Turmeric Root (Curcuma Longa)

Benefits of Turmeric Root

  • Joints
  • Where it's from: India and Southeast Asia 
  • Form: Powder / Extract 
  • Food Source: Turmeric
Turmeric Root (Curcuma Longa)

What is Turmeric Root?

Turmeric is a plant in the ginger family that grows throughout India and Southeast Asia. The rhizomes (underground stems) of the plant are harvested, dried and ground into a powder that is used as a spice for cooking, and has a long history in Ayurvedic practice.

Turmeric is hugely popular, largely thanks to its active compound, curcumin. The active compounds in turmeric are polyphenols called curcuminoids, of which curcumin is the main one.

What does the research say about Turmeric Root?

Curcuminoids have been widely studied. Curcumin has antioxidant activity, meaning it 'scavenges' and neutralises 'free radicals', which are unstable molecules. Turmeric and curcumin have been studied most often in relation to the joints.

It's worth knowing that curcumin is not easily absorbed by the body, so just adding lots of turmeric to all your dishes will not necessarily mean you absorb much curcumin. Black pepper and its active compound, piperine, have been studied for their effect on the absorption of curcumin and other nutrients.

You may also enjoy reading '5 benefits of Turmeric'.