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How to Use Turmeric for Weight Loss

Whether you’re on a strict low-carb diet or if you’re following an intense workout regimen, losing weight can be a real challenge.

Now it’s perfectly doable, and highly recommended, to get rid of excess fat by eating healthy and exercising regularly. There really is no way around the fact that you need to burn more calories than you consume. But there are ways to make it a little bit easier!

Taking turmeric supplement is one such way.

What is Turmeric?

Turmeric – latin name: Curcuma Longa – is a herb that grows in India. It needs plenty of rainfall and temperatures around 68-86°F (20-30°C) to flourish.

Turmeric field in India
Turmeric field in India

Turmeric is picked once a year for their rhizomes. The rhizomes are boiled, dried, and then ground into a powder which is used for four things:

  1. Dyeing clothes
  2. Coloring foods (i.e. curry)
  3. Spice in Indian cuisine
  4. Medicine

It’s that 4th point, medicine, that obviously is of the most interest to us. In India, turmeric has been used for thousands of years to help people with all sorts of health problems. Whether you have liver, stomach, or skin problems, turmeric’s active compound, the antioxidant curcumin, is believed to help.

I have to mention that no 100% solid and scientific evidence of turmeric’s healing effects has been presented thus far, although some studies have shown that it has antibacterial and antifungal properties. But studies and clinical trials are being conducted right now, so we should know more in the coming years.

Turmeric and Weight Loss: Can it Help?

When it comes to turmeric and weight loss, few studies have been made on its effect on humans. But studies on mice indicate that curcumin (the active compound in turmeric) has several benign effects on weight management and on weight-related issues.

  • Stimulates gallbladder to produce bile, which helps improve digestion.
  • Lowers blood sugar levels.
  • Reduces the production of fat tissue (by inhibiting the formation of new blood vessels inside the fat).
  • Lowers the level of insulin resistance and leptin resistance, which are both directly related to fat storage.
  • Lowers cholesterol levels.
  • Increases thermogenesis (the process in which the body burns fat to maintain an ideal temperature).

As you can see, curcumin can help manage your weight in more than one way. It’s a great addition to a healthy diet!

There Are Even More Benefits!

Even if you don’t lose any additional pounds of body fat by taking this type of supplement, you will still benefit from it. That’s because turmeric helps to fight a number of serious diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, and cardiovascular problems.

I won’t go into the specifics on exactly how turmeric helps with all this, but if you’re interested, you can watch this video of Dr. Joseph Mercola in which he discusses turmeric’s powerful antioxidant properties:

[youtube id=”9l392Zxyoto” width=”600″ height=”340″ position=”left”]

Turmeric has also been shown in research to be a booster of the oral bioavailability of CBD oil, another potent anti-inflammatory agent. CBD is currently taking the supplement market by storm and there is now even CBD oil widely available.

How to Use Turmeric for Weight Loss

Ok, I think we have established that Curcuma Longa is a potent herb that really can make a difference. But how do you use it to get optimum results? Well, let me tell you how to use turmeric for weight loss in a practical and sensible way.

Turmeric can be taken in three different forms: as capsules with powder, as a tincture, and as a fluid extract. We recommend that you use capsules because it’s the easiest and most practical way to take turmeric. If you are eager to order right away, feel free to scroll down to see what we think are the three best-capsuled products on the market.

Powder capsules

Now let’s say you have purchased powder capsules. When do you take them? How often, and for how long?

First of all, you need to be 18 years or older to take these capsules. Secondly, make sure you follow the recommended dosage stated on the label (normally 1-3 capsules per day, equalling around 1000 mg/day). Higher dosage doesn’t automatically mean faster or bigger results!

Some manufacturers recommend that the capsules should be taken between meals to maximize the absorption and effectiveness of the active substances. But others recommend that you take them with meals. So make sure you follow the instructions on the label!

What happens if you don’t notice any effects after several days of use? Don’t worry! You need to take the capsules for at least three months before you can say with any certainty if they work or not.

Turmeric Side effects

As long as you follow the recommended dosage, turmeric supplements doesn’t have any severe side effects. But pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take it. Diabetics should also avoid it because of its ability to effect blood sugar and insulin levels.

But as with everything else in this world, you can become sick if you consume excessive amounts. In the case of turmeric and curcumin, too much could cause diarrhea, dizziness, and nausea.

Where Can I Buy Turmeric Supplement?

Fortunately, you don’t need to visit a doctor or drugstore in order to buy turmeric supplement, because it can be ordered online from the comfort of your own home (we prefer Amazon.com).

According to us, a smart way to find the best turmeric supplement is to use the thousands of customers reviews and ratings available on Amazon. They will give you the true story on what works and what doesn’t (as long as there are a few hundred reviews or more).

After buying and testing the products, the customers are encouraged to leave their feedback in the forms of a rating and a review. We have used this extensive feedback (from actual buyers) to pick out the three best supplements for you.

If you want to browse the hundreds of herbal products yourself, here’s the full list. But otherwise, take a look at these three. They are the best Turmeric supplement on the market.

1. Eden Pond Turmeric Curcumin

Eden Pond Turmeric Curcumin
Eden Pond Turmeric Curcumin

This is the #1 Best Seller on Amazon in the turmeric supplement category (along with #2 on our list). And for good reasons.

It is 100% pure and natural, with no artificial ingredients at all. It’s also exclusively manufactured in the USA, ensuring a safer and more controlled product.

Eden Pond claims that it has the highest quality on the market. I don’t know if that’s true, but they are confident enough to offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

So what do the customers think? The love it! More than 4600 customers have already reviewed it, and it has received an incredible 4.7 rating on a 1-5 scale. No wonder it’s the #1 best seller!

Here’s a link if you’d like to check it out.

2. Dr. Danielle’s Turmeric Curcumin

Doctor Danielle Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine
Doctor Danielle Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine

Another extremely popular – and almost identical – product is the turmeric supplement from Doctor Danielle. It’s 100% organic and vegan, it’s made in the USA, and it’s claimed to offer “a quality unmatched in the industry” (much like Eden Pond, just in different words).

A thing that’s special about Dr. Danielle’s product is that it uses Bioperine® to increase its efficiency and availability in the body (scientific term is bioavailability). I don’t know how much of an effect the Bioprene® has on the bioavailability of this supplement, but even if it doesn’t have any effect, Bioprene® has several benefits of its own. Be aware though, that some people can experience a slight digestive discomfort.

Click this link for more information!

3. VitaBreeze Turmeric Curcumin C3 Complex

Turmeric Curcumin Complex with Black Pepper Extract
Turmeric Curcumin Complex with Black Pepper Extract

VitaBreeze has also chosen to include Bioperine® in their product. It’s free from artificial ingredients, and it’s also safe to use for people suffering from a number of food allergies (soy, milk, gluten etcetera).

With 750 mg instead of 500 mg per capsule, the guys at VitaBreeze claim that their product offers “extra strength” compared to other supplements – such as the ones from Eden Pond and Dr. Danielle. Although this is true in a pure mathematical way, it all depends on how many capsules you take. For example, 2 capsules á 500 mg equals a total of 1000 mg, which is more than one capsule á 750 mg.

The thing I like the most is that the guys at VitaBreeze offer you a lifetime money-back guarantee. If you don’t experience any results, they will give your money back! This supplement deserves a spot on our top-3 list. You can read detailed reviews and get more information, right here.

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Written by Hugo L

Hugo is a 29 years old nutritionist, ex-pro hockey player and a published author.

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