Turmeric Extract is supplied in powder form, either in a pre-filled capsule or in bulk packaging. It is usually taken with Piperine, a natural agent found in ordinary black pepper, which increases the absorption of the curcuminoids. Some products are listed on the Consumer Products page.
Now I need to warn you that there are some potential side effects to taking Turmeric Extract, particularly liver damage when taken in high doses, especially for those whose liver function is compromised. Like just about any other medication, you should keep the dose to the minimum effective amount, and it’s a good idea to have a medical provider check your liver enzymes periodically. A typical regimen is 1000mg (1 gram) every 12 hours.
Here are three basic ways to get your daily dose (you’ll have to pick at least one):
Pre-Filled Capsules
In the past year or two, several suppliers of these have come to the market. This is by far, the most convenient and least-messy way to take Turmeric Extract.
When selecting a product, you must be careful that what is inside the capsule is not merely ground Turmeric, but its extract. A typical Turmeric Extract capsule will contain about 1000mg of Curcuminoids, and 5mg of Piperine. If you’re only taking a typical Turmeric supplement, you may only be getting 50mg (1/20th) of the important curcuminoids. You must read the label on the container to be sure of what you’re getting. Additionally, Turmeric Extract is bright orange in color, while ground Turmeric root is closer to orange-tinted brown. In our Consumer Products list are several suitable Turmeric Extract capsule products.
Bulk powder, taken as a beverage
Turmeric Extract is supplied in bulk packaging, in resealable bags, ready to mix into foods, beverages and other consumable products. In the bag there is often a one-serving scoop, which is equivalent to around 1/2 teaspoon. If you just drop it onto water, you’ll find the powder unpleasantly floats on the top in big lumps with a chalky flavor.
A better way to make a beverage is to mix the powder with another dry beverage mix, like hot chocolate. What you do is put the beverage mix in a cup first, and drop in the Turmeric Extract powder. Add a few shakes of fine-ground black pepper. Then, with the back of a spoon, use a downward mixing motion to crush up any lumps and get the whole into a uniform mix. Then stir in some hot water, and you’ve got your morning or evening dose in a smooth, good-tasting beverage.
Bulk powder, in make-your-own capsules
Before commercial Turmeric Extract capsules were available, this was the only way to make them. It requires a few pieces of equipment and skill, within the reach of the ordinary person. The 00 capsule size is large enough for 500mg of Turmeric Extract, but not so large to be difficult to swallow.
Here’s two ways to do it.
There are kits by which 100 capsules could be filled at once. (Maybe they’re still out there, but they seem hard to find.) If you have one you load the capsule bodies in, and then fill them up with the supplied scraper and tamper. Beforehand, you’ll have measured out 45 grams of Turmeric Extract powder with 5 grams of fine-ground black pepper into a cup, mixing them thoroughly. 50 grams / 100 capsules = 500mg per capsule. Once the capsule bodies are loaded with all the powder, the caps are loaded into a plate and put on. This method can be a real time-saver.
If you don’t have such a kit, you’ll have to fill the capsules one at a time. There are special tiny spatulas made for scooping the powder into a capsule. If you don’t have a spatula, you can still spread the powder on a plate, hold the capsule upside-down, and gently pack the powder in using pressure against the plate.
When you can pack no more powder in, put the capsule cap on. Try to pack as much powder in as you can to keep the dose uniform across capsules. This method won’t be as precise or as consistent as the kit above, but it’s probably good enough. If you want to know how well you did, you can put 100 your made capsules on your kitchen scale. The dose per capsule will be the weight of the batch less the weight of the empty capsules, divided by 100.
When you make your own capsules, wear old clothes and use a smooth work surface. Although the powder cleans up easily with water, it leaves orange stains that don’t come out easily in the wash.