According to ancient tradition the turmeric herb benefits the digestive system and can be used to treat ailments, such as ulcers, heartburn, colitis and inflammatory bowel disease. According to modern studies, it can be used for much more than that, but only if the problem of bioavailability is addressed.



Bioavailability is something that researchers must look at when they are investigating new drugs or making recommendations for nutrient supplementation. It's kind of complicated, but here are the basics.

When a compound hits the stomach, it may be degraded by stomach acid. Some of it is likely to end up in the liver, where it would likely be discarded as a toxin or unusable substance. Much of it simply stays in the digestive system, where it would be discarded along with fiber and other non-absorbable foodstuff.

If the compound makes it to the upper intestine and the molecules are small enough, it can pass through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. The turmeric herb benefits have been questioned, except for those that have to do with digestive disorders, because it is rapidly degraded by stomach acid and very little ends up in the bloodstream. Researchers say that it has low bioavailability.

There are three ways to address the issue of low bioavailability. Supplement manufacturers can increase the dose, include piperine or add an enteric coating to the tablet. Most manufacturers choose to increase the dose, because that is the cheapest alternative, but it is not without side effects.

The most active component of turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin has anti-coagulant and chelating activity. A chelating agent helps rid the body of toxic heavy metals, but at high doses can interfere with iron metabolism, which could cause anemia.

Acting as a chelating agent is one of the turmeric herb benefits, specifically related to the liver, but interfering with iron metabolism is not a good thing for anyone. As an anti-coagulant, a high dose could cause intestinal bleeding and reduce the body's ability to clot after surgery or injury. Obviously, increasing the dosage is not the best choice.

Adding piperine is a good idea, because it has been shown to increase bioavailability by 2000%. Piperine is a compound found in black pepper that has numerous health benefits of its own and has been shown to increase the bioavailability of a variety of other nutrients.

But, if you want the most turmeric herb benefits and the lowest possibility of adverse reactions, you will choose a supplement that includes piperine, along with an enteric coating. If you want even more, you will choose a multi-nutritional supplement that includes the extract.

Our bodies need nutrients to survive. Research continues to show that a variety of nutrients and plant extracts improve the body's ability to heal, resist infection and reduce the risk of degenerative and life threatening diseases. Taking the right supplement can reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease; Alzheimer's and type II diabetes. Those are some of the possible turmeric herb benefits, as long as it can get to the bloodstream.