As it passes through the stomach it is degraded and changed, becoming inactive. Studies have shown that a person would need to consume 10,000mg of turmeric in order to increase blood serum levels of curcumin. In other words, it is a highly unstable substance, greatly affected by stomach acid and other digestive acids that cause it to link to other substances. The linkage prevents it from passing through the intestinal walls and entering the bloodstream.

Numerous studies have shown that there are many health benefits associated with curcumin, but it must be bio-available, in order to provide those benefits. When it comes to human hearts, the benefits are reducing the risk of clots, preventing heart failure and repairing damage that has already occurred. So, supplementation is worthwhile, if we can determine the right dosage. Here are a few questions that should help us do that.

How much curcumin should you use for heart health if you are eating the herb or curry sauce? There are no studies to support that this might be effective. There is some anecdotal evidence that eating curry twice a year or more improves cognitive function in the elderly. Getting 10,000 mgs a day would be difficult, if not impossible. The typical curry recipe calls for a half teaspoon of turmeric. One would need two teaspoons to come close to 10,000mg.

How much curcumin should you use for heart health if you are taking a single ingredient supplement? Single ingredient supplements of this nature are not beneficial. The high doses that would be required cause indigestion and increase the risk of gallbladder disease or worsen the symptoms, if it is already present. In animals, high doses have been shown to negatively affect the liver. It is safe, in reasonable amounts, but as with most plant compounds, it is possible to go overboard.

How much curcumin should you use for heart health, if you are taking a well-designed supplement? Enteric coatings protect turmeric from digestive acids. Studies have shown that piperine, an extract from black pepper, increases the bioavailability of curcumin by 2000%. In other words, 50mg combined with piperine and an enteric coating would increase blood serum levels by as much as 10,000mg of straight turmeric.

There is no risk of liver or gallbladder damage and no risk of indigestion with a 50mg supplement. The most advanced supplements include a variety of different plant extracts, all designed to work together efficiently to protect the cells of the body from the effects of time.

There are specialty supplements designed for those people that are over the age of 40. These supplements can provide a “spring cleaning”, so to speak, for the circulatory system. So, now we know how much curcumin should you use for heart health. If properly designed, 50mg per day is effective.