Turmeric Vs. Curcumin: Which One Should You Take

Turmeric has become one of the most popular and effective supplements due to its powerful medicinal properties and health benefits. Research has shown that Curcumin, one of turmeric's many bioactive ingredients, is largely responsible for the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of turmeric. So the question is which one is better turmeric or curcumin?

What Is Turmeric?

Turmeric is found in the root of Curcuma Longa, a flowering plant native to the ginger family. Turmeric has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries as ayurvedic medicine, a form of traditional healing in Southeast Asia.

Turmeric contains three powerful plant compounds known as curcuminoids. These three compounds include

-Curcumin (or diferuloylmethane)
-Demethoxycurcumin
-Bisdemethoxycurcumin

Curcuminoids are polyphenols or natural antioxidants that occur in plants and contain profound health-promoting effects. Antioxidants are found to reduce oxidative stress, which is believed to be one of the foremost mechanisms behind aging and chronic disease. Curcumin, the active ingredient found within turmeric, accounts for 2-8% of most turmeric preparations and gives turmeric its distinct yellow and golden color.


Turmeric is also known as an adaptogen. Adaptogens produce a calming effect and balance stress, through neuroprotective mechanisms, anti-depression effects and boosting brain function.

What Is Curcumin?

Curcumin, a polyphenol is a bioactive ingredient found within Turmeric. Research has shown and attributed the antioxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric to curcumin and has been the topic of research in several different investigative studies as a potential option and treatment for diabetes, insulin sensitivity, digestive health, anti-cancer, osteoarthritis, and weight loss.

Turmeric Vs Curcumin: Similarities

Since curcumin is the active ingredient naturally found in turmeric, both turmeric and curcumin exhibit anti-inflammatory and medicinal properties. Turmeric, however, contains various plant compounds in addition to polyphenols, that curcumin does not such as volatile oils (turmerone, atlantone, and zingiberene), sugars, proteins, and resins.

Research suggests that both turmeric and curcumin may have a positive impact on reducing minor aches and pains and optimizing your recovery while improving overall joint health.

Both Turmeric and Curcumin have been found to reduce joint pain by modulating the inflammatory response and inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines. This is especially beneficial to those athletes that participate in high impact or high-intensity functional training. Studies have also shown positive benefits on patients with knee osteoarthritis, inducing analgesic effects and improving quality of life.

Other investigative studies have shown that turmeric and curcumin help reduce levels of bad cholesterol, otherwise known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — and triglycerides, which may help reduce your risk of heart disease [R].

Turmeric Vs Curcumin: Differences

But what about the differences? Do Turmeric vs curcumin have any significant differences, that make one better than the other? To date, there have only been few investigative studies that show any significant differences, which may be worth considering.

While curcumin has been proven to have powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties alone, turmeric does offer other plant compounds which may prove beneficial to overall health.

One study conducted by the University of Texas showed that turmeric effectively blocked the proliferation of breast cancer cells more so than curcumin alone by an additional 33% [R].

Other studies show that while turmeric, and all eight of it’s plant components, including curcumin exhibited anti-fungal effects on their own, the effects were magnified when all eight were taken together [R].