Turmeric, also known as the golden spice, is a tall plant that grows in Asia and Central America.
It gives curry its yellow color and has been used in traditional Indian medicine for thousands of years to treat various health conditions.
Studies support its use and show that it can benefit your health.
But coupling turmeric with black pepper may enhance its effects.
This article reviews the potential health benefits of combining turmeric and black pepper.
Key active ingredients in turmeric and black pepper
In recent years, research has confirmed that turmeric has medicinal properties.
And while most people think of it as nothing but a seasoning, black pepper can also benefit health.
Both turmeric and black pepper have key active ingredients that contribute to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and disease-fighting qualities.
Curcumin in Turmeric
The key compounds in turmeric are called curcuminoids. Curcumin is the most active ingredient and is the most important.
As a polyphenol, curcumin has several health advantages. It’s a strong antioxidant with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties.
However, one of the greatest downfalls of curcumin is that it’s not well absorbed in the body.
Piperine in black pepper
Black pepper contains the bioactive compound piperine, an alkaloid like capsaicin, the active component found in chili powder and cayenne pepper.
Piperine has been shown to help relieve nausea, headaches, and poor digestion and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Still, its most significant benefit may be its ability to boost the absorption of curcumin.
Summary: Curcumin in turmeric and piperine in black pepper has been shown to improve health due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and disease-fighting qualities.
Piperine enhances the absorption of curcumin
Unfortunately, the curcumin in turmeric is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. As a result, you could be missing out on its health advantages.
However, adding black pepper can help. Research supports that combining black pepper piperine with turmeric curcumin enhances curcumin absorption by up to 2,000%.
One study showed that adding 20 mg of piperine to 2 grams of curcumin increased its absorption significantly.
There are currently two theories on how this works.
First, piperine makes it easier for curcumin to pass through the intestinal wall and into your bloodstream.
Second, it may slow down the breakdown of curcumin by the liver, increasing its blood levels.
As a result, combining curcumin with piperine increases its potential health benefits.
Summary: The piperine found in black pepper enhances curcumin absorption, making it more readily available to be used by your body.
The combination of turmeric and black pepper boosts health benefits
While curcumin and piperine each have their own health benefits, they’re even better together.
Turmeric and black pepper fight inflammation, and help reduce pain
Turmeric’s curcumin has strong anti-inflammatory properties.
It’s so potent that some studies have shown it to match the power of some anti-inflammatory drugs without the negative side effects.
Studies also demonstrate that turmeric may play a role in preventing and treating arthritis, a disease characterized by joint inflammation and pain.
Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties are often praised for reducing pain and temporary discomfort.
Piperine has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties as well. It helps desensitize a specific pain receptor in your body, which can further reduce feelings of discomfort.
Suggested read: Does turmeric help you lose weight?
When combined, curcumin and piperine are a powerful inflammation-fighting duo that can help reduce discomfort and pain.
Turmeric and black pepper may help prevent cancer
Curcumin shows promise in not only treating but even preventing cancer.
Test-tube studies suggest it can decrease cancer growth, development, and spread at the molecular level. It could also contribute to the death of cancerous cells.
Piperine also seems to play a role in the death of certain cancer cells, which can decrease your risk of tumor formation, while other research indicates it might also inhibit the growth of cancerous cells.
One study showed that curcumin and piperine, both separately and in combination, interrupted the self-renewal process of breast stem cells. This is important, as this process is where breast cancer originates.
Further studies point to curcumin and piperine having protective effects against additional cancers, including prostate, pancreatic, colorectal and more.
Turmeric and black pepper aid in digestion
Indian medicine has relied on turmeric to help with digestion for thousands of years. Modern studies support its use, showing that it can help reduce gut spasms and flatulence.
Piperine has been shown to enhance the activity of digestive enzymes in the gut, which helps your body process food more quickly and easily.
Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric and piperine may aid in reducing gut inflammation, which can help with digestion.
Summary: When combined, curcumin and piperine tend to have a greater effect on inflammation, digestion, reducing pain, and fighting cancer.
Safety and dosage of turmeric and black pepper
Curcumin and piperine are generally considered safe.
There are no official recommendations for either consumption, and the maximum tolerable intake has not been identified.
Suggested read: 10 proven health benefits of turmeric and curcumin
Certain people may experience side effects like nausea, headache, and skin rashes after taking curcumin in large doses. It’s thus important to follow the dosage recommendations on the supplement packaging.
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has set the acceptable dietary intake for curcumin as 1.4 mg per pound (3 mg/kg) of body weight per day, or approximately 245 mg for a 175-pound (80-kg) person.
In Indian culture, turmeric and black pepper are commonly consumed in tea, often combined with olive oil, coconut oil, honey, and ginger.
Because curcumin is fat-soluble, consuming it with fat may increase absorption.
However, to fully reap the medicinal benefits of curcumin, it’s best consumed in supplement form combined with piperine.
Summary: Turmeric and black pepper are considered safe, and no serious side effects have been reported. While they can be added to food and drinks, supplements are more beneficial.
Summary
Turmeric and black pepper each have health benefits due to curcumin and piperine.
As piperine enhances curcumin absorption in the body by up to 2,000%, combining the spices magnifies their effects.
They may reduce inflammation and improve digestion, particularly in supplement form.
If you want to enjoy the advantages of turmeric and black pepper fully, consider mixing these spices for the best results.
