Should I Take Turmeric On An Empty Stomach?
Should I take turmeric on an empty or full stomach to fully benefit from its amazing therapeutic effects?
You will find the answer in this article.
What is turmeric?
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a flowering plant in the Zingiberaceae family.
Its root is used as a spice in South Asian and Middle Eastern cooking.
Moreover, turmeric has a long history of use in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine1,2.
What are the health benefits of turmeric?
Turmeric has a wide range of therapeutic effects, including:
- Pain reduction
- Liver protection
- Anti-diabetic effects
- Anticancer attributes
- Anti-microbial properties
Related: 17 Health Benefits Of Turmeric Root Powder
Should I take turmeric on an empty stomach?
If your stomach is already full, it will digest the bolus before it can break down turmeric.
Therefore, if you want to experience the benefits of turmeric fast, it is best to take it on an empty stomach, such as in the morning before breakfast.
However, it is preferable to take turmeric mixed with fats.
Related: 7 Benefits Of Drinking Coconut Oil On An Empty Stomach
Why should I take turmeric with fats?
Curcumin is the major biologically active constituent in turmeric3.
This antioxidant is insoluble in water but soluble in oil2,3.
Therefore, when mixed with water, curcumin is difficult to absorb and rapidly transformed into inactive metabolites3.
Yet, if you take it with vegetable oils, such as coconut or olive oil, you will increase its bioavailability, multiplying its health benefits2,3.
Related: 7 Reasons To Use Coconut Oil For Weight Loss
Should I take turmeric with black pepper?
Piperine is a bioactive compound of black pepper2.
Taking turmeric with piperine increases its bioavailability by 154% and its biological effects4,5.
As mentioned above, turmeric is poorly available and rapidly metabolized in the liver and intestinal wall4.
Piperine prevents turmeric transformation in the liver and intestine, improving its absorption4.
Related: 6 Turmeric And Honey Health Benefits
Summary: Should I take turmeric on an empty stomach?
Turmeric is a rich source of curcumin, an antioxidant, which makes it beneficial to health.
It’s best to take turmeric on an empty stomach, like in the morning before breakfast, to benefit from its therapeutic effects fast.
However, due to its low water-solubility, curcumin is difficult to absorb and rapidly transformed into inactive metabolites.
Mixing it with vegetable oils, such as coconut or olive oil, and black pepper will increase its absorption and biological effects.
