar for weight loss include:
- Reducing Appetite Due to Digestive Enzymes, Vitamins, and Nutrients it Contains
- Stimulating Your Metabolism
- Reducing Water Retention
- Reducing Cravings or “Sweet Tooth”
Making a turmeric and apple cider vinegar drink before bed is a great way to lose weight overnight because it will stimulate your metabolism and improve your health even while you are sleeping!
If you would like to purchase ACV to use with turmeric, Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar is the best:
Side Effects of Using Turmeric for Weight Loss
One of the best parts of using turmeric for weight loss is that there are very few side effects.
There are a few side effects of using turmeric supplements but they generally will only happen if you use much more than the recommended dosage.
Potential side effects of high dosages of turmeric include:
- Increased Menstrual Flow
- Hyperactive Gallbladder Contractions
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Uterine Contractions in Pregnant Women
- Increased Risk of bleeding
Also, individuals taking certain medications should be cautious when using turmeric supplements. Notably, people using anticoagulants such as:
- Aspirin
- Warfarin
- Clopidogrel
Taking turmeric supplements can also affect medications such as non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
As a general rule, use your turmeric supplement as directed as with any other supplement or herb because there is always some potential for risk.
Also, you should always speak with a doctor before beginning a new diet or supplement regimen.
Concluding Thoughts – Is Turmeric Good for Weight Loss?
Overall, I strongly believe turmeric is good for weight loss and a great supplement for helping you get an aesthetic body!
If you would like to try a turmeric supplement for weight loss, my primary suggestion isNuvana Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine and Ginger!
Please let me know if you have any additional questions about how to use turmeric for weight loss, or anything else about turmeric supplements!
